QCharts Horror

Discussion in 'Trading Software' started by AAAintheBeltway, May 25, 2006.

  1. patch227

    patch227

    Ha ha ha THis is the funniest post I have read in a long time. So your position is that everything was perfect before eSignal got involved?

    What a load of crap.

    I never had as many problems with ANY product as with qCharts when the jokers from lycos ran this company into the ground. But , HEY !! I suppose it must be eSignal huh
     
    #11     May 25, 2006
  2. I don't doubt the validity of your experience, but my experience (admittedly only 8 months long) reflects the opposite viewpoint. I rarely experienced data lag until recently. The problem remains persistent despite switching servers multiple times. In the past, any data lag vanished with a single server switch.

    - Spydertrader
     
    #12     May 25, 2006
  3. I'm glad I could amuse you.

    I have used QCharts for many years. I think most of us agree that they had service issues for a long time, but in the last couple of years gradually seemed to get them under control. Maybe it was because so many users left them that their capacity was adequate. For whatever reason, the service was the best it had been up until a few weeks or months ago, and now it sucks. Since ESig runs it, and has been vocal that they would make it better, I hold them responsible.

    I find it telling that the ESig guys, who are all over any thread regarding ESig, are notable by their absence.
     
    #13     May 25, 2006
  4. yeah, I think you are right. When they were popular back from 1999-02, they had server problems all the time. Probably by 2004, after everyone abandoned them, it freed up the capacity and the few who were left had a near perfect feed.
     
    #14     May 25, 2006
  5. patch227

    patch227

    Somehow I don't think so or maybe I was subscribed to another qCharts for three years. A quick browse through the ratings here on et also shows about 80% dissatisfaction.

    When I left around Dec 2005 they were still using the hurricane as an excuse for the delayed data feeds.

    I did a quick search for an old post on the qCharts yahoo group that summed the whole situation up but couldn't find it. Instead I found the following random posts.

    I guess everything looks better looking back through rose tinted glasses.




    Notice the dates






    ct: Server Issues - 2/2/2005 quotes
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    Please be advised that the following servers are having issues this
    morning:

    Santa Clara:
    CC-01.sc8.finance.lycos.com
    CC-03.sc8.finance.lycos.com
    CC-05.sc8.finance.lycos.com

    Miami:
    CC-09.mia.finance.lycos.com
    CC-14.mia.finance.lycos.com
    CC-17.mia.finance.lycos.com
    CC-19.mia.finance.lycos.com
    CC-21.mia.finance.lycos.com
    CC-22.mia.finance.lycos.com

    This could cause QCharts to show blank charts. If you are
    experiencing blank charts in your QCharts application, please do the
    following:

    1. Press ctrl -> alt -> n on your computer (all together)
    2. Switch to a different server

    This should solve the problem.

    Sincerely,

    QCharts Customer Service



    Wed May 18, 2005 2:51 pm
    Subject: Massive data delays? rz0
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    I'm seeing data delays of up to 15 minutes in YM05M
    and EC05I has just simply stopped updating. Anyone
    else having problems?

    I have switched among many servers.

    Thanks in advance.

    Oct 21, 2005 4:21 pm
    Subject: Re: [qcharts] Hello- QCharts stuck-Help! sheilig1
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    hello all,
    Yes after 3 years with QCharts I have the same question, esp. first and last hours of RTH
    thanks,
    Sander
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Ranbir Sinha
    To: qcharts@yahoogroups.com
    Sent: Friday, October 21, 2005 9:47 AM
    Subject: [qcharts] Hello- QCharts stuck-Help!


    Hello Larry and other experts,
    My Qchart is not plotting the minute chart on time. Delayed by many
    minutes especially in the afternoon hours. I have a 3GHz, P4-machine
    with 1GB RAM, so that is probably not the problem.

    Can anyone help me or refer me to the links where solution to such
    problems are given, e.g. switching the server(I am currently located
    in Dallas Texas), or some tricks with the preference etc.

    Thanks in advance
    S.R.
     
    #15     May 25, 2006
  6. The problem with QCharts is that the interface and the features are so great that, once you get used to them, you are willing to put up with a lot to keep them, kind of like an abused wife. The beauty of QCharts is that it gives you a lot of what a busy trader needs, and not much else.

    Personally, I think IB missed a great opportunity in not buying it themselves. The combination of the fast and reliable IB datafeed and the QCharts charting would have been unbeatable.
     
    #16     May 25, 2006
  7. There are 2 sides to the story, as usual. Here is my observation,

    1. QCharts placed the burden of server discovery at the user level - that is something not really user friendly and logged onto a stale server is very frustrating as you cannot tell the server is too slow or simply not responding.

    2. When you are connected to a normal (functional) server with QCharts, it usually works great the whole trading day. No disconnect, no slow down, simply perfect!

    3. QCharts has the most comprehensive on demand historical data among all the available retail services. Thus it is an invaluable tool for any researcher of market behaviour.

    4. Unlimited # of symbols for real-time streaming is very attractive, but that could also be the root cause of QCharts' problems.

    So understand what you are looking for and choose the right data feed for your need.
     
    #17     May 25, 2006
  8. nkhoi

    nkhoi

    the burning question is why can't any other chart package offer the same drawing capacity.:confused:
     
    #18     May 25, 2006
  9. Not my main datafeed, but I cant even log in now. :eek:
     
    #19     May 25, 2006
  10. I used eSig for a while. Abandoned them after they had a few FOMC days where the data was delayed 5 min or more because of traffic congestion.

    Either their tech guys are underacheivers or the empty-suit beancounters are starving them for resources.

    Doesn't matter as the result for the user is the same.
     
    #20     May 25, 2006