Quote from johnstac:
So you use multi charts for your charts? If Ninja trader charts are free, then why don't you use them? I have not heard of multicharts. How do you like them? Also, are you paying IB for real time quotes? Is it worth it do do so?
I use Tradestation for my Research/Long term analysis. It provides excellent historic data, goes back further than any data feed I have looked at so far. Simple data loading, type in the symbol on a chart and you have it. Good organization with the tabbed quote manager & workspaces.
TS Data history: Tick-by-tick 30 days back, minute bars 20 years back, daily bars 45 years back
I do not however trust Tradestation for intraday entry charts. It lags in a fast market, when you need it most. Occasionally may crash. Hence MC/IB for entry charts intraday.
I will not trade TS for above reasons as well... very bad experience with them in the past... Historic charting only
I use MC for my intraday entry charts, fast, reliable and feed with IB data, as I use button trader as my front end, I find it consistent combination.
Albeit IB is not a tick for tick feed, it is a snap shot... but your charts show the same as IB's order entry / DOM...
MC is a good product, I find their order entry adequate as a back up, but no comparison to ButtonTrader.
I purchased an MC license years ago. Free is of no interest to me, I require reliability and efficiency. I have no issue paying the associated costs.
I pay for data feed from both Tradestation and IB.
[With IB you must subscribe to the corresponding markets you are trading in any event]
Also both MC and TS use easy language, so it is a logical intuitive combination.
IQfeed is also a solid product, however, I have latency issues with my ISP in Europe so I no longer use them, but would recommend them without issue for an intraday trader. Longer term analysis can't beat TS
IQfeed data history: Tick-by-tick 30 days back, 1 year of minute bars (over 2.5 years for the CME Eminis), 1000 daily bars, 500 weekly bars
Datafeed comparison
http://www.multicharts.com/tradestation/datafeeds/