Updated 2025-10-31 13 min read

Onboarding Checklist¶

A complete 7-day guide to mastering Signal Pilot indicators. Follow this step-by-step checklist to progress from setup to confident trading.

🎯 Overview: Your First Week Beginner Friendly¶

Daily time commitment: 30-60 minutes By end of week: Ready to trade confidently Recommended pace: Master each day before moving on

📅 Day 1: Setup & Installation Beginner Friendly¶

Morning: Account Setup (30 minutes)¶

Check: TradingView subscription is active
Log into TradingView
Check account status (Essential, Pro, or Pro+ required for indicators)
If not yet upgraded: Consider upgrading
Check: Signal Pilot access granted
Check email for confirmation
If no email after 24h: Contact support
Verify: your TradingView username is correct
Test: indicator access
Open TradingView
Click "Indicators" button
Search for "Signal Pilot" or "Pentarch"
Pentarch v1.0 (or latest version) will be visible when properly added
If not visible: Check access status

Afternoon: First Indicator Install (30 minutes)¶

Add Pentarch to a chart
Open Bitcoin (BTCUSD) chart
Set Daily timeframe
Click "Indicators"
Search for "Pentarch"
Click "Pentarch v1.0" to add
Explored: the interface
See the 5 signal types on chart
Identify TD, IGN, WRN, CAP, BDN labels
Scroll back through history
Observed: signal patterns
Customize visual settings (optional)
Click indicator name → Settings
Adjust colors in "Style" tab if needed
Keep calculations on default
Save your setup
Navigate to top menu → "Layouts"
"Save as..." → Name it "BTC Pentarch Daily"

✅ Day 1 Complete You\'ve successfully installed your first indicator.

⚠️ Common First-Day Mistakes

Don't worry if you experience any of these - they're completely normal!

😰 "I don't see any signals yet"

This is NORMAL. On Daily timeframe, you may need to wait a few days to see your first live signal. Signals appear more frequently on lower timeframes (1H, 15m) but Daily gives the highest quality setups. Use the time to observe historical signals by scrolling back through the chart - you'll see dozens of them in the past 3-6 months.

👻 "The signal disappeared!"

This is EXPECTED behavior. Signals update in real-time during the current bar but only confirm when the bar closes. If you see a signal mid-bar and it disappears, that means the conditions changed before the close. Only trust signals that appear on closed bars. Set your alerts to "Once Per Bar Close" to avoid false notifications.

📊 "Too many lines on my chart"

Easy fix: If you added Janus Atlas and see 30+ lines, this is overwhelming. Go to indicator settings → Style tab → Disable most levels except the 5 core ones: Daily High/Low, Weekly High/Low, and Anchored VWAP. You can add more levels gradually as you get comfortable.

⏰ "Which timeframe should I use?"

Start with Daily. The Daily timeframe has the clearest, most reliable signals. Once you're comfortable (after Week 2-3), you can explore 4H and 1H. Avoid anything below 15-minute charts until you're an advanced user - lower timeframes have more noise and false signals.

🤔 "How long should I observe before trading?"

Minimum 2-4 weeks. You need to observe at least 20-30 signals across multiple market conditions before risking real capital. Use this first week to learn signal identification. Week 2-4 should be paper trading only. Live trading should start in Week 4+ after you've built pattern recognition skills.

📅 Day 2: Learn the 5 Signals¶

Goal: Understand what each signal means¶

✅ Day 2 Complete You can identify all 5 signal types.

📅 Day 3: Multiple Timeframes & Markets¶

Goal: See how signals work across different contexts¶

Compare timeframes
Open Bitcoin on Daily (existing chart)
Open new chart: Bitcoin on 4H
Add Pentarch to 4H chart
Open third chart: Bitcoin on 1H
Add Pentarch to 1H chart
Compare: Notice more signals on lower timeframes
Try different markets
Open Ethereum (ETHUSD) - Daily
Add Pentarch
Open S&P 500 (SPX or SPY) - Daily
Add Pentarch
Open EUR/USD - Daily
Add Pentarch
Observed: differences
Note which markets have more signals
Identify which are cleaner/clearer
Determine your preferred timeframes
Write down your observations
Choose your focus
Select 1-2 markets to trade
Select preferred timeframe (recommend starting with Daily or 4H)
Set up layouts for each

✅ Day 3 Complete You understand how indicators adapt to different markets.

✅ Knowledge Check (Day 1-3)

Question: After completing Days 1-3, which two Pentarch signals should you be able to identify as "Early-Cycle"?

📅 Day 4: Add Your First Alert¶

Goal: Automate signal notifications¶

Create your first alert
Open your main chart (BTC Daily)
Right-click chart → "Add Alert"
Condition: Select "Pentarch v1.0"
Event: Choose "IGN Event"
Options: Set "Once Per Bar Close" (critical!)
Name: Enter "BTC Daily IGN - Potential Long"
Expiration: Set 1 month (or "Don't expire")
Actions: Check Notification
Click "Create"
Create exit alert
Right-click chart → "Add Alert"
Condition: Select "Pentarch v1.0"
Event: Choose "CAP Event"
Options: Set "Once Per Bar Close"
Name: Enter "BTC Daily CAP - Exhaustion Signal"
Create the alert
Set up mobile notifications
Download TradingView app (if not already installed)
Log into the same account
Settings → Notifications → Enable All
Phone Settings → Apps → TradingView → Allow Notifications
Tested: your alerts
Switch to 15m chart (signals fire more often)
Create test alert on 15m
Wait for a signal (typically happens quickly)
Verified: you receive the notification
Create alerts for your watchlist
Add alerts for your 2-3 chosen markets
Configure alerts for IGN patterns (common for early-cycle monitoring)
Configure alerts for CAP/BDN patterns (common for late-cycle monitoring)

✅ Day 4 Complete Signal notifications will now be received automatically.

📅 Day 5: Add Janus Atlas (Levels)¶

Goal: Understand where signals are strongest¶

Add Janus Atlas to your chart
Open BTC Daily chart
Click "Indicators"
Search for "Janus Atlas"
Add "Janus Atlas v1.0"
Identify level types
Support levels (horizontal lines below price)
Resistance levels (horizontal lines above price)
FVG zones (shaded rectangles)
Order blocks (highlighted candles/zones)
Find confluence setups
Scroll through the chart
Find IGN signal AT support level
Mark 3-5 examples
Find CAP signal AT resistance level
Mark 3-5 examples
Compare signal quality
Compare IGN at major support vs IGN in middle of nowhere
Observed: which worked better historically
Notice: Confluence = higher success rate
Update your trading rules
Example confluence concepts to study:
- "Observation: IGN patterns that occur at major support levels"
- "Observed: CAP/BDN patterns that occur at major resistance levels"
- "Note how patterns at key levels may differ from those away from levels"

✅ Day 5 Complete You understand the power of confluence.

📅 Day 6: Risk Management Setup Intermediate¶

Day 6: Risk Management & Position Sizing (45 minutes)

⚠️ Most Important Day

Risk management keeps you in the game. Without it, even the best signals lead to blown accounts. Take this day seriously.

Morning (25 minutes): Position Sizing Fundamentals

Calculate 1% account risk
- Example: $1,000 account × 1% = $10 maximum loss per trade
- Example: $5,000 account × 1% = $50 maximum loss per trade
- Rule: Never risk more than 1-2% of total account on any single trade
Understand position sizing formula
- Position Size = Account Risk ÷ Stop Loss Distance
- Example: $10 max risk ÷ 50-point stop = 0.2 units (or $0.20 per point)
- Example: $50 max risk ÷ 100-point stop = 0.5 units (or $0.50 per point)
- Tool: Use TradingView's built-in position size calculator or create a spreadsheet
Learn Risk:Reward (R:R) ratios
- 1:1 R:R = Risk $10 to make $10 (need 50%+ win rate to profit)
- 1:2 R:R = Risk $10 to make $20 (need 34%+ win rate to profit) ← Recommended minimum
- 1:3 R:R = Risk $10 to make $30 (need 26%+ win rate to profit) ← Ideal target
- Higher R:R ratios = can lose more often and still be profitable

Afternoon (20 minutes): Practical Stop Loss & Take Profit

Place stop loss using Janus Atlas levels
- For longs: Stop below recent swing low OR below nearest Janus Atlas support level
- For shorts: Stop above recent swing high OR above nearest Janus Atlas resistance level
- Example: IGN long signal at $50,000 → Stop at $49,900 (Daily Low from Janus Atlas)
- Stop distance = $100 → Position size = $10 max risk ÷ $100 = 0.1 BTC
Set take profit targets
- Target 1 (TP1): 1:2 R:R minimum (if risking $100, target $200 profit)
- Target 2 (TP2): Next major Janus Atlas level (resistance for longs, support for shorts)
- Example: Risk $100 (stop at $49,900) → TP1 at $50,200 (1:2 R:R) → TP2 at $50,500 (Daily High)
- Some traders take partial profits at TP1, letting remainder run to TP2
Study common risk filters traders use
- Traders commonly avoid setups where stop loss would exceed 1-2% account risk
- Many traders filter for R:R ratio of 1:2 or better
- Patterns far from Janus Atlas levels often lack clear stop zones
- Position monitoring requirements vary by trading style and availability

📊 Real Example: Pentarch IGN Signal with Risk Management

Setup:

Account size: $2,000
Max risk per trade: 1% = $20
Pentarch IGN bullish signal at $50,000
Janus Atlas Daily Low at $49,850 (150 points below)

Calculation:

Stop loss distance: $50,000 - $49,850 = $150
Position size: $20 ÷ $150 = 0.133 units (or $0.133 per point)
Take profit (1:2 R:R): $50,000 + ($150 × 2) = $50,300

Trade Plan:

Entry: $50,000
Stop: $49,850 (risk $20)
TP1: $50,300 (reward $40, R:R = 1:2)
If stopped out: Lose $20. If TP1 hit: Win $40.

✅ Day 6 Complete When You Can:

Calculate 1% of your account in your head
Use the position sizing formula (Account Risk ÷ Stop Distance)
Explain what 1:2 R:R ratio means and why it's important
Place a stop loss below a Janus Atlas level
Calculate your position size based on stop loss distance

📅 Day 7: Paper Trade¶

Goal: Execute your first practice trades¶

Enable paper trading
Navigate to TradingView → Paper Trading tab (bottom of chart)
Set your starting capital
Or use an external paper trading account
Wait for a setup
Wait for alerts to fire
OR find a current setup on the chart
Requirements:
- Pentarch signal (IGN or BDN)
- At key Janus level
- Minimum 2:1 R/R to target
Execute paper trade #1
Signal fires (or you find the setup)
Calculate position size
Enter the position
Set stop loss IMMEDIATELY
Set target (optional)
Log the trade
Document the trade
Take screenshot of entry
Write down these details:
- Date & time
- Entry price
- Stop price
- Target price
- Position size
- Why you took it (signal + level)
- How it feels
Monitor & manage the trade
Check charts 2-3 times per day
Avoid micromanagement
Trust your stop
Exit on opposite signal OR target hit
Complete 3-5 paper trades
Avoid rushing
This may take 1-2 weeks to find quality setups
Focus on QUALITY, not quantity
One good trade > five mediocre trades

✅ Day 7 Complete You've executed your first paper trades.

🎯 Success Milestones Checklist

Track your progress as you master Signal Pilot indicators:

Day 1

Indicator loaded on TradingView
Chart displays correctly
Saved first layout
Can navigate chart history

Day 3

Can identify all 5 signal types
Understand signal colors/meanings
Observed signals on 3+ timeframes
Tested on different markets

Day 7

Observed 10+ historical signals
Understand cycle sequences (TD→IGN→CAP)
Set up working alerts
Seen 1-3 live signals (Daily chart)

Week 2

Analyzed 30+ total signals (historical + live)
Recognize level clusters (Janus)
Identified 5+ high-quality confluences
Learning to filter noise from quality setups

Week 4

Seen 10+ live signals across timeframes
Completed 3-5 paper trades (quality > quantity)
Built personal trade journal
Focus on Daily/4H for best signals

Month 2-3

Pattern recognition automatic
Confident in confluence analysis
Built consistent strategy
Trading with full position sizing

Remember: Everyone progresses at different speeds. Don't rush - the goal is mastery, not speed. Some traders need 4 weeks to be ready, others need 8-12 weeks. Both are perfectly normal!

Week 1 Reflection

Before moving to live trading, honestly assess your progress:

Can you identify all 5 Pentarch signals (TD, IGN, WRN, CAP, BDN) on any chart?
Have you successfully configured at least one alert with "Once Per Bar Close"?
Do you understand the concept of confluence (signal + level = higher probability)?
Have you completed at least 3 paper trades using Pentarch + Janus Atlas?
Can you calculate proper position size using the 1-2% risk rule?

If yes to all 5: You're ready to graduate Week 1! Continue to the Graduation Checklist below.
If no to any: Repeat the relevant day. There's no rush - mastering the basics prevents costly mistakes later.

✅ Week 1 Graduation Checklist¶

Before moving to live trading, verify YES to all:

All YES? → Consider progressing to live trading (start very small)

Any NO? → Spend another week on paper trading and review

🎓 Next Steps: Weeks 2-4¶

Week 2-3: Consistency¶

Week 4: Transition Decision¶

If paper trading shows: - ✅ Positive performance metrics tracked - ✅ Favorable risk/reward management - ✅ Consistent profitability in paper trading - ✅ Rules being followed consistently

Then consider: - Start live trading with MINIMUM size - 10-25% of your intended position size - Slowly scale up as confidence grows

If NOT meeting criteria: - Continue paper trading - Review Best Practices - Identify issues - Seek help if needed

📚 Continued Learning Resources¶

Essential reading: - Trading Workflow - Complete process - Best Practices - Pro tips - FAQ - Common questions - Troubleshooting - Fix issues

Advanced topics: - Comparison Guide - Add more indicators - Glossary - Deep term definitions - Education Portal - Video tutorials

What You've Learned

7-Day Structured Onboarding: Systematic progression from installation (Day 1) through Pentarch signals (Days 2-3), Janus Atlas levels (Day 4), confluence trading (Day 5), alert setup (Day 6), to first live signal (Day 7)
Foundation-First Approach: Start with Pentarch + Janus Atlas only (core duo) before adding confirmation tools - master 2 indicators deeply rather than using all 7 superficially
Progressive Skill Building: Day 1 installation and chart setup, Day 2-3 signal identification and nomenclature, Day 4 level recognition and confluence zones, Day 5 combined analysis, Day 6 automation with alerts, Day 7 live market application
Practice-Based Learning: Each day includes specific hands-on tasks - screenshot 5 signals, identify 10 levels, find 3 confluence zones, set up 2 alerts - learning through doing not just reading
Confluence Emphasis: By Day 5, understand that best setups require Pentarch signal AT Janus level - single-indicator trades discouraged, multi-factor confirmation prioritized
Alert Configuration Milestone: Day 6 teaches critical "Once Per Bar Close" frequency setting and "Any alert() function call" condition for non-repainting notifications matching historical behavior
First Week Goals: By Day 7, able to identify TD/IGN signals, recognize dH/WH/VWAP levels, spot confluence zones, configure working alerts, understand why patience and selectivity matter more than trade frequency

Next Steps: After completing Day 7, review Trading Workflow Guide for advanced multi-indicator strategies, or explore Best Practices Guide for risk management framework.

🆘 Need Help?¶

If stuck on any day: - Review the Quick Start Guide - Check the FAQ - Visit Troubleshooting - Contact Support

Important consideration: There's no rush. Take your time with each day. Mastery comes from practice and repetition.

Congratulations on starting the Signal Pilot journey.