DualHorizon EA
DualHorizon is a free multi-timeframe trend Expert Advisor for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Its premise: an H1 crossover is only worth trading when the higher timeframe already agrees. Every entry must pass three independent gates — an EMA crossover event, an ADX strength check, and the H4 trend direction — and winners are held toward a distant 6× ATR target with a trailing stop underneath.
How It Works
- Crossover event — EMA(25) crossing EMA(100) on the trading timeframe defines the signal bar; DualHorizon trades the cross, not the state, so it never chases an old trend
- Strength gate — ADX(12) must exceed 20 with +DI/−DI agreeing with the cross direction, filtering out flat-market whipsaws
- Horizon gate — Price must be on the right side of the H4 EMA(50): above it for longs, below it for shorts. If H1 and H4 disagree, no trade
- Ride the winner — Stop-loss 2.0× ATR, take-profit 6.0× ATR, with a 1.0× ATR trailing stop that activates once the trade is 1 ATR in profit
Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Strategy | Multi-timeframe EMA crossover trend |
| Timeframe | H1 (recommended), H4 filter built in |
| Pairs | EURUSD, USDJPY (best), GBPUSD |
| Indicators | EMA (25/100), H4 EMA (50), ADX (12), ATR (10) |
| Risk per trade | 2% (configurable) |
| Stop-loss | 2.0× ATR (dynamic) |
| Take-profit | 6.0× ATR (≈ 1:3 R:R) |
| Trailing stop | 1.0× ATR (activates after 1.0× ATR profit) |
| Max positions | 3 concurrent |
| Platform | MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 |
| Price | Free |
Backtest Results (2024-01 → 2026-03, H1)
| Pair | Trades | Profit Factor | Win Rate | Max Drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD | 118 | 2.06 | 43.2% | 0.4% |
| USDJPY | 120 | 1.34 | 37.5% | 0.7% |
Backtests use bid-candle data with spread modelled. GBPUSD finished slightly negative in the same period and did not pass our internal quality gate, so we recommend running DualHorizon on EURUSD and USDJPY. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Risk Management (Built-in Safety)
- Three independent entry gates — crossover + ADX strength + H4 agreement; any single failure blocks the trade
- ATR-based stops — Stop-loss and take-profit adapt to current volatility
- Trailing stop — Converts open profit into locked-in profit as the trend extends
- Position limit — Max 3 concurrent open trades
- Daily trade limit — Max 5 entries per day
- Automatic lot sizing — Position size derived from account balance × risk %
Best For
- Traders who want fewer, larger trend trades with multi-timeframe confirmation
- Trending regimes on major pairs
- Accounts with $500+ balance
- H1 charts on EURUSD or USDJPY
Recommended Settings
- Risk percent: 2% (default), 1% for sub-$500 accounts
- EMA periods: 25 / 100 (H1), 50 (H4 filter)
- ADX period / threshold: 12 / 20
- SL / TP multipliers: 2.0× / 6.0× ATR(10)
- Pairs: EURUSD, USDJPY
- VPS: Recommended for uninterrupted operation
Getting Started
- Open a free XM account if you don’t have one
- Register your account to activate the EA
- Download DualHorizon EA (both MT4 .ex4 and MT5 .ex5 are provided)
- Install on MetaTrader following our step-by-step guide
- Attach to an H1 chart of EURUSD or USDJPY and confirm “AutoTrading” is enabled
Frequently Asked Questions
How is DualHorizon different from SteadyPips and TripleAlign? All three follow trends, but with different filters. SteadyPips uses a 200-EMA regime filter on one timeframe; TripleAlign demands three EMAs stacked in order; DualHorizon is the only one that reads a second timeframe (H4) before accepting an H1 signal, and it holds winners the longest (6× ATR target).
Why do some trades close before reaching the 6× ATR target? The trailing stop. Once a trade moves 1 ATR into profit, the stop follows price at a 1 ATR distance — many winners exit on the trail during pullbacks, which is intended behavior: it converts trend progress into banked profit without needing the full target.
Can I run DualHorizon alongside other EAs? Yes, on different charts. Each EA in the SteadyPips suite uses a unique magic number (DualHorizon defaults to 113501) so order tracking never conflicts.
What’s the typical trade frequency? Roughly 1 trade per week per pair on H1 — crossover events passing all three gates are infrequent by design.
Related Resources
- What Is an Expert Advisor? — Beginner’s primer on EAs
- Technical Analysis Basics — EMA, ADX, ATR fundamentals
- How to Install an EA on MetaTrader — Step-by-step setup
- How to Backtest a Forex EA — Validate settings before going live
- Forex Risk Management Guide — Essential risk management
- VPS for Forex Trading — Keep the EA running 24/7
Trend trading involves significant risk, including extended flat periods between trends. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please read our risk disclosure before trading.