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Has anyone done something like this in Sierrachart? How would you tie it to an individual instrument or chart window? SC supports keyboard trading shortcuts, but not specific to one window/instrument.
Hi -
I'm quite interested in these keyboards and was wondering if anyone here actually use them? I'd be quite interested in your opinion/view over say redefining keyboard keys or using a programmable keypad? Is it possible to get custom keys?
Thanks,
iq
Hi,
I have the Power1 keyboard.
I subscribed to Keyboard trader on the round turn commission package using the keyboard with the T4 platform while doing a Topstep Trader Combine. I only stayed with them for a few months as paying commissions while not earning any money was adding up. That is not a negative for the product though as Adam is very helpful. I notified him when the keyboard arrived and he did a setup and introduction section with me through my computer.
Basics first, you get a keyboard, either one of the preconfigured ones, or build your own with from the list of keys he has available. Like I said I got the Power 1 and added Buy Stop and Sell Stop keys. You then get Access IS software for programming or reprogramming the keyboard keys (key push means F4, Alt-Num Pad 1 etc); I altered mine to something similar to the Alien configuration for a while but have gone back to the Power 1. And lastly the Keyboard Trader software which is the main differentiation between his product and programming your own keyboard. The software allows you to set and easily adjust position size targets. This is useful if you scale in and out of positions as for example, if you are Bullish you may decide that your position size limits are:
Very Bullish- 3 contacts long
Bullish - 2 contracts long
Neutral- 1 contract long Bearish- Flat
Very Bearish- 1 contract short
And then you can press the designated key and you will have as many contract needed bought or sold to get you to that position. So one key push can take you from Very Bearish to Bullish for instance without needing to worry about buying or selling the wrong amount. Another good key is the Liquidate key so you might set it to liquidate in single contracts. Whather you are long or short you press it and exit one contract, never adding to a position by mistake with a keyboard error. All the above keys can also be qualified with another key so for instance instead of taking the offer with a limit order to buy you can hold the key and get Neutral with a buy limit on the bid, or a predefined few ticks below the bid. There is also an Iceberg key you can setup to your own parameters. Also keyboards for easily trading multiple products or spread trading. Lastly the keyboard is always live (it has on and off keys on it), so you do not need to click your mouse on the DOM you want to select, or click to enter and nothing happens because you had just adjusted your chart so that window was the active window instead of the DOM.
I think for a single product trader it is really useful for thin markets that move quickly as you can just tap a key and try to join the market, say a limit to buy the bid, and then tap the order up to get filled if neccessary, easier than trying to do that with a mouse. Keyboard trading is much quicker than trying to move the mouse.
Like I say the only reason I stopped with it is the small round turn cost adds up (though it is capped. Though I never got near that amount), and I could get a bit click happy over trading. Also really beneficial if you are actively trading in and out in legs around a core position but less so if say just putting one or two trades and sitting back with targets in the market.
The keyboard is leased until it is payed for so I could have returned it after a few months for a refund but as I live in the UK I reckoned that by the time I had paid postage back to the US there wouldn't be much profit in it. Glad I did as I now use it with Ninjatrader. None of the smart contract position sizing obviously but Ninja does let you create custom orders and allow orders to be moved up and down the book with keyboard shortcuts.
So in summation, a very good product, good customer service and reasonable cost to try with the transactional pricing and being able to return the keyboard. You won't be disappointed.
Thanks for the detailed reply Mathew.
I was talking to Adam to clarify the pricing yesterday. I am using Tradestation and was told by Adam that I don't need to pay any additional running costs with this platform apart from the $375 basic cost. I do really like the product and am seriously considering buying it. I am just about to start trading and have for now bought the Logitech G13 to use hotkeys. If things go well I will go for the Keyboard Trader in the near future.
I used a product similar to this (might even be the same hardware underneath, both 80 keys) while I was trading equities, you made your own groupings of keys. the single keys were great, and the double's, the the quad keys were not reliable. Each key has one plunger, so the quad key had four plungers underneath, depending how you hit the key, you might not activate a plunger and the key press wouldn't register. Off course the whole reason to have a big 4 key key was to quickly cancel, which means your hand is moving fast and hitting a slightly different part of the key each time.this is the on I used
Just to say that the Keyboard Trader keyboard I have is Access-IS hardware (serial number label underneath), Access-IS Custom and Integrated Keyboards . All the keys: single, double, quad; worked faultlessly.
I seriously considered buying this product November last year at the time I posted. When I spoke to the vendor they were out of some keys and had no idea when the keys would be available so I decided to drop the idea and went instead for the Logitech G13. When I am more serious tho, I will probably go for the Keyboard Trader.