Signal Repeating (Hopping) with Echoflex Controllers

Question

What is signal repeating or single/dual hopping in regards to Echoflex and how do I use it?

Description

Signal repeating, otherwise known as hopping, is a feature in Echoflex where receiving devices retransmit incoming wireless telegrams (messages). This is useful if you have a transmitter (switch/sensor) and receiver (controller/interface) that need to communicate but cannot be installed within reliable wireless range of each other. If there is another controller within range of both (or you can install one solely for this purpose), it can retransmit the transmitter's telegrams for the out-of-range rereiver to pick up.

There are two levels of repeating/hopping:

• Single hop: receiver repeats telegrams from original transmitter.
• Dual hop: receiver repeats telegrams from original transmitter AND telegrams that have already been repeated once. There is no setting any more hops than 2. 

Of note:

• Repeating devices must be powered by constant current. Solar- or battery-powered devices will not support this feature.
• The device will repeat ALL telegrams it sees, not just ones coming from switches or sensors specifically linked to it.
• When the device repeats the telegram, it tweaks the message a bit to denote that it has already been repeated once or twice, as appropriate.
  • This assists in the functionality of dual hop, and can also be a useful note if examining telegrams via software like Garibaldi, Garibaldi Pro, or DolphinView.

How to Enable and Disable Repeating

Single repeating can be enabled or disabled for a device via the device's buttons or Garibaldi Pro.

Via Garibaldi Pro

1. Launch Garibaldi.
2. Discover the controllers if working from a blank file in front of Echoflex system with the USB Serial Interface set up, or add controller manually if working offline. If you have a pre-configured file, open that and find the controller you wish to change this setting on.
3. Select the controller in the project hierarchy column on the left.
4. Select the Settings tab in the controller configuration window on the right..
5. Search for "Telegram Repeater." and click on it. The default value is "disabled;" select single- or dual-hop repeating to enable the feature.
6. Click the "Apply" button at the bottom of the screen. If you have enabled repeating, the text of the setting in the middle column will become bolded.
7. Right-click on the device in the project hierarchy and click "Send settings to device."

At the Device

Configuring signal repeating at a device varies between device types. Referencing the device's installation guide is recommenced for this, but the most common method is described below (as well as in the referenced video):

1. Press and hold the [CLEAR] button.
2. Quickly tap the [LEARN] button X times depending on how you want to configure.
   1. 1 tap: disables repeating.
   2. 2 taps: enables single-hop repeating.
   3. 3 taps: enables dual-hop repeating.
   4. Release the [CLEAR] button. The green learn LED and red power LED will blink a number of times corresponding to the number of [LEARN] button presses the device registered.

Related Links/References

Video Walkthrough