Description

IVA FTMO EA: A Complete Guide to the Time-Window Limit-Order Robot

IVA FTMO EA ‑ Understand, Test, Deploy (alternative title starting with primary keyword)

Table of Contents

1. What Is IVA FTMO EA?
2. How the IVA FTMO EA Trading Strategy Works
3. Key Features Explained
4. Step-by-Step Installation on MetaTrader 4
5. Recommended Settings
6. Risk Management & Account Protection
7. Back-Testing and Forward-Testing Results
8. Comparing IVA FTMO EA With Other Limit-Order Robots
9. Common Problems and Simple Fixes
10. Frequently Asked Questions
11. Final Thoughts
12. Further Reading

What Is IVA FTMO EA?

IVA FTMO EA is an automated trading robot built for the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform. The expert advisor automates pending limit order placement on both sides of the market within a fixed daily time window, generally between 17:00 and 24:00 platform time. By combining cost averaging and a moderate martingale step, the robot tries to bring open positions back toward an adaptive price channel and exit near its center.

Because the robot was designed around the risk limits of prop-firm challenges—especially FTMO—it already ships with filters for slippage, spread, and high-impact news events. Traders who want a “set-and-forget” night scalper without 24-hour monitoring often pick IVA FTMO EA for that reason.

How the IVA FTMO EA Trading Strategy Works

1. Trading Window

• 17:00–24:00 platform time (the quiet end of New York session and early Asia).
• No orders are placed outside this period. The EA simply waits for the next trading day.

2. Dual Limit Orders

At the start of the window, the robot sets two limit orders:

If the price touches either limit, the EA opens a position.

3. Adaptive Price Channel

• The channel recalculates every bar.
• Once price returns to the mid-line, the EA exits the trade, aiming to pocket the mean-reversion move.

4. Cost Averaging

If price moves against the first trade:

• The EA layers additional trades at fixed pip gaps.
• Each new layer is larger in size (controlled martingale coefficient).
• Averaged entry price drifts toward the current market price.

5. Martingale Multiplier

Default: 1.3–1.5.A small multiplier is safer than an aggressive 2× grid because it reduces exposure to runaway trends.

6. Safety Filters

• High-impact news: No new orders 30 min before or after.
• Spread cap: Skip trading if spread > maximum in inputs.
• Slippage guard: Reject fills that exceed the allowed slippage.

Key Features Explained

Step-by-Step Installation on MetaTrader 4

1. Download the IVA FTMO EA file (IVAFTMOEA.ex4).
2. Open MT4 → File → Open Data Folder → MQL4 → Experts.
3. Paste the .ex4 file. Restart MT4 or right-click Experts → Refresh.
4. Drag “IVAFTMOEA” onto any chart (EURUSD M15 suggested).
5. In the Common tab:
   • Check Allow live trading.
   • Check Allow DLL imports (needed for news filter).
6. In Inputs tab:
   • Set risk in LotsPer1000 or choose FixedLots.
   • Confirm broker GMT offset if auto-detect fails.
7. Press OK.
8. Make sure the smiley face appears top-right, showing the EA is active.

Tip: Run on a VPS close to your broker for lower latency and better slippage control.

Recommended Settings

Below is a starting point. Always forward-test on demo first.

Risk Management & Account Protection

1. Lot SizingSet LotsPer1000 to 0.05 for a conservative 0.5 lot per $10 k base.
2. Daily Loss LimitsThe EA closes all trades if floating loss > daily limit.
3. Equity GuardHard equity stop avoids blowing the account in black-swan events.
4. Maximum TradesLower MaxTrades = lower drawdown but also lower recovery rate.
5. Broker ChoiceDMA or ECN broker with spread < 1 pip on majors during 17:00–24:00.
6. Leverage1:100 is often enough; higher leverage only spikes risk.
7. Portfolio DiversificationRun the EA on multiple low-correlation pairs (e.g., EURUSD, AUDUSD, USDJPY) but keep overall risk balanced.

Back-Testing and Forward-Testing Results

Methodology

• Platform: MT4 Strategy Tester
• Data: Tick-data from 2015–2023, Dukascopy, GMT+2 with DST
• Model: Every tick with variable spread
• Pairs: EURUSD, GBPUSD, XAUUSD

Results Snapshot (EURUSD)

Forward-Test (Live Demo, Jan-Jun 2024)

The live test under real spread and slippage shows slightly lower profitability versus the back-test, yet still within planned risk.

For transparency, screenshots of the back-test equity curve and the Myfxbook forward-test are shared in this Google Drive link (external).

Comparing IVA FTMO EA With Other Limit-Order Robots

Takeaway: IVA FTMO EA blends controlled martingale with strong filters, making it safer than a wide-grid yet more flexible than a tight scalper.

Common Problems and Simple Fixes

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Does IVA FTMO EA need a VPS?A: It is highly recommended. Stable connection avoids missed entries in the five-hour window.

Q2: Can I change the trading window?A: Yes. Adjust StartHour and EndHour, but test performance first.

Q3: How many symbols can I trade at once?A: Up to 10 pairs, but lower lot size accordingly.

Q4: Is the robot fully FTMO compliant out of the box?A: Default limits align with FTMO rules; always double-check.

Q5: Does it work on MetaTrader 5?A: The current build is MT4 only. An MT5 port is on the roadmap.

Final Thoughts

IVA FTMO EA brings a balanced mix of pending limit orders, cost averaging, and a measured martingale step inside a controlled five-hour window. When paired with strict risk caps and a good broker, the robot has demonstrated steady returns and compliance with prop-firm rules.

Always start on demo, keep trade sizes small, and respect the daily loss stop built into the IVA FTMO EA. That way the strategy’s strengths—efficient order placement and adaptive exit logic—can play out without exposing your capital to oversized risk.

Further Reading

• Internal: How to Choose the Best VPS for MT4
• Internal: Understanding Grid vs Martingale in Forex
• External: FTMO Challenge Rules
• External: MetaTrader 4 User Guide (MetaQuotes)

Ready to test IVA FTMO EA on a risk-free demo? Download the setup guide and share your experience in the comments below!

Vendor Site – Private