DeBrakke · Algorithmic Trading · Setup Guide
Six steps to connect MetaTrader 5 to the DeBrakke strategy engine — takes about 10 minutes.
You need a live or demo trading account with a broker that supports MetaTrader 5. We recommend our preferred broker — low spreads, fast execution, and fully compatible with the DeBrakke strategy.
What is a broker? A broker is the company that gives you access to trade financial markets. Think of them as the bank that holds your trading funds and connects you to the market. You register with them, deposit money (or use virtual money), and they execute your buy/sell orders.
Live vs Demo account: A demo account uses virtual money — it's completely risk-free and perfect for testing how the strategy behaves. A live account uses real money. We recommend starting with a demo account until you're comfortable with the setup.
MetaTrader 5 is the free trading platform required to run the connector EA. If you already have MT5 installed, you can skip this step.
What is MetaTrader 5? MT5 is free trading software used by millions of traders worldwide. It shows live price charts, connects to your broker's servers, and executes trades. The DeBrakke Connector EA is a small program that runs inside MT5 and communicates with our strategy server on every price update.
Logging in after installation: When you first open MT5, it asks for a server address, login number, and password — these are provided by your broker when you register. Check your broker's confirmation email for these three details.
MT5 blocks all outgoing HTTP calls by default. You must whitelist the DeBrakke server so the EA can send market data and receive trade signals.
MT5 → Tools → Options → Expert Advisors · Add https://dt.debrakke.com then click OK
Where is Tools → Options? Look at the very top of MT5 for the thin text menu bar: File · View · Insert · Charts · Tools · Window · Help. Click Tools, then select Options from the dropdown. A dialog opens with tabs along the top — click the Expert Advisors tab.
Why is this step needed? By default MT5 blocks all Expert Advisors from making internet connections — this is a security feature to protect traders. You're explicitly telling MT5 "I trust this specific URL," which allows the Connector EA to send market data to and receive trade commands from DeBrakke's server. Skip this and the EA shows Error 4060 and will not trade.
The DT_SAAS_CONNECTOR.ex5 file is the Expert Advisor from the registration page. Don't have it or need the latest version? Request a new download link →
― or, if double-click didn't work, do it manually ―
What is a .ex5 file? An Expert Advisor (EA) is a program that runs inside MT5 and can automatically open, modify, and close trades. The .ex5 file is the compiled, ready-to-run version — like an app installer. You don't need any programming knowledge or source code.
Finding the Experts folder manually: In MT5, click File → Open Data Folder. A Windows Explorer window opens to a hidden system folder. Inside it you'll see a MQL5 folder — open it, then open Experts. Paste your DT_SAAS_CONNECTOR.ex5 file here. Then in MT5, right-click Expert Advisors in the Navigator and choose Refresh.
The EA must run on an EURUSD M1 (1-minute) chart. You'll find it in the Navigator panel on the left side of MT5.
What is an M1 chart? Charts in MT5 display price movement over time as candles (bars). The M1 setting means each candle represents 1 minute. The DeBrakke strategy evaluates entries on every new 1-minute bar, so it must run on an M1 chart.
What is the Navigator panel? The Navigator is the panel on the left side of MT5 (press Ctrl+N to show it if it's hidden). It shows a tree of Expert Advisors, Indicators, and Scripts. Expand Expert Advisors to find DT_SAAS_CONNECTOR — double-click it to attach it to your active chart.
Double-click DT_SAAS_CONNECTOR in the Navigator
The EA properties dialog has opened. Click the Inputs tab and fill in the following values:
dt_Kx9mN2pQrW7tY3vZ8cLs...
Where are Inputs? When you double-click the EA in the Navigator, a dialog opens with three tabs: Common, Inputs, and Dependencies. Click Inputs to see the configurable parameters — ServerUrl, ApiKey, and RiskProfile.
What is an API key? Your API key is a unique secret token — like a password — that tells DeBrakke's server which account to run the strategy for. It starts with dt_ and is shown on the registration page after you sign up. Copy it exactly; one wrong character will give a 401 Unauthorized error.
Which risk profile should I pick? Start with Low Risk (default) — validated across both the full 2020–2026 backtest and a standalone 2026 forward test. ~11% balance DD, ~16% equity DD. Conservative uses a wider local H/L lookback for even fewer, more selective entries (~14% equity DD). YOLO uses a short 28-pip TP target for very high trade frequency and ~114K projected profit — at ~26% equity DD. You can switch profiles at any time by removing and re-attaching the EA.
Why so few trades? The strategy only enters when multiple conditions align: H4 EMA trend filter, multi-timeframe extreme zone, proximity to local H/L, and dynamic DCA gap spacing. This selectivity keeps drawdown low and profit factor high. If a few days pass with no trades, the EA is working correctly — it is simply waiting for ideal conditions.
The EA won't place trades until AutoTrading is globally enabled in MT5.
Where is the AutoTrading button? Look at the main toolbar near the top of MT5. There's a button labelled AutoTrading — it changes colour to tell you its state:
What does the smiley face mean? When an EA is attached, a small face appears in the top-right corner of that chart:
What is the Journal tab? At the bottom of MT5 is a docked panel with tabs: Trade · Exposure · History · News · Mailbox · Journal · Alerts. Click Journal to see a live log of everything the EA does — connections, strategy decisions, and error messages. If something isn't working, the Journal almost always tells you why.
Need a broker? We recommend a low-spread ECN broker compatible with the DeBrakke strategy. Trade EURUSD with tight spreads and fast execution.