Optical fibre for starts

Hi,  Is it too late for responding ?

I had a discussion last week with D.Defago IT at the FIS headquaeter. 

No optical converter has been approved by FIS at this moment and I guess there won't be any on the future. You would use one optical fiber for each system A and B for timing purpose only (no voice comm on the same fiber).

It would be very expensive to equip a slope with at least 3 fibers (without any intermediate timing) . More , what about a star or finish at different levels .

For all these reasons,  Wengen re equiped its slope with good old wires two years ago.

D.Defago told me optical fiber will never be used for WC races.

Sory for my English.

Philippe Guérindon FFS French Skiing Federation .

Thank you for contributing to the forum! I believe that people are not looking at the best and legal method of using optical fibre. Everyone seems to be focused on transmitting impulses as opposed to data. Why not just adopt the current rules for wireless timing and use fiber instead.

All you need is a serial>udp converter such as a Moxa to take the data from any brand of timer and send it down the fiber to software doing the time calculations. Or you could use a timer such as a CP 545 that has the Ethernet built in. Assign different ports to the timing locations and make it all work.

These converters work happily on DC voltage and it would not be difficult to create a combination battery- carry case- timer in a Pelican or similar plastic case. 

Hi,

"Why not just adopt the current rules for wireless timing and use fiber instead."

If you check following document:

https://assets.fis-ski.com/ima.../timing-wireless.pdf

It clearly states:This wireless technique MAY NOT be used for Level 0, 1 or 2 events (Not for Continental Cup or Higher)

You could use such solution only for Level >2 ...

Hello,

Optical fiber isn't a smart solution for timing a ski event. It could be if the start, finish and intermediate would never be moved. At the time an event is scheduled, even the slope is uncertain. 

At this moment none of the converter on the market has been tested by the FIS. As I understood, if you plan to use optical fiber, you would have to provide a sample kit to the FIS (2 converters plus the fiber) then you could hope having an homologation within 6 months or more.

I know that all ressorts  hosting a FIS event and renewing their equipment put electric wires underground. This is for France and Switzerland. 

There is a major issue using optical fiber : timing data and only this can be transmited by one fiber. All other data such as image, video or TV should use another fibre. The final cost is disqualifying this solution.

For level 3 events and above, if there is no cable, use radio (or other)  to transmit all timing data as permited. 

Ph. Guerindon 

I would not use FIber

But we have some races where there  is no cable at all and not able to use radio ...

Has anyone used UTP cable for timing? I need to cover 1,6 Kilometers from start to finish and I thought of UTP, has 4 pairs ... 2 for start 2 for inter ...

Are you located in France ? If so, if the event is at least a level 3 one, you could use IMHP 870 from Agil Electronics, which are homologated FIS with external printer using built in radio modem.  I don't know a single slope in France where the radio signal ins't transmited sucessfully. On very complicated situation a relay can be set up.

The transmission of TOD can also be done via GSM . The FIS doesn't care how TOD are transmited. This is clearly explained into the timing booklet.

It is a WC race ... so no radios

UTP cable should work and phone cable too. You don't need a system B for intermediate so one pair is enough for it.

I gess phone cable should be costless and easier to get and set up.