Radio is affected by solar activity because many radio frequencies, especially those used by long-distance or shortwave radio, depend on the Earth’s ionosphere for reflection, which is disrupted by solar flares. Cellular phones, however, use higher frequency bands (UHFVHF) that are not reflected by the ionosphere; instead, they transmit via a line-of-sight connection between the phone and a cell tower, making them much less susceptible to solar interference.
Mobile phones use UHF and SHF, where GSM is on the lower end of the spectrum (900/1800MHz) and 5G on the higher end. The newest WiFi standard is at 6GHz.
5G can go as high as 71GHz, just not in mobile phones yet
Planes can talk on multiple frequencies, only some of which will be messed up, and not for long. Solar flares are of short duration, and once they stop hitting the earth, equilibrium in the ionosphere is restored fairly quickly.
Is that why cell phone connections have been so weak lately?
Radio is affected by solar activity because many radio frequencies, especially those used by long-distance or shortwave radio, depend on the Earth’s ionosphere for reflection, which is disrupted by solar flares. Cellular phones, however, use higher frequency bands (UHFVHF) that are not reflected by the ionosphere; instead, they transmit via a line-of-sight connection between the phone and a cell tower, making them much less susceptible to solar interference.
https://www.taitcommunications.com/en/about-us/news/geomagnetic-storm-impacts-radio-communications-power-grids
https://www.wmar2news.com/weather/weather-blogs/last-nights-solar-flare-did-not-cause-the-cell-phone-outage
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2024/02/26/att-cellphone-outage-solar-flares-fact-check/72715063007/
Our phones really use uhf/vhf? Dang. I’m a ham nerd but my radio knowledge doesn’t really extend beyond those bands.
Mobile phones use UHF and SHF, where GSM is on the lower end of the spectrum (900/1800MHz) and 5G on the higher end. The newest WiFi standard is at 6GHz.
5G can go as high as 71GHz, just not in mobile phones yet
Mmmm, hammmm
https://wp.technologyreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/january_2016_spectrum_wall_chart_full-cta.png
Mobile Phones don’t use VHF, only UHF and SHF
What services might people have noticed being unusable because of this?
Plane to controller coms.
Cool, that was my first guess!
You specifically don’t mention controller -> plane comms, is that just because they have more powerful transmitters?
Planes can talk on multiple frequencies, only some of which will be messed up, and not for long. Solar flares are of short duration, and once they stop hitting the earth, equilibrium in the ionosphere is restored fairly quickly.
I dont think so but thats based on my location being in the Affected area and my not noticing any change to my connection.