One of my problems is that I use Realtick with both ABWatley and MBTrading. Subject to correction by people a lot more literate than I, you cannot have two versions of Townsend Analytic's Realtick on the same machine at the same time - the latest download re-jiggers the Registry, and will call up either MBT or ABW, even tho they reside in different directories. I bought and installed a separate hard disk, but still no joy - one or the other has to dominate. I guess the answer would be to install Windows 98 separately on both disks, but I don't know how to do that. I have a computer savvy friend in Florida - we are in the process of returning there - who may be able to help.
This is a very long-winded way of explaining why I have ABW on one machine and MBT on my laptop, which claims to have a K56flex modem but runs like a 28k at best. What's odd is that even when my new V90 modem reports a slower connect speed, it's still noticeably faster than the other K56flex modem.
After praising ABW today, I have to report that it went bananas towards the end of the day, dropping and reconnecting two or three times when - thank gawsh - I wasn't trading. MBT dropped me when I had just put in an order to buy 1k CMGI - and there I was with no idea whether the order had been entered or not. After two tries, and several minutes, I was able to get back in and found that I had been filled, and was able to exit with a gain. But nervous-making, to say the least.
You do me honor by asking about my trading style, because I think I'm no better than a mediocre trader - I'm pretty well into cash these days, but for day trading I use %R, 5 minute chart, 15 periods, buy when it gets below 10 and bounces, sell when it gets above 80 and the bid/offer balance is swinging towards the offer. I also use the S&P futures as a sort of leading indicator. I'm a lot more confident if the S&P's have turned before initiating a long position. Often your favorite oscillator on the S&P's will move a minute or so before the stock you're targeting does.
BTW, I have a contrary indicator that seems to work - if the #best bid on ISLD outnumbers #best ask, sell(or don't buy) and vice versa. Anybody else notice that one, not as gospel, just as a warning sign?
I think I've just set a record for the longest post ever on this thread! |
