Parabolic SAR robot Review

[jimsmithuk]

Actually it would be good to understand what these variables are for: (If David could explain?)
extern double SAR_Step = 0.02;
extern double SAR_Maximum = 0.2;
extern double Shift=0;

these variables are then used to create two other numeric variables:
double SARCurrent=iSAR(NULL,0,SAR_Step,SAR_Maximum,Shift) ;
double SARPrevious=iSAR(NULL,0,SAR_Step,SAR_Maximum,Shift +1);

The EA will open a sell order if:
the price is less than SARCurrent AND price is greater than the SARPrevious
Maybe it's just me I know nothing about SARs!.

if(SARCurrent>Ask && SARPrevious<Ask)

[jimsmithuk]

Just read the MT4 manual .... and is seems this is the standard way to calculate Parabolic Sell and reverse. So question is ... is this a good system?


From the manual ...
double iSAR(string symbol, int timeframe, double step, double maximum, int shift)
Calculates the Parabolic Sell and Reverse system and returns its value.

Parameters
symbol - Symbol the data of which should be used to calculate indicator . NULL means the current symbol.
timeframe - Time frame. It can be any of Time frame enumeration values.
step - Increment, usually 0.02.
maximum - Maximum value, usually 0.2.
shift - Shift relative to the current bar (number of periods back), where the data should be taken from.
Sample
if(iSAR(NULL,0,0.02,0.2,0)>Close[0]) return(0);

[jimsmithuk]

Just to let you know
8 trades in less than 24 hours. All good!



285240812008.12.04 15:19buy0.10eurusd1.266100.000001.266902008.12.04 15:211.266900.000.000.008.00 285253382008.12.04 15:24buy0.10eurusd1.266801.267101.267602008.12.04 15:261.267600.000.000.008.00 285261572008.12.04 15:30buy0.10eurusd1.266700.000001.267502008.12.04 15:311.267500.000.000.008.00 285795812008.12.04 21:02sell0.10eurusd1.278101.278001.277302008.12.04 21:021.278000.000.000.001.00 285797942008.12.04 21:03sell0.10eurusd1.277901.277801.277102008.12.04 21:051.277100.000.000.008.00 285814082008.12.04 21:10sell0.10eurusd1.277701.277601.276902008.12.04 21:141.276900.000.000.008.00 285834742008.12.04 21:20sell0.10eurusd1.277700.000001.276902008.12.04 21:341.276900.000.000.008.00 286183902008.12.05 07:13buy0.10eurusd1.277101.277301.277902008.12.05 07:351.277900.000.000.008.00

[jimsmithuk]

Think I figured it out.

The reason for only using SELL is because if it hits the SL it looses $38. Where as if it hits a SL on a BUY the loss is $99. And as both seem to generate the same sort of wins, why use sells?

[PipCop]

David sent me the following message:

I am not very good in English, so I won´t post my messages to your forum When I started to test my strategy, I worked best with short sales only. Sure it works with both BUY/SELL options, but my results were best with "short only" and on given time frame. Classics say, that if you find a successful way to earn money, don´t try to modify it and make "more perfect". So my strategy is not winning on both BUY and SELL, but it is based on probability, that stocks and currencies quicker falls than rises. Also I don´t like to loose money, so the strategy takes small profits, but almost never looses.
Have a nice day David

I encouraged him to post, so let's hope he does.

[david.jukl]

Hey, It was my private message for Pipcop
For everyone: Thank you for testing my strategy

[PipCop]

Sorry, you said it so well I just copied it!

[jimsmithuk]

It seems to be doing well. Although the only problem I can see is that some trades (generally the loosing ones) do not have a SL .
I'm thinking that when the trades are opened initially a SL is not set and only becomes set once the trade becomes profitable. If I get a chance today to look at the code I'll confirm this. But if that could be sorted, I think you would have a genuinely good little EA

[david.jukl]

jimsmithuk: Parabolic SAR has SL . I achieved best results with given settings. Try to modify it. We might see better results. That´s why this EA is here for free and for all!

[jimsmithuk]

I know it has a SL . But my point was that it does not set a SL when it first opens the order

If you look at the code. The red zero is where you would/could set a SL for when you initially open the SELL order. Also, the magic number is hardcoded. So I'm thinking I might put these couple of things into variables you can set. Then I'll put the amended code up here.

When you open an order what would you recommend a suitable SL to be?


// check for short position (SELL) possibility
if(SARCurrent>Ask && SARPrevious<Ask)
{
ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_SELL,Lots,Bid,3,0,Bid-TakeProfit*Point,"macd sample",16384,0,Red);
if(ticket>0)