I am beginning to think, judging by the lack of votes on this poll, that perhaps scalping is not as popular as it used to be, before decimaliztion and the elimination of fractions.
I've found a few prior threads on ET mentioning data feed speed possibly being slow at times with Tradestation. http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=337738&highlight=tradestation+slow#post337738 http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=355229#post355229, http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=257372&highlight=tradestation+slow#post257372 http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=257367&highlight=tradestation+slow#post257367 Are there any TS users out there who could enlighten us on this subject? I'm wondering if these were just temporary situations and if the data feed is fast enough for scalping.
Tradestation is not a scalping platform. Tradestation is really a swing trader system platform, the guys the want to sit around and figure out automatic trading systems. Anybody using Gr8trader, by Instinet, used to be Protrade?
I have used protrader GR8 before ETG bought them out. The platform cost was $250 per month (which includes your data feed and your charts and chart studies) and the minimum ticket charge was $4. So if you scaled in and out and were looking for small profits, the commissions were too much. I don't know what ETG charges today. If you can get through the initial set up with what I felt was less than able tech support and the learning curve, it's a great platform, especially for swing trading. There are many positive features of the system and if you need to know more, please PM me. But I am probably not going back there for my own reasons. That's why I am looking for another platform. A high speed interconnection (512 or one meg) and your own static IP address are a must if you want to stay connected with their server.
I've also been with IB 4 years and had modest success if I had another source of charts and L2. But felt it was cumbersome for me to be able to direct orders to a particular ECN or MM, and then to set the stops etc. Right now this morning I have been waiting for IB to log on for over 15 minutes and no luck. I looking for a rock solid platform that's easy to use with speed keys, with accessible and responsible customer support.
Just talked to ETG and the new fee schedule is as follows: no minimum ticket charge and .009 pershare commission plus ecn pass throughs. Data feed, software and charts: 0 to 20k shares per month $250. 20 to 50k shares per month $125. over 50k shares per month $0. Instinet still does the tech support for GR8.