There has been more solar activity from the sun, since Feb. 14. We used to hear the term, "Sunspot's", supposedly causing havoc with radio communication's here on planet Earth. Now, scientist are predicting stepped up activity from the sun, in coming year's. Can this solar activity have any effect on our RC system's ?

Vince

We are moving into a period of what would normally be considered the solar maximum of the Sun's eleven year average sunspot cycle. This pertains to the variations in frequency and intensity of sunspots and other forms of solar activity (coronomal mass ejections - flares - etc.). Whether the antics of the Sun will have any impact upon the operation of your model's radio control system will depend upon several factors, but the main and largest factor is its band/frequency of operation. The higher the frequency/band, the less impact the Sun's antics are likely to have upon your system's operation.

Frankly, I've had more noticable "interference" on 27, 50, 53 & 72 MHz from weather related radio phenomena (atmospheric ducting/sporadic E) in the US Spring and from leaky cable TV systems than I could ever attribute to any solar based activity.

The radio services that are disrupted the most by solar activity are those that require their signals to bounce between the F-layer of the atmosphere and the ground in multiple "hops" (bounces). We R/C'ers operate strictly by line of sight and do not rely upon atmospheric conditions to enhance our range for normal operation.


Ed Cregger