What are Sun Outages?
Twice a year, you may experience some degree of television interference due to “sun outages.” Such outages are caused by a phenomenon called “solar satellite interference.” These brief outages occur when the sun is in a direct line behind a satellite transmitting cable signals. When the sun is aligned with a satellite, solar radiation, an energy the sun is emitting, interferes with the satellite’s signal and thus causes a brief signal outage.
When do sun outages happen and how long do they last?
Sun outages occur every year, in fall and spring, and last approximately about two weeks each time. This spring, sun outages are expected between approximately February 25 and March 10, 2026. The exact time and duration will vary from channel to channel. This is due to channels being received off different satellites in the arc. Each satellite is affected at a different time as the sun moves across the satellite arc. The approximate times for signal loss will be between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and will last for approximately five to fifteen minutes.
What kind of outage/interference can I expect?
During the sun outage, you may experience a pixelated picture, picture freezes, or audio distortions for a brief period of time.
How can I tell if it’s caused by a sun outage or something’s wrong with my service?
The sun outage happens only during the day between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (no sun, no interference) and is brief, lasting for a few minutes – from five minutes up to 15 minutes.
What about other TV service disruptions I’ve seen at different times?
We have been experiencing cellular interference with our TV signals affecting certain channels. These are not sun outages. These outages have been occurring in the evening hours and might include pixilation of the channel, freezing, audio with no picture or even complete disruption of the channel. We have purchased special spectrum analysis equipment to help identify the problem and have talked to the major cellular carriers including AT&T and T-Mobile. We currently are working with a consulting company specializing in spectrum analysis to find a solution. This interference differs from sun outages in several ways: the interference happens later in the day, usually about 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.; it can last longer than a typical sun outage; and it is affecting the same certain channels, including USA, Golf, Syfy, Oxygen, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, along with a few others. We continue to work on this problem and share your frustration with the service issues. We are sorry for the convenience.
What should I do during a sun outage?
We apologize for any inconvenience a sun outage may cause. Solar satellite interference is a phenomenon that can affect every TV provider. We appreciate your patience as everything gets back to normal.
What about Internet and telephone service?
Sun outages do not affect Internet or telephone service.