It’s that time of year again when the Sun, or a Solar Outage, can disrupt satellite signals received by your dish, causing temporary loss of some weaker UK TV channels.

This guide is helpful for those experiencing this phenomenon for the first time, and a reminder for those already familiar with it. Solar outages occur annually around the Spring and Autumn equinoxes, typically in March and October. In the northern hemisphere, they happen before the March equinox (February, March) and after the September equinox (September, October).

These “satellite solar outages” usually occur between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and can last up to 20 minutes. During this time, the sun passes directly behind the satellites, overpowering the satellite signals and causing a temporary loss of weak TV channels.

This happens because the Sun emits powerful radio waves and electromagnetic energy that can overwhelm the satellite’s transmission, leading to a temporary disruption in signal reception.

No need to worry—your signal will restore itself once the sun moves out of alignment. It’s also a great opportunity for some maintenance, as you can check if trees or shrubs are obstructing your dish.

This phenomenon can also affect nighttime satellite signals, as 12 hours after the solar outage, the satellites enter the Earth’s shadow, relying on battery power and causing a brief signal reduction.

It is also a good time for a bit of housekeeping, as you can use this outage time to see if there are any trees and shrubs casting shadows onto the dish, which means they can be reducing and blocking the signals from the satellite to your dish.

More information on this solar outage can be found here : https://www.satandpcguy.com/uk-tv-astra-satellites/satellite-solar-outage/