Esignal Software Behind IB TWS by 15 Seconds !

[Lawrence Chan]

Just my two cents on eSignal and DTN IQFeed,

eSignal is a great data feed that has a lot of tick data for tick level data analysis. That is something you cannot find from most of the other cheaper data feeds. Its charting software may have problems due to frequent releases with new features - but thats the issue with the charting software, not the data it offers.

IQFeed is a more economical data feed solution that works great with what it has to offer. Many programmers like to develop their own trading tools. IQFeed offers a balanced API for personal usage with enough data to satisfy the need of many traders.

So as oppose to think in terms of which data feed is better - think of what you need and what you can afford and start from there.

Before internet data feeds become the norm, most data feeds available at the time is much more expensive than what most of you have seen. We are talking about 300 to 500 dollars a month easy, and that is 56K or less through cable, satellite, or direct data ground line.

All data feeds have their own problems, the important thing to consider is how you are going to deal with these problems.

e.g. If your trading strategies based on 10-minute time frame, then a short outage with the data feed is not such a big deal and you are likely happy with any reasonably functional data feed.

 

[mlsignups]

I actually have both Esignal and IQFeed and am trying to figure out how to get rid of Esignal but I have one major problem w/ IQFeed which I brought up to them and basically got a "shrug".

I basically run scans at night looking for stuff to trade the next day based on setups and then put them into an AMiBroker intraday system and download backfill data.

Stocks backfill 90+ days w/ Esignal in a matter of a second or two; IQ FEED is VERY VERY VERY slow. I called them about it and was told that was just the way it was, which I don't understand. Therefore, right now I use Esignal for the backfill but would really like to get away from it since I only need the data and not the software.

 

[cmaxb]

Quote from Lawrence Chan:

...Its charting software may have problems due to frequent releases with new features...

No, it's stuff that they never fix, because it's just not a priority for them.

 

[just21]

Lawrence, I am interested in using neoticker but need the IB backfill. Have you had any more thoughts on programming for Ib backfill?

 

[cmaxb]

Quote from iqfeed:

I am curious, What are the keys that would make you think something is better than Esignal? Obviously, everyone's needs are different, and I would love to learn what the keys are for you (or others on the forum).

A better price?
a more reliable feed?
A better analytics package?
Better news?
Better customer support?
More frequent upgrades?
other things?

Just curious what items are hot buttons for you... if you prefer, you can PM me..

Jay

Exactly like eSignal, but solid datafeed. When there is an outage, you are not missing data. Caring for the little guy and cleaning up bugs.

 

[iqfeed]

Quote from mlsignups:

I actually have both Esignal and IQFeed and am trying to figure out how to get rid of Esignal but I have one major problem w/ IQFeed which I brought up to them and basically got a "shrug".

At first I was surprised by the fact that you said you got a "shrug", but then noticed that you posted here before posting on our forums (where I responded 6 minutes later). As you saw in my reply, we recognize the issue and it is on the short list to be addressed. In no way do we EVER shrug off an issue that customers report with our service. I wish we could address all issues in a day, but resources aren't unlimited. Not only do our customer support people report every known issue to me, but I am in constant communication with our developers and sales and support personnel. In addition, I actively monitor these forums and other forums to ensure I know exactly what issues concern our customers.

You will notice that the forums on our website are open to the public for one reason: We want to hear everything - good or bad. I have no interest in hiding our customers comments behind a secure website. It is my belief that openly responding to concerns shows people who are interested in DTN products that we put the customer first.

 

[mlsignups]

Jay:

Yes, I did post here first and in all fairness you gave me a good answer on your forum last night.

The "shrug" I was referring to was when I first noticed this (1 or 2 months ago) I contacted customer support and they basically said we don't know anything about it and didn't really offer me any way to get it resolved or even looked into. I was very disappointed because I really want to move away from esignal and more toward your system but I can't do so until I get this resolved.

Thanks

Mike

 

[cmaxb]

Quote from iqfeed:

You will notice that the forums on our website are open to the public for one reason: We want to hear everything - good or bad. I have no interest in hiding our customers comments behind a secure website. It is my belief that openly responding to concerns shows people who are interested in DTN products that we put the customer first.

Amazing, if only all companies acted this way. If you had Asian data, I would sign up.

 

[heavy]

I'm amazed that eSignal has as many users as it does. I've used it in the past, and my firm had constant problems, whether connecting to in-house servers or through the net (which was actually a little better). If if wasn't slow, charts would freeze, and some windows wouldn't have any data. This was an ongoing problem, and had nothing to do with the version (it was consistent among many versions).
My firm stuck with them because they're the cheapest. But, what's the true cost, if the data is slow? Well, that was always my argument anyway.

 

[ozzie_bozo]

I am bit of a duffer on these matters, but then that might give me a better perspective as to why so many spend so much on eSignal.

My duffer's take on eSignal is that they hit the consumer with a lot of slick advertising - way too much. To my way of thinking this IMMEDIATELY sets off warning lights. When I see too much classy, expensive advertising, the first thing I am looking for is TOO MUCH SIZZLE AND NOT ENOUGH STEAK, and TOO MANY BULLSHIT PEOPLE ON THE PAYROLL.

When I see too much slick advertising, I figure the bullshit's flying until shown otherwise.

(An aside: It is my understanding that Sam Walton drove a pickup and got $5 haircuts. This supports my thesis.)

From reading these threads, it seems likely to me that eSignal is an emperor who is missing some clothes.

**********************
Getting past the glitzy
advertising is a
learning curve
**********************

It appears possible that eSignal is not marketing to those who are way up the learning curve; it sounds like they are perhaps targeting the those traveling up the learning curve. This might be a very good dollars and sense business decision. The pickings might be much more fat there; you have many there who are ready to commit serious dough to trading and want the "best" there is - or what they think is the best. They may well be the most fatted of calves, just what an morally-challenged maketing exec would target.

But isn't that true of so many things...? The "obvious" solution is so often eventually found to not be the best choice. The conventional wisdom is often not where final answers are found.

Maybe I am wrong in some ways about eSignal; but when I see lots of slick advertising, the first thing I think is that the product is overpriced and playing to a form of sophisticated gullibility (think Calvin Klein to name one example).