Signal Comparison Grid

The Signal Comparison Grid provides a detailed, row-by-row view of how each backtest trade pairs with alert signals. This is your primary tool for investigating specific mismatches and understanding pattern issues.

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Overview

The comparison grid displays every backtest trade alongside its matched (or missing) alert signal. Each row represents a single comparison, with columns showing the backtest data, alert data, and calculated differences.

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Match Type Badges

Each row is labeled with a match type indicator:

Badge	Meaning	Action
🟢 Matched	Backtest trade found a corresponding alert within tolerances	No action needed
🟡 Missing	Backtest trade has no matching alert (missed alert)	Investigate cause
🔴 Unmatched	Alert signal has no corresponding backtest trade (false alert)	Investigate cause

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Column Reference

Backtest Columns

Column	Description
Trade #	Sequential trade number from your CSV
Type	Entry or Exit signal
Direction	Long or Short position
Backtest Time	Timestamp from TradingView export
Backtest Price	Price at signal time
Signal	Strategy signal name (e.g., “Buy Signal”)

Alert Columns

Column	Description
Alert Time	Timestamp when alert was received
Alert Price	Price reported in the alert
Alert Signal	Signal name from webhook/CSV
Source	Data source (Webhook or CSV)

Comparison Columns

Column	Description	Ideal Value
Time Diff	Seconds/minutes between backtest and alert	< 60 seconds
Price Diff	Absolute price difference	< 0.5%
Price Diff %	Percentage price difference	< 0.5%
Match Confidence	Algorithm’s confidence score	> 90%

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Filtering & Sorting

Quick Filters

Filter	Purpose
Show Only Problems	Hide matched rows, focus on mismatches
Match Type	Filter to Matched, Missing, or Unmatched
Direction	Filter to Long or Short signals
Signal Type	Filter to Entry or Exit signals

Tip

Start with “Show Only Problems” enabled to quickly identify issues. Once you understand the patterns, disable it to see the full picture.

Sorting Options

Click column headers to sort:

Sort By	Use Case
Time	Chronological analysis
Time Diff	Find largest timing gaps
Price Diff	Find largest price discrepancies
Match Type	Group similar issues together

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Interpreting Results

Healthy Matched Rows

A well-matched signal shows:

• 🟢 Matched badge
• Time difference under 60 seconds
• Price difference under 0.5%
• High confidence score (above 90%)

Example:

Backtest: Entry Long @ $245.50, 09:30:00
Alert:    Entry Long @ $245.45, 09:30:15
Time Diff: 15 seconds | Price Diff: 0.02%
→ ✅ Excellent match

Problematic Missing Rows

Missing alerts require investigation:

Pattern 1: Consistent Time Offset

Backtest: 09:30:00, 10:45:00, 14:15:00 (all missing)
Alerts:   09:25:00, 10:40:00, 14:10:00 (all 5 min early)
→ 🔧 Fix: Adjust timezone offset by -5 minutes

Pattern 2: Specific Signal Types

All Entry signals: Matched
All Exit signals: Missing
→ 🔧 Fix: Check TradingView alert covers exits

Pattern 3: Certain Time Periods

9:00-12:00: Matched
12:00-16:00: Missing
→ 🔧 Fix: Check if alerts were paused, webhook issues

Problematic False Alert Rows

False alerts indicate extra signals:

Pattern 1: Duplicate Alerts

Backtest: 1 Entry @ 09:30:00
Alerts:   Entry @ 09:30:00 (matched)
          Entry @ 09:30:05 (unmatched duplicate)
→ 🔧 Fix: Check TradingView alert trigger settings

Pattern 2: Repainting Signals

Alert at 09:30 for signal that backtest shows at 09:45
→ 🔧 Fix: Review strategy for calc_on_every_tick issues

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Investigation Workflow

When you find mismatches, follow this process:

1. Enable “Show Only Problems”

   Filter the grid to show only Missing and Unmatched rows.

2. Look for Patterns

   • Are mismatches clustered in time?
   • Are specific signal types affected?
   • Is the time difference consistent?

3. Cross-Reference with Price Chart

   Open the Price Chart view. Look for the specific trades and see if you can visually identify what happened.

4. Check Raw Data

   Expand the “Raw Data Tables” section to see your original backtest trades and alert signals separately.

5. Adjust Configuration

   If you identify a systematic issue (like timezone), go back to the workflow steps and adjust:

   • Timezone offset in Backtesting Upload
   • Time/price tolerances in Analysis Configuration

6. Re-run Analysis

   After adjustments, click “Run Analysis” again to regenerate results.

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Common Patterns & Solutions

All Times Off by X Minutes

Symptom: Every mismatch has the same time difference.

Cause: Timezone misconfiguration.

Solution: Adjust timezone offset in Backtesting Upload step.

Entries Match, Exits Don’t

Symptom: Entry signals match, exit signals are missing.

Cause: TradingView alert only configured for entries.

Solution: Add exit signal alerts in TradingView.

Morning Matches, Afternoon Missing

Symptom: Time-of-day pattern in mismatches.

Cause: Possible webhook timeout, TradingView plan limits, or market hours issues.

Solution: Check webhook logs, TradingView alert history.

High Volatility = More Mismatches

Symptom: Mismatches cluster around high-volatility periods.

Cause: Price tolerance too tight for volatile conditions.

Solution: Increase price tolerance or accept these as expected variance.

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Exporting Grid Data

Export the comparison grid for external analysis:

1. CSV Export — Download all rows as CSV
2. Filtered Export — Download only visible (filtered) rows
3. Summary Export — Download aggregate statistics

Use exports for:

• Detailed analysis in spreadsheets
• Documentation for strategy development
• Comparison across multiple analysis runs

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Related Sections

• Results Summary — Aggregate metrics overview
• Price Chart — Visual signal overlay
• AI Insights — Automated pattern analysis
• Troubleshooting — Common issues and solutions