Death, Taxes … and, oh, by the way, Sun Fade
Akron, Ohio – September 14, 2010 Arthur C. Clarke, meet Benjamin Franklin.
Back in the 1700s, when Benjamin Franklin was describing the permanency of the United States Constitution, he allowed that while the Constitution should stand forever, the only absolutes were end of life and taxation.
Welcome to the 21st Century. You throw a few satellites up into the Clarke Belt, and all of a sudden you get a new definition of permanence. Sure, communications satellites only last ten to twenty years each, but the sun fade will always happen so long as we rely on satellites to enhance our communications.
In both the Spring and the Fall, geosynchronous satellites get overpowered by the sun. Several times.
It’s an eclipse of the satellite. An alignment in the heavens. Just like a lunar or a solar eclipse.
And the 2010 Fall sun fade is just around the corner, no matter where you are in the footprint. The northern hemisphere sun fade season starts on September 22nd, and lasts through October 12th.
How will the sun fade affect you? During the sun fade period, there will be roughly 5 to 12 days when, for no more than 10 minutes, your satellite Internet system will lose signal.
No more than 10 minutes. But the times are almost precisely predictable, and you can use Internet tools to chart exactly when you will be affected.
In the chart below, we show you the 4 to 6 days the NOC in Akron, Ohio, will experience sun fade. Look for the satellite your dish uses. If you’re not sure which satellite you use, you can call the NOC at 800-268-8502, if you’re inside the USA, or 330-785-2101.
Let your team calculate the sun fade for each satellite dish location, and you’ll be ready to work around the sun’s schedule. Use the NOC timings here as well as the sun fade calculator links below:
| Satellite | Date | Start GMT | Duration (minutes) |
| T11N | OCT. 6 | 13:55:48 | 5.2 |
| OCT. 7 | 13:54:07 | 8 | |
| OCT. 8 | 13:53:14 | 9.2 | |
| OCT. 9 | 13:52:58 | 9.2 | |
| OCT. 10 | 13:53:30 | 7.6 | |
| OCT. 11 | 13:54:50 | 4.4 | |
| T14 | OCT. 6 | 15:50:02 | 2 |
| OCT. 7 | 15:47:09 | 7.2 | |
| OCT. 8 | 15:46:04 | 8.8 | |
| OCT. 9 | 15:45:36 | 9.2 | |
| OCT. 10 | 15:45:44 | 8.4 | |
| OCT. 11 | 15:46:28 | 6.4 | |
| G28 | OCT. 7 | 17:45 | 3 |
| OCT. 8 | 17:44 | 6 | |
| OCT. 9 | 17:43 | 6 | |
| OCT. 10 | 17:44 | 4 |
Sun Fade Calculator for T11N or T14 (⇐Click)
Sun Fade Calculator for G28 (⇐Click)
About VSAT Systems
VSAT Systems is a satellite Internet systems Tier I operator with direct access to the Internet backbone. VARs, VNOs and Dealers of VSAT Systems can deliver supremely reliable broadband to demanding customers because we own and control the quality of both our teleport and NOC; because we’ve invested in advanced technologies that neutralize the ill effects of weather and system latency; and because, combined, this is a formula for success. Data center co-location, mobile solutions, and hardware ensuring virtual private networks are just a few of the tools VSAT Systems has available to make this the opportunity the right entrepreneurs can run with.
SOURCE VSAT Systems, LLC.
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09/14/2010
CONTACT: Media, Michael P. Kister, President, +1-330-564-2147,
Mike.Kister@satventuresmanagement.com,
or Gordon Landefeld, Marketing Analyst, +1-330-564-2147,
gordon.landefeld@satventuresmanagement.com
both of VSAT Systems, LLC.
Web site: http://www.vsat-systems.com/