Living room enthusiasts-semi-pro tools

[Thunderdog]

Quote from Don Bright:



"Mine is not to reason "why?" - since by then the chance has gone bye-bye".... LOL.... I, too, like to look back and see the "why" after all is done.... And, yes, academics do like to clutter up their screens with "stuff".... and if they like to do that, who am I to judge? I have to deal with traders making money, and that is a different task....and "less is more" (at least until they're showing good profits)....

....Hmmm....maybe a dual screen laptop....

Don

I agree with Don and DHOHHI on this one. I think we always learn the "why" after the fact, either from a technical or fundamental perspective. In fact, on the fundamental side, that is how economists spend most of their time: explaining why their earlier forecasts did not pan out.

 

[max401]

Quote from Don Bright:



When I travel and trade (or trade from the living room at home)... (any high spead provider) I use one laptop, with attached speakers for the squawk box and IM's from the main office. With a single page of Redi/Spoos/DowJones. (if REdi doesn't have what y0u want, then pick it up off the web)....If I want to switch to ET, I can do that too. I teach the bootcampers to focus on only 2 screen (max), and they have screen "real estate" to spare.

Don't let anyone convince you that you need a whole bunch of "stuff" to make money. The more distractions, the more likely you'll have trouble reading the tape, placing orders and focusing.

Focus, Focus, Focus......

The futures guys that I've seen, use the "ladder" screen, and don't have time for anything else. again, focus...

Don

Don, what composes your screen real estate at the office? I can see, from your picture in the set up thread, you have three monitors plus ET on the laptop.

 

[vanilla2]

pentium 3 hand-me-down pc
tradestation
IB
excel
panasonic 1981 'performance television'
DSL
telephone
stereo
leather chair
window

 

[Jayford]

Quote from ElectricSavant:

Well, Lets add it up:

• Datafeed
• Charting platform
• Trading Platform(s)
• Button or Ninja front end for IB
• Dsl
• Cable Back up
• Squawk Box
• Signal Service
• Chat Rooms
• Newsfeeds
• Seat with FFasttrade
• Globex Terminal
• Bloomberg Terminal

What tools do you suggest/use? Futures Traders?


Michael B.

-Been trading futures for quite some time now. For me, your list is big time overkill. I like Ninja trader, but found it just as effective to setup hotkeys in IB. NT is cheap though, so I could go either way with that.

-I would go cable with dial backup. My cable has gone down once in two years.
-squawk box is worthless unless you are a scalper. It still takes lots of practice using. I find them a distraction.
- Newsfeeds, chatrooms, signal service less than worthless.

-Bloomberg terminal, etc. Only if you are making BIG money, but still prolly overkill.

I use 1 PC (adding a laptop for execution soon), several monitors, cable data feed, IB, and Esignal. I believe Esignal is the weakest link in the chain, but I don't need too much on the tech end.

ust my 2 cents,

Jay

 

[melteye]

Why do you think Esignal is the weakest link? I find their service quite good, besides the price.

 

[Jayford]

Quote from melteye:

Why do you think Esignal is the weakest link? I find their service quite good, besides the price.

The tech analysis is very weak. Have you looked at other programs? With Esignal you have to mess with formulas for even basic customization of many studies. Weak, weak, weak.

Data feed is very good though. And it is cheap.

Jay

 

[melteye]

Quote from Jayford:



The tech analysis is very weak. Have you looked at other programs? With Esignal you have to mess with formulas for even basic customization of many studies. Weak, weak, weak.

Data feed is very good though. And it is cheap.

Jay

Oh, understand. I thought you were referring to the data feed (my bad).

 

[Don Bright]

Quote from max401:

Don, what composes your screen real estate at the office? I can see, from your picture in the set up thread, you have three monitors plus ET on the laptop.

In the "control room" I have 2 Redi screens (one for me, one to monitor whomever needs "looking after"). I have one TrackData to for educational purposes (radio shows, magazine articles, etc. it has a lot of fundamental information)...and my basic internet connection to stay in touch with the world, and my pals here on ET. This computer is also connected to my LAN so I can actually get some work done around this place.

Behind me I have 2 "Risk Monitors" and the main office server. When we bring students here, I show everyone how we're set up and how we monitor everyone.

Don

 

[max401]

Quote from Don Bright:



In the "control room" I have 2 Redi screens (one for me, one to monitor whomever needs "looking after"). I have one TrackData to for educational purposes (radio shows, magazine articles, etc. it has a lot of fundamental information)...and my basic internet connection to stay in touch with the world, and my pals here on ET. This computer is also connected to my LAN so I can actually get some work done around this place.

Behind me I have 2 "Risk Monitors" and the main office server. When we bring students here, I show everyone how we're set up and how we monitor everyone.

Don

Not to upset the multi-monitor guys... but the single Redi screen has everything you need including whatever type of data flow needed for your trading style?

 

[traderob]

Hi Don and all,
What box would you recommend for futures? preferably one on the cheaper side.