Protecting it from the sun

[DragoSapien]

How can u protect your radio system from a solar storm. Would we really know when one is coming. I know we get warnings from ARRL and NOAA, but I would like to be more prepared. Can you put something in-line, like a surge protect or something. How exactly dose a solar storm attack your radio equipment.

 

[n8fgb]

Me likey solar storm, make radio talk long way.
Rich

 

[C2]

You need to put the entire thing in a Mu metal box. Best to burry it a couple feet down...

That's why I buy two of everything.

 

[DragoSapien]

You need to put the entire thing in a Mu metal box. Best to burry it a couple feet down...

That's why I buy two of everything.

I thought about that to. Use one and have a back up put away somewhere.

 

[W5LZ]

I turn mine off.

 

[DragoSapien]

Is that good enough, or dose it need to be completely disconnected.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Me likey solar storm, make radio talk long way.
Rich

Don't confuse a solar storm with normal ionospheric charging.A solar storm generally causes a radio blackout, at least on HF. VHF and UHF may be enhanced via aurora propagation but is often unintelligible. Real eerie listening to a busy band when one hits and within minutes the band is completely dead.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

How can u protect your radio system from a solar storm. Would we really know when one is coming. I know we get warnings from ARRL and NOAA, but I would like to be more prepared. Can you put something in-line, like a surge protect or something. How exactly dose a solar storm attack your radio equipment.

Generally you do not need to worry. We haven't had a solar storm strong enough yet to wipe a piece of radio gear here on Earth. Space based systems have been creamed a few times however. If you are worried about it then install surge protectors on the powerline feeding your gear.That is the area of most concern. Also disconnect the antenna when you are not using it.

 

[n8fgb]

Don't confuse a solar storm with normal ionospheric charging.A solar storm generally causes a radio blackout, at least on HF. VHF and UHF may be enhanced via aurora propagation but is often unintelligible. Real eerie listening to a busy band when one hits and within minutes the band is completely dead.

I know, but it is better than a dead sun like it has been. And you can point your 2 meter north and work som CW.
Rich

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Here a few years ago we had some fantastic aurora happening on 6m and 2m. The 6m SSB signals sounded like they were under water and the CW was quite raspy. On 2m, SSB was useless and CW sounded like a raw unfiltered AC buzz (ever hear an old spark transmitter?) making copy really quite hard. I turned the radios off and went outside to watch the light show in the sky.