Neutron Highway: Difference between revisions
Added details of the new Caspian Explorer and how it impacts the Highway's use. |
added video = Sol to Colonia Speed Record (36m 48s) |
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For an example, it has been proved that a 33 LY ship can travel almost 5,000 LYs in less than 90 minutes using a pre-defined route (see linked video below). This shaved around 1 hour off the conventional travel method for a ship of that range across that kind of distance. But this does not mean that everyone will experience the same results. A whole lot of other variables need to be taken in to account. | For an example, it has been proved that a 33 LY ship can travel almost 5,000 LYs in less than 90 minutes using a pre-defined route (see linked video below). This shaved around 1 hour off the conventional travel method for a ship of that range across that kind of distance. But this does not mean that everyone will experience the same results. A whole lot of other variables need to be taken in to account. | ||
While it still depends largely on individual skill and routing method, the release of the [[Caspian Explorer]] in late 3311 makes travel along the Neutron Highway notably faster; while the ship doesn't boast the highest general jump range on the market, it can mount a Class 8 [[Mk II Supercharge Optimised Frame Shift Drive (SCO)|MkII Supercharge Optimised Frame Shift Drive (SCO)]] that greatly increases the boost given from supercharging (+500% from a Neutron Star and +200% from a White Dwarf, instead of the standard +300% and +50%). Using an optimised route, travel time between [[Sol]] and [[Colonia]] of under 40 minutes have been reported (a distance of 22,000ly).<ref> | While it still depends largely on individual skill and routing method, the release of the [[Caspian Explorer]] in late 3311 makes travel along the Neutron Highway notably faster; while the ship doesn't boast the highest general jump range on the market, it can mount a Class 8 [[Mk II Supercharge Optimised Frame Shift Drive (SCO)|MkII Supercharge Optimised Frame Shift Drive (SCO)]] that greatly increases the boost given from supercharging (+500% from a Neutron Star and +200% from a White Dwarf, instead of the standard +300% and +50%). Using an optimised route, travel time between [[Sol]] and [[Colonia]] of under 40 minutes have been reported (a distance of 22,000ly).<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b9-0LWYzlg Sol to Colonia Caspian Speed Run (39m 55s)] - CMDR Steve Falken - 5 Dec 2025</ref> | ||
== What are the dangers? == | == What are the dangers? == | ||
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Neutron travel can be deadly if you drop out of [[supercruise]] inside the neutron jet. This can occur by accident (pressing the drop out key bind by mistake), or by misjudging your position relative to the neutron star and hitting the automatic drop out zone while supercharging. You can avoid this most of the time if you zero your throttle during the hyperspace sequence toward a NS. You can also avoid being 'sucked into the drop out zone' by immediately turning away from the neutron star upon hyperspace exit, and gliding into the far edge of the NS plume to supercharge where you should have sufficient distance to ride the jet and exit the plume safely. Remember however, that nothing is 100% safe with neutron skimming! | Neutron travel can be deadly if you drop out of [[supercruise]] inside the neutron jet. This can occur by accident (pressing the drop out key bind by mistake), or by misjudging your position relative to the neutron star and hitting the automatic drop out zone while supercharging. You can avoid this most of the time if you zero your throttle during the hyperspace sequence toward a NS. You can also avoid being 'sucked into the drop out zone' by immediately turning away from the neutron star upon hyperspace exit, and gliding into the far edge of the NS plume to supercharge where you should have sufficient distance to ride the jet and exit the plume safely. Remember however, that nothing is 100% safe with neutron skimming! | ||
If you lose connection inside a neutron jet, do not log back in! Submit a ticket to game support and they will investigate your net log activity; if you genuinely lost connection, they will move you to a safe system (this info is based on forum comments circa | If you lose connection inside a neutron jet, do not log back in! Submit a ticket to game support and they will investigate your net log activity; if you genuinely lost connection, they will move you to a safe system (this info is based on forum comments circa October 2015). Alternatively, you can attempt to low-wake out of the jet by selecting a celestial object within the system and initiating supercruise (this avoids the need to align-to-target 'high-wake' method, which is virtually impossible while caught in the turbulence of a neutron jet). | ||
Other things to watch out for are FSD damage. Supercharging can damage your FSD and this damage mounts up. It is recommend to drop out of SC (away from a NS jet), and repair your FSD when it drops below 90% integrity. Don't leave home without an [[Auto Field-Maintenance Unit|AFMU]] if you intend to use the neutron grid. | Other things to watch out for are FSD damage. Supercharging can damage your FSD and this damage mounts up. It is recommend to drop out of SC (away from a NS jet), and repair your FSD when it drops below 90% integrity. Don't leave home without an [[Auto Field-Maintenance Unit|AFMU]] if you intend to use the neutron grid. | ||
Also be wary of 'continuous neutron hopping', i.e. jumping from neutron to neutron and forgetting to hit a regular star once in a while to refuel! | Also be wary of 'continuous neutron hopping', i.e. jumping from neutron to neutron and forgetting to hit a regular star once in a while to refuel! | ||
When neutron boosting to reach the edges of the galaxy, it is possible to get stranded. Indeed, if you were to neutron jump to a very remote system with no nearby systems and no neutron star inside, it may not be possible to jump out. In this case, check if FSD injections could allow a long enough jump out, if not, only a carrier could save you. | |||
== Creating a Route == | == Creating a Route == | ||
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== Tools == | == Tools == | ||
The | The tools [https://www.spansh.co.uk/ Elite Dangerous Neutron Router] and [https://spansh.co.uk/exact-plotter Galaxy Plotter] plot between two star systems. They will prioritise neutron stars so should be avoided for journeys which are lower than 500 light years. | ||
With the ''Operations ''update, the in-game router is improved to suggest neutron supercharging. When travelling in remote areas, it now is more relevant than third-party tools, because it has access to undiscovered neutron stars. | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
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== Videos == | == Videos == | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:Neutron Superhighway & Colonia Guide 2026 - Elite Dangerous- Odyssey | |||
Elite Dangerous - | File:Sol to Colonia Speed Record (36m 48s) | ||
Sol to Colonia | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||