JulianOliver, 15 days ago (edited 15 days ago)

Edited post: my source and information was incorrect. Grid damage here in the South Island has not occurred at the present time, it is being reconfigured to avoid damage in anticipation of further G4 solar storms.

JulianOliver, 15 days ago

Must be a bit of excitement in the ISS right now.

alex, 15 days ago

@JulianOliver no, it's not "toasted" it. They are planning around and moving things so it doesn't do that. Very different.

JulianOliver, 15 days ago

@alex As I understand it it's both. Will try to confirm.

alex, 15 days ago

@JulianOliver "Transpower is removing some transmission lines from service across the South Island as a precaution"

Protecting assets, which is sensible.

JulianOliver, 15 days ago

@alex Yes it seems you are right. Editing the post.

alex, 15 days ago

@JulianOliver they issue a GEN when it's unplanned reconfigurations like that, if it's planned they go through a different process (CAN, WRN etc.) like they do when they do planned work on the HVDC link. Doesn't strictly mean it's a "oh shit" thing. More a means to avoid it becoming that.

Grid operators know of - and plan for - this sort of risk 😸

JulianOliver, 15 days ago

@alex Thanks, aware of that. My source info was out of context. Fixed!

JulianOliver, 15 days ago

RNZ taking it seriously, front page. Good to see.

Backup power sorted at home, in case the space weather gets particularly wild.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/516558/transpower-disconnects-some-north-island-power-assets-due-to-solar-storm

JulianOliver, 14 days ago

We've hit G4, and entered R1 blackout. Loving this.

JulianOliver, 14 days ago

Spent years studying and making jammers, and yet the true Teacher is a vast churning sphere of electromagnetic fire.

alex, 15 days ago

@JulianOliver I see you mention SDR, can confirm it did wipe out a lot there 😅

Here's a screen cap from 0-30 MHz showing there's basically nothing there. (aside from the horrid levels of interference heh)

JulianOliver, 15 days ago

@alex wow! What a 0-30 MHz RF waterfall would have looked like 100+ years ago, just noisier.

alex, 15 days ago

@JulianOliver It's a little messy to look at but here's the last three days, can see the right side is pretty darn empty right now.

Yeah the noise is a constant frustration of mine, I've never managed to pin down what it is.

JulianOliver, 15 days ago

@alex So eerie.. If the noise is even pattern across spectrum, and in/outside the shack, could be line noise (balun, mode choke?). Sometimes moving the SDR to a new host can help, little embedded boards are quietest IME.