Entry Filters Configuration

The BWT Precision AutoTrader includes a comprehensive filtering system that allows you to fine-tune when trades are executed. Filters act as gatekeepers – ALL enabled filters must pass before a trade signal becomes an actual trade entry.

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Group: 100 – Entry Filters Control

This is the master control panel for all entry filters. Settings here enable or disable entire categories of filters.

001 – Filters Enabled On/Off

Type: Integer (0 or 1)
Default: 0
Description: Global master switch for ALL entry filters.

• 0: ALL filters are disabled – every signal from your enabled module(s) will generate a trade
• 1: Filters are enabled – signals must pass all enabled filters before trades are executed

Critical: This is your master kill switch. Set to 0 if you want unfiltered trading from your entry module.

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002 – Trade Direction Filter

Type: Dropdown
Options:

• Both: Allow both long and short trades
• Long Only: Only take long (buy) trades
• Short Only: Only take short (sell) trades
  Default: Both
  Description: Restrict trading to a specific direction.

Use Cases:

• Market has strong bullish bias → Use “Long Only”
• Testing strategy performance by direction → Test “Long Only” vs “Short Only” separately
• Personal trading rules → Some traders only trade with the major trend direction

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003 – Precision Trend Filter

Type: Integer (0 or 1)
Default: 1
Description: Trades only allowed when entry signal agrees with the Precision Trend indicator on the primary chart timeframe.

• For Longs: Both the signal AND the trend must be bullish (blue bar color)
• For Shorts: Both the signal AND the trend must be bearish (red bar color)

When to Use: Excellent for trend-following strategies. Prevents counter-trend trades that often have lower win rates.

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004 – Precision Trend Filter HTF (Higher Timeframe)

Type: Integer (0 or 1)
Default: 0
Description: Trades only allowed when BOTH the higher timeframe (Anchor Chart) AND primary timeframe Precision Trend are in agreement.

Example: Trading on 5-minute chart with 60-minute HTF filter

• Long signal on 5-min chart will only execute if BOTH the 5-min AND 60-min trends are bullish

When to Use: This is one of the most powerful filters. Multi-timeframe confirmation dramatically improves win rate. Highly recommended for beginners.

Note: HTF settings are configured in the “300-Series Groups” (covered in the HTF section).

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005 – Session Times Filter

Type: Integer (0 or 1)
Default: 1
Description: Enable time-of-day restrictions for trading.

• 0: Trade 24 hours (no time restrictions)
• 1: Only trade during the session times configured in Group “101- Entry Filters- Session Times Filter”

When to Use: Most strategies perform better during specific market hours. For example, many ES strategies only trade during RTH (Regular Trading Hours) 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET.

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006 – Trading Days Filter

Type: Integer (0 or 1)
Default: 0
Description: Enable day-of-week restrictions for trading.

• 0: Trade every day
• 1: Only trade on days selected in Group “102- Entry Filters- Trading Days Filter”

When to Use:

• Avoid Fridays which may have different characteristics
• Only trade Monday-Thursday for certain strategies
• Futures traders may want to enable/disable Sunday evening sessions

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007 – Step MA Bias Filter

Type: Integer (0 or 1)
Default: 0
Description: Uses the BWT Step MA indicator to determine trend bias and filter entries.

• 1: Only trade when price action agrees with Step MA trend direction
• 0: Disabled

When to Use: The Step MA is a unique moving average that “steps” with price structure. Good for strong trending markets.

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008 – Precision MA Filter

Type: Integer (0 or 1)
Default: 0
Description: Uses the BWT Precision MA (adaptive moving average) as an entry filter.

When to Use: The Precision MA adapts to market conditions. Good for dynamic filtering based on volatility and trend strength.

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009 – Precision AI MA Filter

Type: Integer (0 or 1)
Default: 0
Description: Uses the BWT Precision AI-MA (Artificial Intelligence Moving Average) as an entry filter.

When to Use: Advanced adaptive filter that uses multiple parameters to adjust to market conditions.

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010 – Daily ORB Filter

Type: Integer (0 or 1)
Default: 0
Description: Only allows trades in the direction of the daily session open breakout.

Example: If price opens and immediately moves above the previous day’s close (bullish), only long trades allowed for the day.

When to Use: Markets often show directional bias from the opening. This filter captures that bias.

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011 – Weekly ORB Filter

Type: Integer (0 or 1)
Default: 0
Description: Only allows trades in the direction of the weekly session open breakout.

When to Use: Longer-term directional bias filter. Good for capturing weekly trends.

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012 – News Event Filter

Type: Checkbox (True/False)
Default: False
Description: Disable trading around high-impact news events.

How it Works: The system will not take new trades within a specified time window before/after scheduled news events.

When to Use: Many traders avoid news events due to unpredictable volatility and widening spreads. Highly recommended for beginners.

Configuration: News filter settings are in Group “106- Entry Filters- News Filter Settings”

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014 – Price Zone Filter

Type: Integer (0 or 1)
Default: 0
Description: Only allows trades when price is OUTSIDE a defined price zone (support/resistance zone).

Use Case: If you identify a consolidation zone from 4500-4520, set this zone and only take breakout trades above 4520 or below 4500.

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016 – Moving Average 1 Filter

Type: Checkbox (True/False)
Default: False
Description: Uses Moving Average #1 as an entry filter based on configured rules.

When to Use: Classic trend filter – only trade above/below a moving average. Very popular for trend-following systems.

Configuration: MA1 settings are in Group “107- Entry Filters- MA1 Settings”

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017 – Moving Average 2 Filter

Type: Checkbox (True/False)
Default: False
Description: Uses Moving Average #2 as an entry filter.

Configuration: MA2 settings are in Group “108- Entry Filters- MA2 Settings”

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018 – Moving Average 3 Filter

Type: Checkbox (True/False)
Default: False
Description: Uses Moving Average #3 as an entry filter.

Configuration: MA3 settings are in Group “109- Entry Filters- MA3 Settings”

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019 – ADX Filter

Type: Checkbox (True/False)
Default: False
Description: Uses the Average Directional Index (ADX) to filter trades based on trend strength.

How it Works: Only allows trades when ADX is above a minimum threshold, indicating sufficient trend strength.

When to Use: Prevents trading in choppy, non-trending markets. Excellent complement to trend-following systems.

Configuration: ADX settings are in Group “110- Entry Filters- ADX Settings”

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Group: 101 – Session Times Filter

Define the specific hours when trading is allowed.

01A – Session Begin Hours

Type: Integer (0-23)
Default: 9
Description: Hour when trading session begins (24-hour format).

Example: 9 = 9:00 AM

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01B – Session Begin Minutes

Type: Integer (0-59)
Default: 0
Description: Minute when trading session begins.

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01C – Session Begin Seconds

Type: Integer (0-59)
Default: 0
Description: Second when trading session begins.

Usage Example: For ES trading RTH (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM EST):

• Begin Hours: 9
• Begin Minutes: 30
• Begin Seconds: 0

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02A – Session End Hours

Type: Integer (0-23)
Default: 15
Description: Hour when NO NEW TRADES will be taken (24-hour format).

Important: This is when new entries stop. Existing positions will continue until the “Exit Time” specified in the Exit Settings.

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02B – Session End Minutes

Type: Integer (0-59)
Default: 40
Description: Minute when no new trades will be taken.

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02C – Session End Seconds

Type: Integer (0-59)
Default: 0
Description: Second when no new trades will be taken.

Usage Example: For ES RTH, stop new entries at 3:40 PM:

• End Hours: 15
• End Minutes: 40
• End Seconds: 0

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Group: 102 – Trading Days Filter

Select which days of the week trading is allowed.

001 – Sunday

Type: Checkbox
Default: Enabled in SundayToFriday mode
Description: Allow trading on Sunday.

Note: Relevant for futures markets that open Sunday evening.

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002 – Monday

Type: Checkbox
Default: Enabled
Description: Allow trading on Monday.

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003 – Tuesday

Type: Checkbox
Default: Enabled
Description: Allow trading on Tuesday.

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004 – Wednesday

Type: Checkbox
Default: Enabled
Description: Allow trading on Wednesday.

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005 – Thursday

Type: Checkbox
Default: Enabled
Description: Allow trading on Thursday.

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006 – Friday

Type: Checkbox
Default: Enabled
Description: Allow trading on Friday.

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007 – Saturday

Type: Checkbox
Default: Disabled
Description: Allow trading on Saturday.

Note: Rarely needed except for specific cryptocurrency or forex markets.

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Group: 103 – Step MA Bias Filter Settings

Configuration for the Step MA filter when enabled.

001 – MA Length

Type: Integer
Default: 20
Description: Length of the Step MA calculation.

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002 – Step Size

Type: Decimal
Default: 50.0
Description: Size of the “step” in price points for the Step MA to adjust.

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003 – MA Type

Type: Dropdown
Default: SMA
Description: Type of moving average used in the Step MA calculation (SMA, EMA, etc.).

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004 – Sensitivity

Type: Decimal
Default: 0.5
Description: Sensitivity of the step factor. Higher values make the indicator less sensitive to price changes.

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005 – Display On Chart

Type: Checkbox
Default: True
Description: Show the Step MA indicator on the chart.

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006 – Display Color Bars

Type: Checkbox
Default: True
Description: Color the price bars based on Step MA trend direction.

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007 – Color Mode

Type: Integer
Default: 0
Description: Coloring mode for the Step MA display.

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008 – HighLow

Type: Checkbox
Default: False
Description: Use high/low for Step MA calculation instead of close.

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Group: 104 – BWT PrecisionMA Filter Settings

Settings for the Precision MA filter.

001 – P1MAType

Type: Dropdown
Default: PrecisionMA
Description: Moving average type for the Precision MA.

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002 – P2Length

Type: Integer
Default: 10
Description: Period length for the Precision MA calculation.

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003 – P3AMAFast

Type: Integer
Default: 2
Description: Fast period for Adaptive Moving Average (AMA) component.

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004 – P4AMASlow

Type: Integer
Default: 30
Description: Slow period for Adaptive Moving Average (AMA) component.

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005 – P5ShowDots

Type: Checkbox
Default: True
Description: Display dots at turning points on the chart.

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006 – Show Average Indicator

Type: Checkbox
Default: True
Description: Display the Precision MA indicator on the chart.

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007 – P7SmoothingPeriod

Type: Integer
Default: 0
Description: Additional smoothing period for the moving average. Set to 0 to disable.

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Group: 105 – BWT Precision AI-MA Filter Settings

Configuration for the AI-MA filter.

001 – Length

Type: Integer
Default: 7
Description: Length parameter for the AI-MA calculation.

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002 – Phase

Type: Integer
Default: 50
Description: Phase parameter for the AI-MA algorithm.

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003 – Vector

Type: Integer
Default: 2
Description: Vector parameter for the AI-MA algorithm.

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004 – Show Dots

Type: Checkbox
Default: True
Description: Display dots at turning points.

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006 – Show Average Indicator

Type: Checkbox
Default: True
Description: Display the Precision AI-MA indicator on the chart.

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Group: 106 – News Filter Settings

Configuration for news event filtering.

001 – Disable Before (Minutes)

Type: Integer (Minutes)
Default: 30
Description: Stop taking new trades this many minutes BEFORE a scheduled news event.

Example: Set to 30 to stop trading 30 minutes before major news releases.

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002 – Disable After (Minutes)

Type: Integer (Minutes)
Default: 30
Description: Don’t resume trading until this many minutes AFTER a scheduled news event.

Example: Set to 30 to wait 30 minutes after news before resuming trading.

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003 – Use News Background Color

Type: Checkbox
Default: False
Description: Change the chart background color during news event windows.

When Enabled: Provides visual confirmation that the news filter is active.

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004 – News Background Color

Type: Color Picker
Default: Light Gray
Description: Background color to use during news event windows.

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Group: 107 – MA1 Filter Settings

Configuration for Moving Average #1 filter.

MA1 Filter Type

Type: Dropdown
Options: SMA, EMA, WMA, HMA, TEMA, DEMA, etc.
Default: SMA
Description: Type of moving average to use.

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MA1 Period

Type: Integer
Default: 20
Description: Period length for the moving average calculation.

Common Settings:

• 20: Short-term trend
• 50: Medium-term trend
• 200: Long-term trend

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MA1 Direction

Type: Dropdown
Options:

• LongAbove_ShortBelow: Longs only when price above MA, shorts only when below
• LongBelow_ShortAbove: Longs only when price below MA, shorts only when above
• BothAbove: Both directions but only when price is above MA
• BothBelow: Both directions but only when price is below MA

Default: LongAbove_ShortBelow
Description: Defines the relationship between price and MA required for trade entry.

Most Common: LongAbove_ShortBelow – classic trend-following setup.

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Show MA1 On Chart

Type: Checkbox
Default: True
Description: Display MA1 on the chart.

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MA1 Line Color

Type: Color Picker
Default: Yellow
Description: Color of the MA1 line on the chart.

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MA1 Line Style

Type: Dropdown (Solid, Dash, Dot, etc.)
Default: Solid
Description: Line style for MA1 display.

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MA1 Line Width

Type: Integer
Default: 2
Description: Width of the MA1 line in pixels.

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MA1 Line Opacity

Type: Integer (0-100)
Default: 80
Description: Opacity/transparency of the MA1 line (0=invisible, 100=fully opaque).

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Group: 108 – MA2 Filter Settings

Configuration for Moving Average #2. All parameters identical to MA1:

• MA2FilterType: Type of moving average (Default: SMA)
• MA2Period: Period length (Default: 50)
• MA2Direction: Price/MA relationship rule (Default: LongAbove_ShortBelow)
• ShowMA2OnChart: Display on chart (Default: True)
• MA2LineColor: Line color (Default: Cyan)
• MA2LineStyle: Line style (Default: Dash)
• MA2LineWidth: Line width (Default: 2)
• MA2LineOpacity: Opacity (Default: 80)

Common Use: MA2 as a medium-term trend filter when combined with MA1 as short-term.

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Group: 109 – MA3 Filter Settings

Configuration for Moving Average #3. All parameters identical to MA1/MA2:

• MA3FilterType: Type of moving average (Default: SMA)
• MA3Period: Period length (Default: 200)
• MA3Direction: Price/MA relationship rule (Default: LongAbove_ShortBelow)
• ShowMA3OnChart: Display on chart (Default: True)
• MA3LineColor: Line color (Default: Magenta)
• MA3LineStyle: Line style (Default: Dot)
• MA3LineWidth: Line width (Default: 2)
• MA3LineOpacity: Opacity (Default: 80)

Common Use: MA3 as long-term trend filter (200 period) – only trade in direction of major trend.

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Group: 110 – ADX Filter Settings

Configuration for the ADX (Average Directional Index) filter.

ADX Period

Type: Integer
Default: 14
Description: Period for ADX calculation.

Standard: 14 is the traditional ADX period from Welles Wilder.

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ADX Minimum Value

Type: Decimal
Default: 25
Description: Minimum ADX value required to allow trades.

ADX Interpretation:

• 0-20: Weak or no trend (choppy market)
• 20-25: Developing trend
• 25-50: Strong trend
• 50+: Very strong trend

Recommended: Start with 25. Increase to 30+ for very strong trend filter, decrease to 20 to allow more trades.

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Show ADX On Chart

Type: Checkbox
Default: True
Description: Display ADX indicator on the chart.

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Filter Strategy Guidelines

Beginner Setup (Conservative)

- Filters Enabled: 1 (On)
- Trade Direction: Both
- Precision Trend Filter HTF: 1 (On) - Most important!
- Session Times Filter: 1 (On) - Trade only RTH
- Trading Days Filter: 1 (On) - Monday-Thursday only
- MA1 Filter: On - 200 SMA, LongAbove_ShortBelow

This setup provides maximum filtering for conservative, high-probability trades.

Intermediate Setup (Balanced)

- Filters Enabled: 1 (On)
- Trade Direction: Both
- Precision Trend Filter: 1 (On)
- Precision Trend Filter HTF: 1 (On)
- Session Times Filter: 1 (On)
- ADX Filter: On - Minimum 25

Balanced approach with trend confirmation and strength filtering.

Advanced Setup (Aggressive)

- Filters Enabled: 1 (On)
- Trade Direction: Both
- Precision Trend Filter: 1 (On)
- Session Times Filter: 1 (On)

Minimal filtering for more trade frequency. Requires experience and active monitoring.

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Important Filter Concepts

AND Logic

All enabled filters use AND logic. This means EVERY enabled filter must pass for a trade to execute.

Example: If you have enabled:

• Precision Trend Filter (must be bullish for long)
• MA1 Filter (price must be above MA)
• ADX Filter (ADX must be > 25)

Then ALL THREE must be true simultaneously for a long trade.

Filter Testing

When adding a new filter:

1. Enable it alone first (disable other filters)
2. Observe how it affects trade frequency
3. Combine with other filters incrementally
4. Backtest thoroughly before live trading

Filter Conflicts

Some filter combinations can be too restrictive:

• Too many filters → Very few trades
• Conflicting filters → No trades at all

Recommended: Start with 2-3 filters and add more only if needed.

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Next Section: Higher Timeframe (HTF) Configuration →