Solar flare interference has been noticeable for the last few days. I believe Friday should have been the last of this batch.
http://spaceweather.com
&
In the early 70s I was in AF comms and worked extensively with HF, VHF, UHF and EHF communications and radar equipment.
In that time, we experienced a SID (sudden ionospheric disturbance) that knocked out about all of our comms. It (ionospheric disturbance) cause by solar sunspot/flare activity where large volumes of the earth’s ionosphere is ionized by the radiation. It effectively is a big sponge for long haul communications, especially those that depended on the normal environment of the ionosphere to work properly. That mean that the lower frequencies were affected first and longest.
For a direct line of sight radar system, and at frequencies above L or S band, I’d say maybe some attenuation, but not complete loss. For higher band radars, C and X band, likely a much less effect.
My big question is what was lost? The actual skin returns, or did the transponder system go out?
Sunday, June 15, 2014 1:23:00 pm
[Image]
13 planes vanish from radars over Europe As many as 13 planes flying over Europe vanish from radar screens in an "unprecedented" series of blackouts that lasted 25 minutes with claims air traffic control could have been hacked
An air-safety investigation has been launched after 13 planes flying over Europe disappeared from radar screens in two "unprecedented" blackouts, leading to reports stating air traffic control systems had been hacked.
The aircraft went missing from screens across the region in early June, leaving air traffic controllers with no information about their position, direction and height – instead relying on voice communication alone.
Air traffic control centres in Austria, southern Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia all reported the same problem with each period of interference lasting around 25 minutes but varying from flight to flight.
Marcus Pohanka, from Austro Control, described the incidents, which occurred on June 5 and June 10 as "unprecedented," although the authorities stressed that all the aircraft involved continued with their flights as normal.
1 Comment
Close this window Jump to comment formFrom Free Republic:
Solar flare interference has been noticeable for the last few days. I believe Friday should have been the last of this batch.
http://spaceweather.com
&
In the early 70s I was in AF comms and worked extensively with HF, VHF, UHF and EHF communications and radar equipment.
In that time, we experienced a SID (sudden ionospheric disturbance) that knocked out about all of our comms. It (ionospheric disturbance) cause by solar sunspot/flare activity where large volumes of the earth’s ionosphere is ionized by the radiation. It effectively is a big sponge for long haul communications, especially those that depended on the normal environment of the ionosphere to work properly. That mean that the lower frequencies were affected first and longest.
For a direct line of sight radar system, and at frequencies above L or S band, I’d say maybe some attenuation, but not complete loss. For higher band radars, C and X band, likely a much less effect.
My big question is what was lost? The actual skin returns, or did the transponder system go out?
Sunday, June 15, 2014 1:23:00 pm