One way to keep costs down is to use QuoteTrader. The software is free supported by ads on Quote.com and it can use multiple brokerage feeds at the same time including IB, MB, Ameritrade. It has a trading front end and charting together. Check out the latest version here: http://www.quote.com/quotetrader/ Chuck
For following price, volume and reading order flow off the book trader IB's charts are fine. A tick here or there does not matter and you can't beat the price for data.
Yes. Another moaning thread. IB's data will satisfy most traders' needs and there are fee based alternatives for those who create a strategy that needs every tick.
I what way does this keep costs down? It is just a frontend, like QT (= quotetraCKer) and Sierra. The data you see is as good as the data provider you choose behind it. Maybe I missed something? Ursa..
We obviously don't trade the same way and that is fine.... When using fast volume charts and oscillators to accurately depict cycles, it makes a huge difference. Missing ticks also serve to hide the true extent of oscillation extremes... If you can trade profitably with missing data I applaud you...one can only wonder what you might be able to do with accurate data....
Translation of the above... Most traders don't need accurate prices... For those that think accurate prices are important, they are available but you have to pay for them...
Incorrect translation More correct: Most traders don't need tick by tick accurate prices. IB will provide u a tick feed with 200ms resolution so it misses some prices. But. IB also provides a 5 second bar datafeed that is 100% accurate (well, as 100% as anyone elses) including all prices, transactions, volume info within the 5 seconds. In both cases the data feeds do not lag during fast markets (unlike, say, esignal) Most traders don't need more than those two (combined or otherwise depending on trading style).
Thanks for that insight.... I have traded with people who don't get the same highs and lows that I do and are using free IB data....perhaps they didn't know how to set it up....perhaps it isn't as good as you think....it really doesn't matter....you appeared to be dismissing inaccurate prices as if though it was all no big deal....I just happen to disagree....
Either you or they may be inaccurate. What I'm saying is that what IB gives you can be all you need for most traders. It can also be very accurate within the time resolutions provided by the delivery modes.