Which options are used in the VIX

Hi there, anyone know which options (strike prices, puts or calls, strike dates) are used to construct the VIX? The vix futures don't offer great liquidity and I'm wondering if better liquidity could be acheived through the construction of a synthetic vix, eg. buying the stip of options used in the vix's calculation.

thanks

 

I'm sure you can find this info at CBOE.

 

http://www.synctrading.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=299#299

nitro

 

wow, nitro. quite the find. thank you. i checked cboe and just couldn't find anything that divulged the method of calculation.

 

You could do the conversion or reversal to create synthetic long or short vix futures.

 

It's there http://www.cboe.com/micro/vix/vixwhite.pdf