Understanding Echo Expansion Bridge Segments
Understanding Echo Expansion Bridge Segments
An Echo Expansion Bridge (EEB) is an Echo device that combines up to four independent EchoConnect segments so that they communicate as one system. The main purpose for this is to allow for extra devices in a system. Since an Echo system can contain 16U (16 control devices and 16 output devices), if you fully populated all four segments on an EEB, you would have a total of 64U (64 control devices and 64 output devices). You do NOT gain extra spaces or zones with an EEB.
Each segment follows the same rules of a regular Echo system:
- 16U in an Echo system, or 16 control devices and 16 output devices
- Devices can be assigned to spaces 1-16
- 1 power supply
When the segments are tied into the EEB, they are essentially tied together and communicate as if they are on the same EchoConnect bus. Whoever is in space 1 on segment 1 communicates with whoever is in space 1 on segments 2, 3, and 4.
Example:
- Segment 1 has an Echo Zone Controller assigned to space 1, zone 1.
- Segment 2 has an Echo Zone Controller assigned to space 1, zone 1. It also has a 4-button Inspire station assigned to space 1.
- When using the Inspire station from segment 2, it will control the zone controllers from both segment 1 and 2 because they are both in space 1.
Common Questions
Does this mean I get more spaces or zones?
No. You will still have 16 total spaces and 16 total zones. You can have multiple devices assigned to the same space and zone, and they will act together. In theory, you can have 16 zone controllers on each segment (equaling a total of 64), assign them all to space 1 and zone 1, and they will all go to full when you tell that zone to go to full.
How many devices per segment?
Each segment follows the same rules of a regular Echo system:
- 16U in an Echo system, or 16 control devices and 16 output devices
- Devices can be assigned to spaces 1-16
- 1 power supply
Do the segments share an Echo station power supply?
Each segment requires its own power supply. The EEB will need to share the power supply of one of the segments (remember it will require aux in addition to EchoConnect).
Are there any devices that will NOT communicate across the different segments of the Echo Expansion Bridge?
All Echo devices will communicate across an EEB, including stations, sensors, a TimeClock, etc.
The one exception to this rule is the Bluetooth EchoAccess Interface. That interface is only able to discover devices connected on the same segment of an EEB (actions like playing a preset or setting a zone level from the EchoAccess App connected to the Bluetooth EchoAccess Interface will continue to work across all segments of an Echo Expansion Bridge).
If you need to see all devices on all segments of an EEB, please connect your EchoAccess App to the bridge instead of the Bluetooth EchoAccess Interface.
Connect a third party wireless access point to the EEB to make it discoverable by your device running the EchoAccess App. Click the link below for more information on this setup.