DataFeed Recommendations

[Landis82]

Quote from thstart:

You don't get a data feed from IB? It is not wise to use a different data feed than your broker's.

I completely disagree.

Case in point:

TD Ameritrade uses a "filtered" data-feed called streamer that is still not up to robust standards. The Level-2 lags substantially during heavy volume and price activity.

As a result, you have to use another data-feed in order to supplement a trading platform such as Quotetracker via Ameritrade.

With DTN's "IQ-Feed" you at least have a chance at getting real-time tick data for Level-1. If you choose to go without such a real-time tick feed and rely on Ameritrade's "streamer" ( which lags and is filtered ) you are just asking for trouble.

NOTE: I too, am based on the West Coast and am cognizant of all sorts of latency issues.

 

[thstart]

TD Ameritrade uses a "filtered" data-feed called streamer that is still not up to robust standards.

The Level-2 lags substantially during heavy volume and price activity.

This is a valuable good information to know. It turns out it is not different from Schwab. I was thinking to look at Ameritrade too.

As a result, you have to use another data-feed in order to supplement a trading platform such as Quotetracker via Ameritrade.

I agree but I doubt I can find a good enough "real time" data feed unless I am located at the exchange.

With DTN's "IQ-Feed" you at least have a chance at getting real-time tick data for Level-1. If you chose to go without such a real-time tick feed and rely on Ameritrade's "streamer" ( which lags and is filtered ) you are just asking for trouble.

Yes, definitely.

 

[thstart]

NOTE: I too, am based on the West Coast and am cognizant of all sorts of latency issues.

I made probably a more radical decision not to depend from this.

 

[OldTrader]

Quote from Landis82:

I disagree.
If you are a scalper you cannot afford to use a data-feed that "filters" data by taking a "snapshot". You really need real-time TICK DATA.

DTN's IQ-Feed offers that.

Of course, when we get hectic during let's say a Fed announcement, and the real time tick data starts lagging, I don't know how you're going to "scalp". By the time you see the data it won't mean anything.

And let's face it, if you're see a "snapshot" 6 times a second, how much do you really think your eye is capable of seeing?

That said, anyone who thinks they need every tick should get it. I just wouldn't count on it at any of the important news events or heavy volume times.

Then too, I guess the definition of "scalper" varies depending on who you're talking to. I think of it as a guy whose going for a few ticks. And personally I think there are more profitable ways to trade. Just my opinion. If you're a guy whose making several trades a day off of the chart, I don't think you need to see each tick. There's more important information than that.

Just my opinion.

OldTrader

 

[thstart]

...By the time you see the data it won't mean anything...

And let's face it, if you're see a "snapshot" 6 times a second, how much do you really think your eye is capable of seeing?

...And personally I think there are more profitable ways to trade. ...There's more important information than that...

Mr. OldTrader described this very well.

 

[NetTecture]

::Yeah, IB takes a snapshot. Matter of fact, it takes something
::like 6 snapshots per second. Trust me, you aren't going to miss
::much. And if you're that focused on each and every tick, my
::guess is you're headed down the wrong road in trading.

This is bullocks. I dont do millisecond trading and still need a tick feed. Why?

TICK CHARTS. Hard to build a 89 tick chart (a bar every some seconds in active markets) when you simply dont have reliable tick information to start with

Thanks for me there is zen-fire Not trading stocks here, though

 

[Viper101]

Quote from dontevergiveup:

...open an account and u get free streaming quotes without any maintenece fees.

Thanks for that! It works. I had no idea you could do this.

Quote from dontevergiveup:

u can use either snapshot or real streaming.

i use the real streaming....

Its not tick data though, I just tested it. TS volumes are in chunks.

Quote from OldTrader:

... numerous problems with data lag because it was reporting each tick.

Yeah, IB takes a snapshot. Matter of fact, it takes something like 6 snapshots per second.

And again, any time you got a busy market, alot of volume and activity, most of these tick data feeds are going to lag. IB won't be lagging.

OldTrader

no disrespect on my bandwidth meter light speed does 30KB/s, instaquote does 7KB/s, IB does less than 1KB/s. I can see how it would be an issue if your on dial up.

Even if IB takes 6 snapshots/sec it then chunks all those trades in a sec as one so on the TS you see a trade with a large volume although it consisted of several individual trades in reality.

Even during news announcements and such lag isn't a issue from the testing I've done.

Quote from Xspurt:

...there are important news releases and compare what happens.

Why would you be in a position in the first place during scheduled news releases.

Quote from Landis82:

TD Ameritrade uses a "filtered" data-feed called streamer that is still not up to robust standards.

I just tested TD Ameritrade streaming feed with my LightSpeed and completely agree with you. Its not tick, It lags for less than a second but what annoys me is the how it chunks the volumes as one trade on the T/S within QT.

And yes Im a scalper so raw data is important to me. I've done some testing on varying feeds and will post the results on youtube if anyone is interested.

 

[moarla]

well i tested ZEN and DTN, in periods with higher volume i had lags from 5 to 10 seconds, on IB NO LAGS

i dont care about ticks i care about price )

 

[NetTecture]

I use ZEN here and NO LAG AT ALL

Hm, so maybe it was your software. Ninja? Hm, yeah. Stupid T&S windows really can overload the system

Pretty often it is the front end not able to cope with the data.

 

[Xspurt]

Quote from Viper101:




Why would you be in a position in the first place during scheduled news releases.

And yes Im a scalper so raw data is important to me. I've done some testing on varying feeds and will post the results on youtube if anyone is interested.

I didn't say take a position, just see how it handles the data under stress. I often take a position because it suits my style but that's not for everyone but to answer your question, violent moves obviously produce fast profits IF you know how to trade them.