Do You Use Metatrader?

[euclid 10]

This sub-forum has been sitting empty for a while now, so I thought I'd kick things off with a poll to see if anybody here uses Metatrader and what for.

[Bear Mtn. 10]

I have only ever used it to sim-trade a few sporadic ideas, test out some EA's and throw on a few indicators for a quick look when I've spotted something potentially of interest on a forum. So, I have yet to find something to keep me using it (or seek out a supporting provider to take anything Live) but thanks for kicking this off euclid as it will be interesting to see what others are saying...

[BlowFish 10]

I've only messed about with it. Its fine for drawing S/R on currency charts. I tend to use 20min and 4 hour bars. Occasionally I look at faster charts or hourlies. Seems to be some interesting studies for it but when I do use it I use it fairly plain. Seems well supported for user generated stuff. Order entry and manipulation is pretty horrendous (imho) don't think I could ever get tempted into using it for that.

[Mysticforex 13]

I have been using it for about 4 years. I like it for charting and analysis.

Horrible if you use Market Orders, have never had a problem with Entry Orders, SLs or TPs.

I have found over the years that it DOES make a difference what broker data feed you are using. I have been using Gain Capital on a Live acct. Other broker data feeds I have used in the past have been on demo accts, that could make a difference.

[Ingot54 13]

I have been using MT4 for close to 6 years - mainly for the charting and for strategy development., but today I find it indispensable for pinpointing entry prior to placing a trade. Ideally I would like to be trading live from my charts, but we are just catching up here in Australia. The most popular broker does not offer MT4, and I feel this has held back the charting package development in this country, through lack of competition.

 

I have been very vocal about that, and more than once stirred the ire of my live broker's "cool" PR staff over it!!

 

That non-MT4 broker's charting is atrocious, yet they spruik they have the "state-of-the-art" platform and charting package. I guess it won't fool traders for too much longer - but there are newbies coming into the markets as quickly as others leave, I guess.

 

I have lost count of the templates created and discarded, and the systems utilized from other forums and vendors. I have learned something from all of it, and my current strategy and template was 100% developed on MT4 platforms.

 

I have found that the data feed I have on demo differs from my live broker's quote by 2 pips consistently - ie I get in 2 pips higher, but I get out 2 pips higher as well, providing the spread is also consistent.

 

Some of the larger USA and UK brokers have set up office in Australia in the past 18 months, and with them has come a local brand of MT4, as well as an offering of their own in-house platforms. So far I have not given in to the temptation to go live with one of them, because of the reports of slippage increasing, as spreads shrink.

 

I have friends who use live MT4 here in Oz, and this is their biggest complaint - delayed execution, requotes and slippage. Yet the brokers all like to claim: "spreads from 1 pip."

 

Hilarious ... and scary at the same time! At least with the current broker, I know the extent of slippage, and frequently place limit orders to circumvent their little games.

 

If I have one issue with MT4 demo, it would be that at times there can be a data-feed freeze. I have taken this up with the supplying broker, via email, and the response was that "it can happen during busy periods due to resources being diverted to live platform feeds as a priority", meaning that demo is a secondary consideration to the data needs of live clients.

 

That's as it should be.

 

:2c:

[ajax358 10]

thx Ingot54,

I am thinking of using it here in the USA (PST/Seattle), for trading. Have a trading friend in Ohio that is using it for Forex trades & says it trades very well (he uses 30 & 60 minute charts)...he has been using it for 1 year now. He used to be on TS, like I am now....but he, & I, like the no monthly fees with this platform. As well as the indicators I have custom made, I have found on the net, that download into MT, so means that I can do the same trading.

 

One question I have tho, is if there can be 'more than one' indicator in a 'level'....ie., using a MACD & a Stoch in 'same level', as I do with TS (have found the Stoch leads the MACD in real turns on the charts, so is a great heads up)....so having them in the same 'level' is paramount to me to switch!

 

If anyone knows if this can be done, indicators in 'one level', ples let me know....thx ahead of time.

 

ciao....ajax358

[Ingot54 13]

One question I have tho, is if there can be 'more than one' indicator in a 'level'....ie., using a MACD & a Stoch in 'same level', as I do with TS (have found the Stoch leads the MACD in real turns on the charts, so is a great heads up)....so having them in the same 'level' is paramount to me to switch!

 

If anyone knows if this can be done, indicators in 'one level', please let me know....thx ahead of time.

 

ciao....ajax358

 

Hi Ajax

 

I am unsure whether you really mean having the MACD and Stoch display in the same WINDOW.

 

If so, all you do is drag the stochastic from "Indicators" or "Custom Indicators" into the SAME window as the MACD, instead of dragging it into the chart window at the top.

 

Check the attached pic ... is this what you are looking for?

 

Also with regard to the "Stoch leading the MACD on the chart" ... this is not strictly correct. I would not say I am an expert on Stochastic, but it is certainly one of the least understood and worst utilized indicators of the whole MT4 family. I find so few traders actually know how to use it, that they don't bother with it, and it is discarded before they ever get to the holding hands and kissing stage with it!!!

 

To tease you a bit with what is possible with Stochs, have you ever experimented with changing the %D Period, %K Period or Slowing Period? Try changing these settings while keeping the MACD settings the same, and you will discover that the 5.3.3 is not as accurate as the 14.3.3, or the 8.3.3. The settings are critical if you want early signals.

 

I have much more to share with Stochastics, and would do so if the interest exists.

But I am just as happy to keep it to myself.

 

.

[ajax358 10]

Hi mate/Ingot54,

 

Dang I just typed a long reply....then was bounced out after cat was on keyboard....ok, try again....lol.

 

Yes, this pic of your is the 'look' I was looking for!!......thx allot!! What I meant was to "layer indicators" in a "Level" under Price. In TS(TradeStation), it is called a "indicator Levels", so why I used that term. In TS, one can use up to 20 ‘Levels’ of indicators under Price if one wishes. And, can ‘layer’ indicators into the ‘same’ level too, meaning have more than one indicator in a level, just like ur pic.

 

That is the trading system I have come up with after 5 years of learning & now 2 years of successfully trading this system of ‘layered indicators in the ‘Levels’ under Price. I have found the inputs I use for these indicators are very effective & are custom inputs….after years of backtesting & trading live, literally hundreds of hours to get the input values, as will share here. I have gotten the Slow Stoch to ‘lead’ the MACD, in the same ‘Level’, as it is easier to see in the same level & layered ‘on’ one another. The MACD inputs are (5,16,10). The Slow Stochastic is (11,8,8,1,30,70). The Stoch leads the MACD in ‘real’ turns, & if is a fakeout, or a very short run, it will be on top of the MACD, or lag behind it, & is why can see ahead of time how long & strong the move is. I post these ‘looks’ in the MIRC chatrooms I am in.

 

See, what you think of these input values….& see if they are of any use to you, & others that may read this. I share freely, as others have shared with me, to help me get to where I am now, & thus have a spiritual self duty to share back. As a semi-retired ‘doc’, am used to it too, helping one another….& can see by some of your threads, you council folks in here on the ‘psychology of trading’, & a few I have read, you are spot on with your assessments……...good on ya mate…. 

 

Thanks again for the reply & pic….is exactly what I wanted to do. Am considering using MBTrading as a Forex broker here on the west coast of USA, & they have the MetaTrader free charting on their platform, thus the question above, & the needs I have to layer the Levels of indicators, in my trading methods. Thanks again there mate….appreciate it.

 

Ciao…..ajax358/Reg

[ajax358 10]

also....I forgot to ask this question too, of MetaTrader......can there be 'more' than "one Level" of indicators under Price? The above pic you have the MACD & Stoch together, & is what I want to do....but can one make 'another' Level ("Window" as you called it) under this MACD/Stoch level? I want one more 'Level, as have another 'layer/Level' of indicators....so '2' Levels of indicators under Price.

 

Thx ahead of time for your answer....

 

ciao....ajax358

[Ingot54 13]

Hi Ajax

 

Thank you for sharing your indicator values. I will apply them to my charts and see how they fit with my own strategy.

 

Stochastic is a very under-utilized indicator, and when useful values are applied to it, the results can be spectacular.

 

Currently I use a few windows stacked under the main chart, and some might say that it is not simple enough.

But each indicator has its own purpose, and I have tried doing without them with poor results.

 

One of the tests is to try to work out if the indicator is one you glance at first when you assess a chart. I used to have

the RSI Histogram, but got rid of it in an attempt to de-clutter my charts. From that point I was taking false entries, and

since bringing it back, I have been making money consistently again.

 

I will get back to you on this thread - thank you for sharing so freely.

 

Ingot

[Ingot54 13]

It is possible to place as many windows as you wish under price, with the MT4 platform.

However, there will come a point where their effectiveness diminishes visually, because of the "flattening" of each window as another is stacked within the same space.

 

It is possible to resize the windows one-by-one, but it becomes a bit tedious, as each window above/below has to be moved individually to get a clearer look at the others.

 

I have attached a screen shot of the 4H AUDUSD, showing some of my indicators, and how I have them set up.

[andrusdavis 10]

Have been using FMRL levels of MT4. So far they have been more accurate than anything else. Interesting using Fisher, complete with repaints, alongside to produce an innocent trading system. All on FF so far. Should there be a thread here?

[ajax358 10]

thx Ingot........ that is the issue I have with MT4.....as have TS, & can layer as many indicators in one level as one wishes.....so they 'overlap' one another in the same level/pane, or whatever ones platform calls it.....is a "level" in TS. So, thx......means I will stay with TS, as have had it for 6 years and am happy with it & the very fast executions of market or limit orders.

I found out MT4 does not have a 'dom' like TS (called a Matrix), or a 'dom' like Ninjatrader.....but when asked the rep at MT, he said one can add it (NinjaTrader) onto it, but the order execution has issues....but when pressed what they were, he was not very informative. So, I called back 30 minutes later to get another tech there....but got same guy with limited & not very knowledgeable answers to my technical questions= I will pass on them....they lost a potential client due to lame brains.....loll....

 

anyway....will look at them in 6 months & see if they change at all....

 

thx again.......ciao......ajax358