The Turtle Trading Channel
This software component for MetaTrader 4 is built to enhance the capabilities of your trading environment. This technical indicator acts as a specialized analysis tool designed to visualize market data. It helps traders identify emerging trends, momentum shifts, and key support or resistance levels by plotting statistical calculations directly onto price charts.
How to Setup and Use The Turtle Trading Channel
1. Installation: Place your file in the MQL/Indicators folder via "Open Data Folder" and restart your terminal.
2. Loading: Find the indicator in the Navigator, drag it onto your chart, and configure the input parameters in the popup window.
3. Customization: Press Ctrl+I to open the indicator list, select your tool, and click "Properties" to change colors, levels, or visual styles.
4. Updating: Replace the old file in the Indicators folder with the new version and restart the platform to apply changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is my indicator not showing? A: Verify the file is in the MQL/Indicators folder, or try right-clicking the "Indicators" tree in the Navigator and clicking "Refresh."
Q: Do custom indicators slow down the platform? A: Too many complex indicators can impact performance; remove unused ones via the "Indicator List" (Ctrl+I).
Q: Can I use MT4 indicators on MT5? A: No, MQL4 and MQL5 are distinct languages; ensure the indicator is compiled specifically for your platform version.
Description & Settings
This trend following system was designed by Dennis Gartman and Bill Eckhart, and relies on breakouts of historical highs and lows to take and close trades: it is the complete opposite to the "buy low and sell high" approach. This trend following system was taught to a group of average and normal individuals, and almost everyone turned into a profitable trader.
The main rule is "Trade an N-day breakout and take profits when an M-day high or low is breached (N must me above M)". Examples:
Buy a 10-day breakout and close the trade when price action reaches a 5-day low.
Go short a 20-day breakout and close the trade when price action reaches a 10-day high.
In this indicator, the red and blue lines are the trading lines, and the dotted line is the exit line. Original system is:
Go long when the trading line turns
blue
Go short when the trading line turns
red
Exit long positions when the price touches the exit line
Exit short positions when the price touches the exit line
Recommended initial stop-loss is ATR * 2 from the opening price. Default system parameters were 20,10 and 55,20.
This indicator should be used together with my other indicator: , to represent the same period or the failsafe trading system and get further signals if you have been stopped out. Both indicators implement trading alerts, enable or disable them at will depending on your trading setup.
Original Turtle Rules:
To trade exactly like the turtles did, you need to set up two indicators representing the main and the failsafe system.
Set up the main indicator with TradePeriod = 20 and StopPeriod = 10 (A.k.a
S1
)
Set up the failsafe indicator with TradePeriod = 55 and StopPeriod = 20 using a different color. (A.k.a
S2
)
The entry strategy using S1 is as follows
Buy 20-day breakouts using S1 only if last signaled trade was a loss.
Sell 20-day breakouts using S1 only if last signaled trade was a loss.
If last signaled trade by S1 was a win, you shouldn't trade -Irregardless of the direction or if you traded last signal it or not-
The entry strategy using S2 is as follows:
Buy 55-day breakouts only if you ignored last S1 signal and the market is rallying without you
Sell 55-day breakouts only if you ignored last S1 signal and the market is pluging without you
The turtles had a progressive position sizing approach that boosted their winnings. Once a trading decision has been made you should...
Enter the market with 2% risk. Place stop-loss 2ATR from the opening price.
If the position moves in your favor 1/2ATR, enter the market again with 2% risk and trail all stop-losses 2ATR from current price.
If the position moves in your favor 1/2ATR, enter the market again with 2% risk and trail all stop-losses 2ATR from current price.
If the position moves in your favor 1/2ATR, enter the market again with 2% risk and trail all stop-losses 2ATR from current price.
Stop adding to positions when 4 positions have been taken. (*** And see money management rule below)
The exit strategy is performed using the dotted line of the indicator:
Exit longs taken using S1 when price action closes below a 10-day low
Exit shorts taken using S1 when price action closes above a 10-day high
Exit longs taken using S2 when price action closes below a 20-day low
Exit shorts taken using S2 when price action closes avove a 20-day high
The turtles had very strict money management too. Initial position risk was 2%, but it decreased according to the current drawdown.
If the account had a 10% drawdown, the risk for each trade should decrease a 20%
If the account had a 20% drawdown, the risk for each trade should decrease a 40%.
If the account had a 30% drawdown, the risk for each trade should decrease a 60%.
So, if the account had a N% drawdown, the risk for each trade should decrease N*2%. Other considerations:
Don't get too fixated to the 20,10 (S1) and 55,20 (S1) parameters
The TradePeriod must always be higher than StopPeriod
Changelog:
2012-06-12: Updated the indicator enabling the strict mode from the same file.
