Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What are the main inputs of the TPR indicator?
TPR has two primary inputs:
Period
The number of historical bars used to calculate the trend.
Factor
A multiplier that determines how far the uptrend and downtrend lines are placed from price.
In most cases, Factor values below 2 are recommended.
2. What does the Period input control?
The Period controls:
How smooth the trend line is
How quickly the indicator reacts to price changes
The effective trend timescale (short-term vs. long-term)
In general:
Smaller Period → faster reaction, more short-term signals
Larger Period → smoother trend, fewer reversals, more lag
3. What does the Factor input control?
The Factor controls:
The distance between the trend line and price
The sensitivity of the indicator
How tight or loose the implied trailing stop is
In general:
Smaller Factor → more sensitive, closer to price
Larger Factor → less sensitive, farther from price
When Factor ≥ 2, the indicator becomes significantly less reactive to short-term price movement.
4. Is there a “best” setting for TPR?
There is no single best setting.
The optimal input combination depends on:
Market type (FX, stocks, futures)
Volatility
Trend behavior
Timeframe
Your trading style (short-term vs. long-term)
The best inputs only exist under specific market conditions. No single combination works well in all environments.
5. Can I use different inputs on the same chart?
Yes, and this is highly recommended.
Using multiple TPR configurations on the same timeframe allows you to:
Compare short-term vs. long-term trend behavior
Identify dominant trend direction
Filter out weak counter-trend moves
6. Can I use the same inputs across different timeframes?
Yes.
Applying the same TPR inputs to multiple timeframes helps you:
Identify trend alignment or divergence
Judge whether short-term trends are supported by higher timeframes
Avoid trading against the dominant trend
Chart Explanation Guide
Chart Example 1: Small Period + Small Factor
Description:
When both Period and Factor are small, the trend lines stay very close to price.
Characteristics:
Very sensitive to price changes
Frequent trend flips
Suitable for short-term or scalping-style analysis
Chart Example 2: Same Factor, Different Periods
Scenario:
Factor = 1, Period = 20 vs. Period = 60
Observation:
Period 20: Trend line is closer to price and reacts faster
Period 60: Trend line is smoother and farther from price
Conclusion:
Period mainly controls the trend horizon and smoothness.
Chart Example 3: Same Period, Different Factors
Scenario:
Period = 20, Factor = 1 vs. Factor = 2
Observation:
Factor = 1: High sensitivity, quick reaction
Factor = 2: Lower sensitivity, fewer reversals
Conclusion:
Factor mainly controls sensitivity and stop distance.
Chart Example 4: Multiple Inputs on the Same Timeframe
Description:
Three 5-minute charts using different TPR settings.
Observation:
Short-range settings show multiple brief uptrends
Long-range settings show a consistent downtrend
Interpretation:
Short-term rallies exist, but the dominant trend remains bearish.
Chart Example 5: Same Inputs on Different Timeframes
Example:
100-tick, 200-tick, and 300-tick charts using the same TPR inputs.
Observation:
Uptrends appear on the 100-tick chart
No uptrend on the 300-tick chart
Interpretation:
Short-term uptrends may lack higher-timeframe support and may not persist.
Chart Example 6: Different Timeframes, Different Inputs
Observation:
5-minute chart turns bearish earlier
30-minute chart confirms the trend change later
Usage:
Lower timeframes can provide early signals, while higher timeframes act as confirmation.
Practical Takeaway
TPR does not know your trading objective.
You must adjust the inputs based on:
Your preferred timeframe
Your holding period
Market conditions
Risk tolerance
Finding the optimal settings often requires experimentation. The goal is not to find a “perfect” input, but to select inputs that consistently match your trading logic.