First Alert is incredibly flexible for having your own screens. They are very responsive to their users needs and good with tech support. Their software is constantly changing and during the time I had it (I'm currently taking a break from trading), they added a lot of functionality and I understand they still are. They are cutting edge, but the downside of cutting edge is imperfections. There were some things that I wanted to do but couldn't, but for the things that I did do, it seemed to work fine. My biggest complaint is tha lack of individual, customizable audio alarms for certain alerts as I can't keep my eyes on the screen at all times... they might have that now, I don't know.
Regarding RediPlus executions... Generally no problems and when there are some, 90% of the time it's due to internet problems (determined by using PingPlotter). RediPlus is a low-bandwidth app unless you're doing much Level 2. If you have less than three level 2 screens, I'd recommend a regular 56K AT&T internet connection as SLK uses AT&T and therefore you minimize hops and excess internet traffic. If you have more, you'll want a bigger pipe (ISDN, ADSL, Cable).
For FirstAlert Internet... GET THE FATTEST PIPE YOU CAN!!! With an ISDN connection, NOT getting Level 2, I would have to set my filters so that I got less than 2000 symbols (and if many were NASDAQ, there would be noticable problems because that takes up a lot more bandwidth even using just Level 1 B,A,L,V). If you don't have a big pipe and you're filtering on a lot of stocks, the TAL servers will just lop off data when their buffers get full and you'll never see those trades. But if you have a big pipe or monitor fewer stocks, FirstAlert works fine (the problems are actually the servers, not FirstAlerts). They STRONGLY urge cable modems or ADSL.
Hope this helps. |
