Signal Blocker Node

The Signal Blocker node allows the first signal through and blocks any unwanted signals that may occur on the following bars afterwards, until a Reset condition occurs. A Reset condition turns the signal blocking off, so the next wanted trade signal is not blocked.
The primary use for this node is to clean up the final trade signal at the Result node. Sometimes a system design will generate several consecutive or continuous signals, but the trader only wants to see the first signal and not any signals that may occur shortly afterwards on the next several bars.

This video shows BloodHound v1, however the concepts and principals are still the same.

BloodHound v2

This section is specific to BloodHound v2. Scroll down for BloodHound v1.

Properties tab

This tab contains the essential settings for all nodes.

Modifiers

Click to see documentation

This section provides quick access to commonly used output modifiers.
Please note: The buttons only modify the individual instance of the selected node(s) on a Logic Board. Thus, the buttons are only visible when a node is selected on the Logic Board. The buttons are not available when a solver is selected in the Solvers panel, because the original solver's output can not be globally modified.
This behavior is consistent with adding a function node afterwards, so that the original solver's output remains unmodified elsewhere in the system. It is similar to having an SMA(50) on several charts. Changing the plot color on one chart does not modify the plot color on the other charts.

Enable button

Invert button

Swap button

Properties

These setting only apply to the selected Function node. Function nodes are single instances, unlike Solvers that can have multiple instances of themselves.

Options

Signal Threshold

Intra-Bar Signal Mode

Note: This option only applies when Calculate is set to 'On price change' or 'On each tick'. i.e. It functions only when intra-bar signals are possible.

This determines how intra-bar signals are processed and blocked. Intra-bar signals are signals that can occur while a bar is forming/building as price moves up and down to form the bar's highs and lows. The "signal" being referenced is the signal going into the Input connector of the Signal Blocker, not at the Output connector.

Not All Signals Will Be Visible

It is important to know that when BloodHound is set to calculate on forming bars (Not 'On bar close'), NinjaTrader only redraws/refreshes charts every 250 milliseconds (4 times per second). With the fast pace of market data these days, that means price could easily move up a few ticks that generates a signal, and then moves back down within the 250 millisecond gap before NinjaTrader redraws the chart.

Intra-bar Signals Are Lost After A Reload

If a chart reload occurs, for any reason, all intra-bar calculated data is cleared from memory and lost. NinjaTrader does not re-calculated intra-bar data by default, after a chart reload. NinjaTrader requires 'Tick Replay' to be enabled in order to re-calculated intra-bar data.
Before enabling Tick Replay, be sure to read the documentation warnings about significant impacts on performance.

Lock and Hold: As soon as a signal occurs, hold onto that signal for the remainder of the bar's formation, even if the signal disappears. i.e. Lock the signal in as soon as it occurs, and hold it until the bar closes. This is the default setting.

Allow First Signal: This permits only the first signal through, and blocks any secondary signals that may occur afterwards as the bar is forming.
e.g. A new bar opens. Price moves up several ticks and a signal is generated. Then, price moves back down several ticks and the signal disappears. At this point the signal blocking is active. If price moves up again and another intra-bar signal occurs the secondary signals are blocked. Thus, only the first intra-bar signal was allowed to get through.
This option can be beneficial when coding your own custom strategy that uses BloodHound signals. BlackBird and Raven have a setting that effectively does this function of only allowing one signal per bar.

Block After Bar Close: All signals are allowed to come and go while the bar is forming (i.e. no intra-bar blocking). Signal blocking occurs after the bar closes. Selecting this setting will enable a secondary setting to appear, Block Signals If. Whether or not signals are blocked, after the bar closes, is determined by the Block Signals If option. See the option above for more information.

Block Signals If

Note: This option is only available (and visible) when Intra-Bar Signal Mode is set to BlockAfterBarClose. And, this option only applies when Calculate is set to 'On price change' or 'On each tick'. See Intra-Bar Signal Mode below for more information.

Not All Signals Will Be Visible

This option determines whether signal blocking is activated or not based on when the signal occurs during the bar formation. The "signal" being referenced is the signal going into the Input connector of the Signal Blocker.

Signal Occurs Anytime: Apply blocking after the bar closes if a signal occurs anytime while the bar is forming. A signal does not need to be present when the bar closes.

Signal At Bar Close: Only apply blocking if there is a signal present when the bar closes.

Block Opposite Signals

Reset

The Reset option is used to turn off or reset the node's functionality, and is common to several Function nodes. Function nodes that can be reset have a unique Reset connector to receive a specific signal designed to identify when it is time to stop/reset the node.
e.g. If the Signal Blocker is actively blocking signals and charting conditions have changed making it Ok for the next trade signal to occur, then the Signal Blocker should be reset via a signal to the Reset connector. Otherwise, trade signals will continue to be blocked until the 'Block Signals For' period ends.

Reset On

The Reset On options determine which connector, Input or Reset, is monitored for reset signals, and if the same or an opposite signal does the resetting. Check the boxes to enable each reset option needed. Be sure to uncheck reset options not being used so that accidental resets do not occur.

Reset Options	Description
Input Signal	A Long signal to the Input connector will reset the Long calculations. A Short signal to the Input connector will reset the Short calculations.
Input No Signal	A bar without a Long signal to the Input connector will reset the Long calculations. A bar without a Short signal to the Input connector will reset the Short calculations.
Reset Signal	A Long signal to the Reset connector will reset the Long calculations. A Short signal to the Reset connector will reset the Short calculations.
Reset No Signal	A bar without a Long Signal to the Reset connector will reset the Long calculations. A bar without a Short Signal to the Reset connector will reset the Short calculations.
Input Opposite Signal	A Short signal to the Input will reset the Long calculations. A Long signal to the Input will reset the Short calculations.
Input Opposite No Signal	A bar without a Short signal to the Input will reset the Long calculations. A bar without a Long signal to the Input will reset the Short calculations.
Reset Opposite Signal	A Short signal to the Reset will reset the Long calculations. A Long signal to the Reset will reset the Short calculations.
Reset Opposite No Signal	A bar without a Short Signal to the Reset connector will reset the Long calculations. A bar without a Long Signal to the Reset connector will reset the Short calculations.

Block Signals For

Output

Blocked Output

Options tab

This tab contains extra secondary settings common to all nodes.

Weight

Click to see the Weight documentation

This section is used to modify the node's final output value. It is only useful for designing fuzzy logic systems, or a fuzzy logic section of a system.
Please note: The Weight controls only modify the individual instance of the selected node(s) on a Logic Board. Thus, the Weight controls are only visible when a node is selected on the Logic Board. The controls are not available when a solver is selected in the Solvers panel, because the original solver's output can not be globally modified.
This behavior is different than BloodHound 1.0. In BH 1.0, the Weight controls modified the nodes output globally (every instance). This change in BH 2.0 adds more system design granularity.

Multiply Output: This takes the internal values (the Long and Short values determined via the Properties tab » Output Rules section) and multiplies them by this value.
Note: The final output will not exceed a value of 1, as described in the Slider control below.

Slider control: The slider constrains the final output to a value of 0 to 1. The left side of the slider sets a minimum value that is output regardless if the solver condition is true or not. The right side sets a maximum value that is output. The output is capped.
e.g. Three indicator conditions are being checked, and thus three solvers are created. Only two out of the three indicator conditions are needed. An Additive logic node is used to add the solver's outputs together. Just two out of the three solvers need to add up to a value of 1. Therefore, the right slider (max output value) for all three solvers is set to 0.5. When two indicator/solver conditions are found, thus the outputs = 0.5, then the calculation, in the Additive node, is 0.5 + 0.5 + 0 = 1. A value of 1 means the two out of three condition is true.

Hedge Operation: This applies a mathematical formula to the internal value.

None: No modification is applied.
Very (square output): A squaring formula is applied. Output = value^² .
Somewhat (square root output): A square root formula is applied. Output = √value .

Description

This text area provides a place to write a full description of what the node is doing, used for, or what ever you want.
Note: The Description is global to all instances of the node. It is not applied individually to each instance as the Weight controls are.

Help tab

This tab displays the documentation page (from this web site) of the selected node.
Please note: NinjaTrader v8.0.26.0 or newer is required for the built in web viewer to work, and thus the documentation to be displayed.

Video Tutorial

These videos come from our weekly workshop. Find more videos about the Signal Blocker with this search.

Signal Blocker Tutorial - Updated for BloodHound v2

Blocking Signals for One Hour

This video shows BloodHound v1, however the nodes functionality and concepts are still the same.

BloodHound v1

This section is specific to BloodHound v1. Scroll up for BloodHound v2.

Signal Blocker Node

Video Tutorial

These videos come from our weekly workshop. Find more videos about the Signal Blocker with this search.

General

BloodHound

BlackBird

Other Indicators

Signal Blocker Node

BloodHound v2

Properties tab

Output Modifiers