Thank you for your recommendations. >> Yes, I use the tick() function in the script.
>> I will try the timeframe=1 suggestion before each entry call and see it if there's a a change.

(I don't want to use hedge = 5 because I need the long and short trades to exist simultaneously.. not the net position).

When I run a backtest with hedge =2, the trades occur at various points within the 30 minute bar as intended. When I test it live, the trades are bundled up and placed at the start of each bar <--- this is different from the backtest behaviour.