Posted by IAC on 3/8/12 3:47pm
Msg #414341

Anyone experience problems...

With all this media talk about the sun and the solar flares, I think it got to my internet connection yesterday. Docs downloaded with lines missing then some were ok then missing lines. Re did docs later and everything was ok. Then my phone had to be rebutted then could not get local channels. This all started about 2:00p.m. Knock on wood, ok today.

Reply by VT_Syrup on 3/8/12 4:10pm
Msg #414342

Internet connections rely on a mixture of satellite and fiber-optic connections. There have been solar radiation and geomagnetic storms at the S-3 and G-3 levels (strong) respectively, which is the middle of the 5-point scale. This can cause single-event upsets on satellites, and extra corrections may be needed to keep them pointed in the right direction. But if your ISP uses fiber optic to connect to the rest of the world rather than satellite, I'd be surprised if the sun was the cause of your problem.

I'm an amateur radio operator, and solar storms were the topic of our most recent state emergency communications conference.

We should consider ourselves lucky; the cover story of the February issue of "IEEE Spectrum" indicates if the solar storm of 1859 were repeated, it would virtually end civilization as we know it.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 3/8/12 4:27pm
Msg #414344

Since it hit early this morning and not yesterday I am guessing that your issues were unrelated.

Reply by NC_Closer on 3/8/12 4:50pm
Msg #414350

Mercury Retrogade of course!

The affects can be felt a week prior and a week after. Google it for more info but here's the base info.

What are the Mercury Retrograde dates for 2012?:
March 12th to April 4th in Aries
July 14 to August 7 in Leo
November 6 to November 26 in Sagittarius, then Scorpio

What happens?:
Mercury is the messenger, and in this time, legend has it that mail vanishes en route. Some people find that their computers go on the fritz or phone lines go down. If you're at all jittery about it, go ahead and back up your important files. That's always a good idea anyway, right?

Reply by Yoli/CA on 3/8/12 5:10pm
Msg #414357

Ahh ... so that's the problem!

On my cell business phone today, 2 distinct callers within 10 minutes of each. Phone rings. I answer. No response. There's no dial tone, no static, nothing. I hang up. First caller calls back immediately and I was able to hear her clearly. She said she could hear me on first call saying hello over and over again. Next caller ... same thing except she leaves a voice mail which was crystal clear.

Computer back ups are always advisable.

Reply by Bear900/CA on 3/10/12 2:18am
Msg #414489

I noticed that Beam ups on my subspace transmission communicator were not working properly.