The sun can have a significant impact on cable TV service due to its effect on satellite communications. These so-called sun outages are predictable and happen every year in the spring and fall. They last for approximately eight minutes per channel.
Twice each year, TV customers may experience some degree of television interference due to sun outages, which are caused by a phenomenon known as “solar satellite interference.” These brief outages occur when the sun passes directly behind the satellites that transmit cable signals for any provider, not just D & P Communications. When the sun is aligned with a transmitting satellite, solar flares and radiation emitted by the sun disrupts the satellite’s signal and causes a brief signal outage.
Unlike satellite TV customers, whose service can be disrupted unpredictably throughout the year by rain, snow, or other inclement weather, cable TV customers only face these sun outages for brief, predictable periods during spring and autumn.
During the sun outage, customers may experience a pixelated picture, picture freezes, or audio distortions for a brief period of time. Fortunately, these sun outages do not impact telephone or internet service.
During these outages, you can watch any pre-recorded shows as they will not be affected. However, if you are recording a program during times of sun outages those recordings will reflect the issues resulting from the interference.
When your TV service is disrupted on these days and during this time, you’re likely experiencing a sun outage. You don’t have to do anything to restore your service but wait a few minutes for the event to end.
If you have trouble with your TV service that lasts longer than a few minutes, please contact our technical support team via phone at 800.311.7340 as they are always happy assist in your times of need.
