Wireless Connectivity and Geomagnetic Storms.....

@Miner49r (568)
United States
October 11, 2010 10:34am CST
Last night I lost wireless connectivity again. This is really starting to annoy me. I get rather grouchy when I can't get online. This has happened before a few times and I am starting to notice a pattern. I am subscribed to www.swpc.noaa.gov and receive email updates when a geomagnetic storm or solar flare occurs. As it is widely known solar flares do cause minor disruptions of communications and other activities. A major geomagnetic storm can even cause power outages and damage to equipment. Last night around 9:30 or 10:00PM Pacific time I lost wireless connectivity. The signal started to get really weak and the disappeared, I sit only a few feet from my wireless router. This morning all is fine and here I am. Now, this could coincidence, but this has happened before accompanied by geomagnetic warnings in my email. As is the case this morning, ... again there are statements of geomagnetic warnings in my email. Although, the time stamps don't seem to line up with the time of the outage, or seem to be issued before the storm arrived. Actually they were received a number of hours after the outage. Has anyone else experienced or noticed such occurrences or have any knowledge of such things?
3 responses
peavey
@peavey (16936)
• United States
11 Oct 10
I had only vaguely thought about this before, but it makes sense. I don't often lose my wireless connection altogether, but it sometimes fades or slows down a lot. I'm going to subscribe and see if there is a connection, thanks!
1 person likes this
Miner49r
@Miner49r (568)
• United States
11 Oct 10
Yes please do, it would be interesting to see if there is "connection" between the two. These are only minor occurrences, I would hate to think what the "Big one" would be like.
peavey
@peavey (16936)
• United States
11 Oct 10
I hate to think about the "big one" too. It's already known that sunspots disrupt a lot of things on earth. This should be interesting.
1 person likes this
Miner49r
@Miner49r (568)
• United States
11 Oct 10
Have you read about the geomagnetic storm that happened in 1859? That is a magnetic story which is a real shocker. The sizzling effects were felt felt over a huge area.
RebeccaScarlett
@RebeccaScarlett (2532)
• Canada
11 Oct 10
Unfortunately this sort of activity does interrupt transmissions. Every 11 years the sun's electromagnetic activity peaks, and I believe the next peak year is supposed to be next year, so that will be fun for us internet addicts *sarcasm*. I can't wait to see how the world copes if I'm still alive for the earth's next magnetic pole reversal!
1 person likes this
Miner49r
@Miner49r (568)
• United States
11 Oct 10
I agree.. Pole shift I believe is due in couple of years or so ... . That would be a flipping site to see!!
rosdimy
@rosdimy (3926)
• Malaysia
12 Oct 10
That is why I prefer a wired connection. In my country it does not need a geomagnetic storm to interfere with wireless connectivity. Tropical thunderstorms producing electromagnetic fields are sufficient to disrupt wireless Internet connection. As for next year we will have to wait and see what will actually happen. Maybe we have to use snail mail again?
Miner49r
@Miner49r (568)
• United States
12 Oct 10
I have never thought of it but I guess a good T-storm could knock out wireless. I remember as a kid a T-storm that actually caused the air to smell like sulfur and sky glowed reddish purple. That was some serious electromagnetic energy. That was long before the internet though. I think the CB radio was in style back then...lol Snail mail, ...LOL...I wonder how we could use myLot or chat with snail mail...he he he ....I shouldnt' laugh .....it could happen.