After all, where else but at an altitude of 2,600 meters can you find such harsh conditions at the end of the year. The objective is to determine whether NEUTRIK‘s DRAGONFLY solution, consisting internally of two fiber optic and four electrical contacts, is also suitable for extremely rough conditions.

In the week before the big race, there is a lot of activity on the slopes: cameras have to be positioned, cables have to be laid and the transmission of even the smallest angle has to be ensured at every second. The slope conditions are ideal once again this year, with 98 centimeters of snow on the mountain. Bright sunshine is forecast for the race weekend. Until then, though, the weather is not exactly stable – sometimes it snows, sometimes the sun peeks through the thick clouds. The temperatures are also up and down, falling well below zero at night and rising above zero when the sun comes out during the day.

Parallel to the slope, a 100 and 200 meter, pre-assembled SMPTE cable with two single-mode optical fibers and four copper cables has already been laid at the venue, running from the top of the mountain down to the valley. When Neutrik‘s design engineers and product managers arrive in St. Moritz on Thursday before the race weekend, the delicate and sensitive fiber optic cable has already been lying there for two days, partly in the snow, partly hanging and unprotected, exposed to ice, wind, thaw and sunlight.

Fabio talks to us about his impressions.

1. Why did the DRAGONFLY project managers choose this testing landscape?
“We have already been working for quite some time on this connection solution. I chose this test because I have been able to approach this complex task with extreme care. Now that, I am convinced that DRAGONFLY provides very good transition values and works seamlessly under difficult conditions“.

2. How satisfied were you with the application?
„As expected, I found two ready-made cables with very good attenuation values. The fitting accuracy of DRAGONFLY is outstanding. It is easy to handle and clean when necessary even in extremely difficult conditions”.

3. What do you particularly like about DRAGONFLY?
“NEUTRIK’s DRAGONFLY is small, compact and easy to clean. In contrast to traditional physical contact technology, you don’t need special accessories to remove dirt. The DRAGONFLY delivers the best measured values even after minimal cleaning effort. Especially in St. Moritz, the connector was exposed to extreme weather conditions. After five days and nights of use in extreme cold and maximum sunshine, the materials were subjected to extreme stress, but the performance did not waver. Top!”

4. What advantages does DRAGONFLY offer as compared to other solutions?
“With NEUTRIK’s DRAGONFLY, you get exactly what you expect: the simplest maintenance possible and outstanding fitting accuracy. The fiber optic connector is handy, easy to clean and delivers excellent optical values under the most extreme conditions“.

Neutrik AG, January 24th 2020