Trading Articles
Setting GMT Offset
24
May
Anyone who has been following the FAPTurbo members forum for some time will probably let out a huge groan at the title of this article, as this is one of those subjects which gets talked to death. Yet still people keep getting it wrong. Although a little confusing at first especially with so many different times that it is possible to consider, it is really very simple if you only focus on the information that you absolutely need to work out GMToffset.
FAPTurbo EA thankfully now has automated GMToffset, however there are a lot of trading robots out there that use this parameter, many of them needing manual input, so it is important you both understand the parameter and get it right. GMToffset essentially tells your robot what time it is so that it knows whether to trade or not- getting it wrong can have a very negative impact on your account.
GMToffset Misconception #1: It DOES NOT matter where in the world you live. GMToffset has nothing to do with this. Forget it. Forget also where any VPS you are using happens to be.
GMToffset Misconception #2: If you live in the UK do not assume that your local time is GMT time. The UK does not always run on GMT time. Here in the UK we can be a bit illogical like that sometimes 
.
How To Work Out GMT Offset
Only work out GMToffset during a weekday (trading day). The brokers must be open for business for this to work. Check that this is the case by looking for the ‘marketwatch’ window on the left of your screen. There should be a clock in the title bar of that window and it should be updating.Â
Go to the GMT website. Write down what time it says there.
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Now, ask yourself, “what do i have to do to get from GMT time TO my marketwatch time?” (remember, use GMT as your ‘base’ here, always work from GMT time to marketwatch, not the other way around). If you have to add 2 hours to get to marketwatch time then your GMToffset is simply 2. If you have to take away 2 hours then it is -2 (minus 2).
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So, to summarise, GMToffset is quite simply the difference between GMT time and Marketwatch time. Just make sure you get it in the right direction! (marketwatch ahead = +ve number, marketwatch behind = -ve number).
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13 Comments
Donna,
Question on the new Fapturbo v 47 ‘auto GMT offset’ setting: If it is set to ‘true’ (meaning automatic) does it matter what the manual GMT setting is left on. For example, with auto on ‘true’ should one leave manual at default, 1, or does the “true” setting override the manual setting? Conversely, if it is set to “false” must you then be sure that you set the manual GMT offset setting correctly for your broker? Can you do it either way? If you have no problem understanding how to determine the correct broker GMT offset, is one way better than another, or does it matter?
Thanks, Brian
No it doesn’t matter what number you put in the manual GMToffset. If however for some unlikely reason the GMT server goes down, then FAPTurbo will use the figure you put here instead of GMToffset. The chances of this happening though are incredibly remote!
Hi Donna,
When backtesting I know you have to set ‘auto GMT offset’ to false. Do I need to manually set it to match my offset or keep it to 1?
Donna,
Just wanted to add that for countries like Portugal and UK you should check this setting periodically, since some periods in the year local time is exactly the same as GMT and sometimes is 1 hour difference.
Thanks
LuÃs
Donna,
I am running FAP Turbo on demo at the moment but this GMT offset is still baffling me.
For instance, I am in the UK. Right now GMT site says 1:40am and the Market Watch is 4:40. This implies that the offset is 3.
However when I set to autoGMToffset, it says 2(auto).
Myl, assuming your times there are right, then the offset should indeed be 3, HOWEVER, make doubly sure you are checking the right time, there are two times displayed on the GMT website, you need to look at the one which is +0.00 NOT the one for british summer time.
Your explanations are Cristal Clear !!!
Thanks !!
hi, concerning the settings do we follow the summer gmt or we stick only to the winter GMT.
I’m in pacific time.
GMT is (GMT-7:00)
10:53
Market time is 13:53
is the correct setting 3?
It is correct.!!!
Thanks Donna,
Your explaination is so much easier and clearer.
Thank u for your contribution here
Donna – your explanation of how to set GMT offset is really clear. One small follow-up question. (fYi, I am a fairly new user of FAPT.) The StartWorkTimeHour and EndWorkTimeHour in the parameters: does this refer to local time or GMT or broker time (aka offset)?
Thanks
It refers to GMT time.
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