❓ FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about OrbStats, our methodology, and how to use the tools.
Categories
📑General
What is OrbStats?+
OrbStats is a free, members-only platform focused on Opening Range Breakout (ORB) trading. We publish verified ORB strategies with live performance statistics, free TradingView indicators, a position-size calculator, and a complete trading journal where members can track and share their own performance.
Is OrbStats really free?+
Yes — all features (strategies, statistics, journal, calculator, indicators, leaderboard) are 100% free for registered members. We do not run ads, sell upsells, or offer paid signal services.
Is this a signal service or trading advice?+
No. We do not provide signals or trading advice. The published strategies are real trading approaches with verified historical results, intended as a starting point for your own research and study. Trading involves risk and the actual outcome depends entirely on your execution, sizing, and risk management.
Who is OrbStats for?+
Active traders, prop firm participants, and anyone serious about systematic breakout trading. The platform is most useful for futures traders (especially micro contracts on Tradovate or Rithmic), but the journal accepts any instrument once you configure its point value.
How do I create an account?+
Click Sign Up at the top of the page. You only need an email address and a password. No credit card required.
🧠Strategies & Statistics
What does ORB mean?+
ORB stands for Opening Range Breakout. It refers to the price range formed during a specific time window (typically the first minutes after market open) and the strategy of trading the breakout above or below that range.
Where do these statistics come from?+
Every trade is real and verified — collected through hands-on monitoring of the markets. We do not rely on backtests or theoretical models. The trade-off is that the dataset is limited to what we can personally verify.
How is "Win Rate" calculated?+
Win rate is the percentage of trades that hit the target before the stop. A 1:1 R:R means the target equals the stop distance; a 1:2 R:R means the target is 2× the stop distance. Each strategy specifies its R:R ratio explicitly.
What is "Profit Factor"?+
Profit factor is the ratio of gross profits to gross losses. A profit factor of 1.5 means you make $1.50 for every $1.00 lost. Above 1.0 = profitable; above 2.0 is excellent.
Why do you focus on micro contracts?+
Micro futures (MNQ, MES, MGC, MCL, M2K, MYM) allow precise position sizing. Many ORB strategies have a fixed dollar target regardless of candle range, so you can scale up or down with micros to keep results consistent — especially useful for prop firm consistency rules.
Can I see the actual trades?+
Yes. Every strategy page includes the full historical trade log with entries, exits, and outcomes. Click on a strategy from the Statistics page to see the details.
How often are statistics updated?+
Real-time. Every new trade is added to the database as it closes, and all metrics on the strategy pages and consolidated dashboard recalculate automatically.
🖩Position Size Calculator
What does the Position Calculator do?+
It computes the exact number of micro contracts you need to risk a specific dollar amount based on the size of the candle range and the point value of the instrument. Crucial for ORB strategies where the candle range varies session to session.
How do I use it?+
Open the Position Calculator, select your instrument (MNQ, MGC, MCL, etc.), enter the candle high and low, and your desired risk in USD. The calculator will tell you how many contracts to use to keep your risk fixed.
Why does it round contracts to whole numbers?+
You can't trade fractional contracts. The calculator rounds down to the nearest whole contract so your actual risk stays at or below your target.
Is the calculator free?+
Yes, completely free for registered members.
💻TradingView Indicators
Are the indicators free?+
Yes. All published indicators are open-source Pine Script, free to use and modify on TradingView (any account level, including free).
How do I install them?+
Each indicator page contains the full Pine Script source code. Copy it, open TradingView, click Pine Editor at the bottom, paste the code, and click Add to Chart. You can also save it to your favorites for one-click reuse.
Can I modify the indicators?+
Absolutely. The code is open source — adapt it to your needs, change colors, alert conditions, or rules. We only ask that if you publish modified versions, you credit OrbStats.
Do they work on stocks/forex?+
The ORB logic is universal. Most indicators accept any instrument, but session times are typically calibrated for specific markets (US futures, EU markets). You may need to adjust the time inputs for other instruments.
📓Trading Journal
What platforms does the journal support?+
Currently Tradovate and Rithmic. We may add more platforms in the future. Both work via CSV export — no API connection required, no credentials shared.
Is my data private by default?+
Yes. Every account in the journal is private until you explicitly toggle public sharing. Even when you make an account public, your real name is never displayed (only initials with asterisks).
Can I have multiple accounts?+
Yes. Create as many as you need — demo, live, evaluation, funded — and switch between them with the dropdown. Each account has its own statistics, equity curve, and sharing setting. Commissions are shared across all your accounts.
How do I export my CSV?+
See the Journal How-To guide for step-by-step instructions for both Tradovate and Rithmic.
What's the difference between Tradovate and Rithmic CSVs?+
Tradovate Performance.csv contains closed trades with PnL already calculated. Rithmic Order History.csv contains individual order fills, and we automatically reconstruct trades using FIFO matching with PnL calculated from the configured point value.
Can I import the same CSV twice?+
Yes. Duplicates are automatically detected by fill ID (Tradovate) or order number (Rithmic) and skipped. Re-importing is safe and useful when you periodically export new data.
How does the leaderboard work?+
The leaderboard shows public accounts sorted by Net P&L (default), Win Rate, Profit Factor, Most Active, or Most Recent. Click any entry to see the full public journal.
Can the leaderboard reveal my identity?+
No. Public accounts show only your initials with asterisks (e.g., "M.R.***"), not your real name or email. The masking happens server-side, so even technical users can't bypass it.
👤Account & Privacy
How do I change my email or password?+
Go to your Profile page. You can update display name, email, and password without ever entering the WordPress backend.
Can I delete my account?+
Yes. Contact us through the channels listed in the footer and we'll remove your account and all associated data within 30 days. You can also delete individual journal accounts directly from the journal interface.
Do you sell my data?+
No. We do not sell, share, or rent user data to third parties. The only third-party service we use is Google Analytics (with IP anonymization, opt-in only via the cookie banner) for traffic analysis.
What information do you collect?+
Just what's needed to operate the service: your email, password (hashed), display name, and the trades you import. See our Cookie Policy for details on website tracking.
I forgot my password — how do I reset it?+
Click Forgot Password on the login page. We'll send a reset link to your registered email. The link is valid for 24 hours.
Why can't I access the WordPress admin?+
Regular members are intentionally redirected away from the WordPress backend — everything you need is available through the OrbStats interface (Dashboard, Profile, Journal). This keeps the experience clean and avoids confusion.