SOLAR TRANSIT/OUTAGE

Brief disruptions of Satellite Reception occur every Spring, and Fall.

They are not: 1) a problem within your System; 2) going to cause you more than a transient, and possibly avoidable, inconvenience in your watching habits; nor, 3) likely to cause any physical/lasting damage, unless you have a solid/shiny Dish. If you do have a solid/shiny Dish, you should read the fourth-from-last paragraph of this text, carefully.

"Brief" discribes these occurrences, in that they occur over only a few days; and, even on the worst day, they last for only a few minutes on each Satellite.

They occur every Spring, and Fall, as the Sun (in transit from Winter's low perspectives, to Summer's high ones) lines up directly behind the Satellites, from your point of view.

Our Sun emits a wide range of radiation. Besides the physically familiar light, and heat, are strong microwaves in all the frequency bands of our Satellites.   The microwaves arrive, even when the Sun is not "shining" !

The exact dates change slightly, from year to year, with the dates of each Solar Equinox; and, every year are earlier in the Spring (and later in the Fall), at greater Latitudes, than at lesser Latitudes.

The range of dates varies with the size, and shape/condition of your Dish.   Larger Dishes, and those with better parabolic shape, enjoy better focus, and are "hit" for fewer days, and fewer minutes on their worst days. This Table's/Map's range of Dates assumes a 10-foot Dish, in reasonably good shape. The "occurrence", on such a Dish, will be momentary, at the beginning and ending dates; and last about six (6) minutes, on the worst day.  The geometry is such that the "worst day" Dates vary by no more than two days, from any given Down-Link Site, across your entire visable Arc of Satellites: and, the "worst day" Dates are parenthetically shown/included, in the following Tables.

Your exact "WORST DAY" times may vary, by a few minutes, depending on where you are (North/South, and East/West) within your Time Zone; and, your times of occurrence on the days before, and after, your worst day will also vary by a few minutes.

The "few minute" variations are deemed tollerable, for the purpose of recognizing that "Sun Outage" is indeed what is happening to existing Systems. More precise data can be calculated, for your specific location, as are sometimes used in diagnosis as to the orientation, and condition, of commercial Dishes. Such precise data may also be of value for exact, yet easiest, Site Surveys, and/or Dish Orientations. for domestic Dishes.

The times are earliest for the Easterly Satellites, and later for the Westerly Satellites. This offers some chance for avoidance of disruption to your viewing -- if you watch the Feeds/Programming from the Westerly Satellites in the early hours; and, shift your watching to the Easterly Satellites, for the later hours.

Because these phenomina are spaced half a year apart, even old/experienced "Bird Watchers" sometimes forget; and, worry/fret about their System's condition, when their picture "goes bad". Before calling your Service Man, or worse yet, diddling with your System's Memory, check these Dates/Times to be sure that "The Problem" is not just this seasonal, and transient, pest.

Big Dishes, and their Linearaly Polarized Analog Signals, are temporarly "wiped out" by the Sun's being behind their Satellites. The Small, Circular Polarized Digital, Systems show a dimunition of Signal Quality/Strength; but, often do not loose their picture (unless it is also raining). The Satellites which serve these "Small Dish Systems" are included in the "Worst Day Time" tables, for those who may be curious as to where they have obstruction-free Sites, for a Small Dish (which exist wherever Sunshine falls, on their Worst Day, at that Satellite's time); for those who want to watch their Signal Quality/Strength (just in case they wish to "see" the effect); or, in case it happens to be simultaneously raining.

Mesh Dishes are usually not efficient reflectors of Solar Heat, but, solid/shiny Dishes may be. The reflectively concentrated Solar Heat, at these times of Solar Transit, can damage the Feed, and Electronics (LNBs, Servo, etc). The build-up of steam, has even been known to cause the bursting/explosion of LNBs which have had scratches, or deterioriaton, in their paint (and thus have some moisture inside). As a preventative measure, anyone with a solid/shiny Dish should move/point it (during these Dates of occurrence) in mornings toward the Westerly Satellites, until the local Times for the Easterly Satellites have passed, and then move/point it to their Easterly Satellites.

Gourmet...ENTERTAINING has been awarded U.S. Patent No. 5,808,583, on use of Sunshine/Shadows, for instrument-free (except for a watch, ruler, and knowledge of the dates' times) performance of Site Survey, and Dish Orientation -- any date of year !! Use on dates, other than "Worst Days" does require appropriate allowance/correction for the Sunshine/Shadow pattern differences, and/or the angular amount by which the Sun is over/under the Satellite at the time of coinsident azimuth (or east/west, at the times of coinsident elevation).

Precise analyses can be made, for your specific location (cost: $10, per location, and Satellite). Such specific data have been requested, in/for past Seasons, by resorts with concerns about pre-warning, and/or explaining to, their guests, about distruptions in Television Service. They may also be of value to anyone interested in making their own Site Survey, and/or Dish Orientation, when there is need for only a watch (no ruler/correction involved/required).

For further information on this novel approach, please contact Jim Roberts @: <robertsmania.jim@gmail.com>.

Gourmet... ENTERTAINING
2545 Loring Street. San Diego. California. 92109.
(858) 273-3666 [Voice]