Wireless Systems and Sunspot Activity

[FJJP]

I've been looking at various topics, some of which talk about wireless connections.

Any experts out there who can comment on the likely effects of severe sunspot activity on such connections?

(Serious question, by the way - the 7 year sunspot cycle can cause major disruption to all sorts of power systems, from the electricity grid to mainframes.)

[All Systems Go]

For the distances involved in Wireless networking type stuff (less than 100 meters usually), and the power levels that are being used then there shouldn't really be any problems. That said there could be. But I'd doubt it. You'd be more likely to suffer a surge from all the kettles being turned on during half time in the big game tommorow morning.

[Evo7]

Sunspot cycle is 11 years, not 7.

The frequency of solar flares are linked to sunspot activity, and it is flares that are important here. Problems occur when charged particles from a solar flare (specifically Coronal Mass Ejections) interact with the Earth's magnetosphere. This causes fluctuations in the magnetic field of the Earth, and a fluctuating magnetic field can induce electrical currents (this is just how your Magneto works ). The magnitude of the induced current depends on the size of closed loops in an electrical system, and so in very large systems problems can occur - the classic example being the Quebec Electricity Grid in 1989.

I see no obvious reason that this would be a concern in a Wireless LAN - any arial will be far too small - but if you can think of a reason why you might have a problem then hire an expert.