EA Time Frame Questions

Trading Systems Expert Advisors and Automated Trading
1

Hello everyone!

I did a search for this first, and I think I found my answer but I need to clarify it.

If the EA says to run in on a specific time frame, I noticed the back tests also don’t run right unless the correct time frame is used.

So with that said, when the EA is attached to the chart, the correct time frame MUST be selected in order for the EA to work correctly?

I had an EA running that said H1 time frame must be used, and by accident on the chart the M15 was selected, and I noticed the EA was barely making any trades. On the back testing of the EA it made lot’s of trades, CAP Ichimoku.

Thank you in advance!

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2

One way to know for sure, post up the EA. Usually a setting for the Time Frame.

3

What?? Be more specific please.

4

Post the EA file.

5

@EmeraldEyes From MQL5… I doubt you’ll ever see code for this EA…

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6

That is correct so far. EAs are programmed for at least one timeframe. For example, H1. Some also look at higher timeframes in addition, but the timeframe on which they should run in the metrader is always specified.

7

i am having trouble running ichimoku EA correctly. It sometimes barely touches the cloud and opens a trade or sometimes it goes without closing the trade. I have been testing on m1. Have you found a way to make it work as properly as possible?

8

I had that same issue and gave up on the Ichimoku EA. It would make wonderful trades but then start holding some trades for a long time. Kept blowing my account. The CAP Breakout EA on Fractal or Daily High/Low is a much better EA, and much safer. I have been using it on EURUSD with a live account since August. Just make sure to turn off the EA before HUGE news events like October 1st when the federal reserve issued new interest rates, and on election night November 5th. Then turn it back on after the forex pair has leveled out.

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9

im just after the simplest scalping bot at this point. Choose direction, entry exit rules, Run!!

Anything around?

10

Hi @russelsfl

I am an EA developer myself on MT5 and one of the reasons for this behavior is the settings of the indicator itself inside the code. As an example, TF is necessarily specified inside the indicator, and it can be:

  1. output to an external variable that allows you to choose any TF in the settings, no matter on which chart timeframe you run it. (in the settings you can choose M15, but run it on H1 and the Expert Advisor will read data from M15 and open trades on signals on M15).

  2. is specified in the indicator code.
    Example for moving average iMA(Symbol(), TimeFrame = H1,…), with such settings, no matter what timeframe you attach the Expert Advisor to, it will always use signals from H1.

It is also important on what type of data you test, it happens that indicators use the intersection of their values (if the price of the asset is greater than the moving average, the event), the intersection itself can be on tick data, and the use of OHCL prices will not trigger the condition.

Regards