Sun Outages

Twice a year, at the Spring and Fall Equinox, satellite downlink sites in the Northern Hemisphere experience reception interruptions due to the transition of the sun. Reception interruptions span a period of about ten days as the sun aligns directly above the satellite and the downlink antenna. Interference gradually increases through the transit time period, peaks, and then subsides as the transit period ends. The start and end dates of the sun outage cycle for your geographical location determines the severity of the interference on any given day. Sun outages are predictable, so you can be prepared.

Listed below are dates and times for the next sun outage cycle. All times approximate and will vary based on geographical location. To customize outage times for your specific area you can use this Sun Outage Calculator

Spring 2010

• SES AMC-8 (139*W): 03/02/2010 – 03/08/2010, 3:43p.m. – 3:54p.m. CDT

Networks: Brownfield Networks; Idaho Vandals; Indiana Hoosiers; Iowa Hawkeyes; Iowa State Cyclones; Kansas State Wildcats; Missourinet; Missouri Tigers; Nebraska Radio Network; North Carolina Tarheels; Oklahoma Sooners; Oklahoma State Cowboys; Oregon State Beavers; Penn State Nittany Lions; Purdue Boilermakers; Radio Iowa; Saint Louis Blues; Saint Louis Cardinals; South Carolina Radio News; South Carolina Sports Talk; Texas A&M Aggies; Texas Tech Red Raiders; Waitt Agribusiness; Wisconsin Radio Network; Wisconsin Badgers; Wyoming Cowboys; University of Illinois

• Galaxy 16 (99*W): 03/02/2010 – 03/07/2010, 12:54p.m. – 1:06p.m. CDT

Networks: Alabama Crimson Tide; Clemson Tigers; Minnesota Golden Gophers

•  SES AMC4 (101*W):  03/02/2010 – 03/07/2010, 12:57p.m. – 1:06p.m. CDT

Networks: Mississippi State Bulldogs

Fall 2010

• SES AMC-8:   (TBA)   -CDT

Networks: Brownfield Networks; Idaho Vandals; Indiana Hoosiers; Iowa Hawkeyes; Iowa State Cyclones; Kansas State Wildcats; Missourinet; Missouri Tigers; Nebraska Radio Network; North Carolina Tarheels; Oklahoma Sooners; Oklahoma State Cowboys; Oregon State Beavers; Penn State Nittany Lions; Purdue Boilermakers; Radio Iowa; Saint Louis Blues; Saint Louis Cardinals; South Carolina Radio News; South Carolina Sports Talk; Texas A&M Aggies; Texas Tech Red Raiders; Waitt Agribusiness; Wisconsin Radio Network; Wisconsin Badgers; Wyoming Cowboys; University of Illinois

• Galaxy 16 (formerly G4R):  (TBA)  - CDT

Networks: Alabama Crimson Tide; Clemson Tigers; Minnesota Golden Gophers

•  SES AMC4 (101*W):  (TBA)- CDT

Networks: Mississippi State Bulldogs