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Suggestions on using multiple monitors when trading multiple instruments


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Suggestions on using multiple monitors when trading multiple instruments

  #11 (permalink)
 
Rad4633's Avatar
 Rad4633 
Greensboro NC
 
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sandptrader View Post
I am in the same situation as Rad4633, as i did pm him asking a few questions about what he already tried with the "50 TV.
My other thought was based on idea and not experience was to use 4 monitors either 24" or 27" and build your workspace for each instrument using the "FocusTitlebar" download or similar program.
Spending the extra cash on monitors can be expensive and that was why i first thought of a 46" LED 1080P TV.
at least i could just glance at it to see other markets set ups and then go to smaller monitor for trading off the Trading charts that are minimized on it.
Still thinking of what to do just like Rad4633

my 2 cents is why go blind starring at small monitors all day, the exact size of each of the 4 charts on a 50" is 12" x 22'long so its sorta like having 17inch wide screens(4) stacked together, click enlarge button to maximize each chart to full size 50"

Im almost positive Im gonna do a sports bar monitor wall and use slim line frame 32" monitors. Like they say" go big or go home" I am researching black fridays specials tonight

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  #12 (permalink)
 vegasfoster 
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I have a uni-24" setup for my trading. It's so choice, I highly recommend it if you have the means.

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  #13 (permalink)
 
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 Big Mike 
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I would urge caution on using TV's as monitors. I've never seen it work well in this manner. TV's as monitors is useful when viewing it from a large distance and displaying large text (fonts), images, etc. It is exactly the opposite of what a typical chart and DOM would be (lots of small numbers).

Mike

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  #14 (permalink)
 
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 Rad4633 
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Big Mike View Post
I would urge caution on using TV's as monitors. I've never seen it work well in this manner. TV's as monitors is useful when viewing it from a large distance and displaying large text (fonts), images, etc. It is exactly the opposite of what a typical chart and DOM would be (lots of small numbers).

Mike

I sorta follow your reply, I dont use a dom lol...second -who with small monitors has ever leaned toward the monitor to see screen or font better? so lean away from larger monitor...pun intended here Mike

honestly I was squinting alot after 5 years of full time trading....i had 20/10 vision before I started trading, IMO my vision was being affected by 4 -22" and a 19" laptop

after your post I did a google, search most will have positive comments about using tv's ..most of cons mention icon size, my pc I can adjust that size along with font etc, some mention white text having hues, I adjusted my contrast. ALOT of gamers are using tvs now.

I havent seen any research showing damages to vision from using Tv's as monitors, bc they are tv's..... really this thread has gotten sidetracked I am going to start another to ask my question in different wording....

thx for all the replies

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  #15 (permalink)
 
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 cory 
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Amazon.com: Samsung LN32B530 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV: Electronics

It has PC video input: Lets you connect your computer to experience high-resolution images. * 3 HDMIinputs: Provide an uncompressed all-digital audio/video link for the highest quality connection andthey support copy-protected HD broadcast content. * Inputs: 3 HDMI (2 rear, 1 side), 1 component video (rear), 2 composite A/V

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  #16 (permalink)
 
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 Beljevina 
Toronto, Canada
 
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I'm seeing a significant amount of discusson on "number of monitors" but IMO insufficient attention being paid to not only the size of the monitors but their resolution.

This "number of monitors" really takes on different meaning if someone is on a 4:3 1024x768 17" monitor, or 1366x768 20" monitor, or some other aspect ratio and resolution.

With the luxury of buying newer monitors, nothing less than 1920x1080 should be purchased today, for trading: this will allow you to pack the most amount of detail/charts into the smallest space. I'm seeing mention of a 50" panel, but since that 50" TV is still only 1920x1080, I fail to see the benefit of something that takes up more than twice the space, yet cannot display the information any better.

You can in fact get higher resolutions, without sacrificing monitor cost. I use 6 Samsung 2343BWXs which give 2048 x 1152 in a 16:9 23" spec. While it becomes subjective and a matter of personal taste/tolerance/needs/trading-system-driven on how many charts one places on a monitor and of what type, I have found that when you force yourself to compromise on space and shrink down chart sizes to fit more on a monitor, you can likely get along just fine (ie., don't stick to that 1 chart per monitor). While I have 2 of 6 monitors dedicated to 1min and 3min CL charts,, I also alongside those charts/monitors, squeeze in vvAggregate's T&S and various DOM's: use the 'always keep on top' feature for this, to perhaps place them on top of a chart, and it should be quite easy to not block nothing of value on the chart. A utility like Deskpins will easily make any window stay on top, on a moment's notice. (ie., like a Bloomberg video window, or any browser with perhaps some marquee information)

On other monitors I place M15, H1, tick/volume charts, etc: 5 or 6 per monitor is doable. Rather than use different workspaces as defined by NT7 - which in theory demand you flip back and forth between them, I will "hide" some lesser used charts underneath existing charts. For example, there can be a "top" layer dedicated to commodities/bonds, while the 2nd underneath layer is my currencies. (I flip to these by being able to see a sliver f the window beside the chart that is always/mostly on top of it, or, I usually allow the current price and a few bars to always be visible from this 'underneath' chart. 1 or 2 of my 6 monitors stay constant, displaying indexes and some other key information.

Also, use some other 'tweaks' to maximize your screen real estate utilization:
1) Decrease the stupid fatty window border sizes (windows 'theme' down to 0 or 1 points). Decrease the active window title font size (another theme setting).

2) Use the smallest variation or height of the windows taskbar, On a 3x2 monitor config, I have moved mine to the top of the lower-mid monitor, so it is effective in the middle of my 6 monitors.

3) Since I hate apps that take up lots of screen real estate, and especially those who's font you cannot adjust (like the silly Tweetdeck), find alternatives; Janetter as a twitter client is font, size and column customizeable. I like having a traditional analog clock, allowing me to better 'see' where/when my M15 and H1 candles will be closing; ClockX is lovely for this.

4)The default NT7 chart template is terrible. Turn off the scroll bar at the bottom. Install Consider decreasing the x and y font sizes. Consider having panel dedicated indicators, at the bottom of the main chart's panel. (ie., volume/stochs can almost always be place there. Use a chart panning utility, that allows you to 'grab' your chart and move it easily within the NT window. Use vvHG's great utilities to hide NT's title bar(s).

5)I use GCI's MT4 to follow some other CME futures, as well as spot forex: they are one of the few MT4s that have almost all the CME instruments there, and a demo is perpetual (and free). MT4 charts can be made far more compact IMO, utilize screen real estate better due to finer chart detail. MT4 has an incredibly small memory footprint, and, can offer you backup redundancy, should your main charting package's datafeed go down. Plus, if your PCs connection drops, it will give an audible signal, so, even if your main charting package's connection drops, you should be able to deduce is it your whole internet connection, or just your futures feed.
That's all that comes to mind for now ... sorry, that was a bit more than 2 cents.

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  #17 (permalink)
 
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 shodson 
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I only use 1-2 monitors, depending on what workstation or situation I am in. One of them is usually a laptop and the other is an external, usually a 27" or 28". If I was daytrading the markets all day I'd probably want more, but for end-of-day sort of position trades 1-2 is fine for me. Honestly, you can only focus on one at a time, but having multiple monitors reduces window switching.

I run into new traders that feel like they have to have 4-8 monitors to be a "real" trader. Maybe that is so for some people, but for others it's more of a vanity thing, something to show off or brag about. Try not to fall into that trap.

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  #18 (permalink)
 jsengxx2 
Portugal, Viana do Castelo
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: ninjatrader
Trading: 6e
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shodson View Post
I only use 1-2 monitors, depending on what workstation or situation I am in. One of them is usually a laptop and the other is an external, usually a 27" or 28". If I was daytrading the markets all day I'd probably want more, but for end-of-day sort of position trades 1-2 is fine for me. Honestly, you can only focus on one at a time, but having multiple monitors reduces window switching.

I run into new traders that feel like they have to have 4-8 monitors to be a "real" trader. Maybe that is so for some people, but for others it's more of a vanity thing, something to show off or brag about. Try not to fall into that trap.

Totally agree with that.
I have 4 23ŽŽ monitors, one of them is most of the time switched of and when IŽam using it it is not for trading (this will be the donor monitor for my 3 year old son). When I was using all of the 4 monitors to trade, I traded 6E, CL, GC, 6J, I missed allot of trades because I could not follow all 4 markets. When I missed a trade for example on the 6E I was pissed of that I missed it and when I was focus on the 6E then I realized I had missed a good trade on CL etc..
I now only trade 6E and CL and IŽam focused on the 6E at UK session and on CL at the Crude Open so I never look at 2 markets at a time. I only use 2 monitors for trading and 1 for internet mail etc..

DonŽt forget to look at a 16:10 monitor!


So less is better!

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  #19 (permalink)
 
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 Deucalion 
Calgary, Canada
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: Multiple
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Less is better! But I want moar!

4X Yamakasi Q271 WQHD 27"s running at 2560x1440 (1440p). Naked charts, FX on one screen, DAX (15M, 3M) on another, ES (15M, 3M) on third. And occasionally (rarely) CL (5M, 1M) on 4th.

Back up machine running 2X HP 25" 2511X running at the older generation 1920X1080. Why, because its a cost of business, and its cheap hardware. Once you go 2560x1440, its hard to go back to just HD.

On charts, no more VP/MP. no more order flow, no tools. nothing. Watch 2 setups on 3 futures markets, and same 2 setups on 6 H1 FX charts.



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  #20 (permalink)
 
Big Mike's Avatar
 Big Mike 
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shodson View Post
I only use 1-2 monitors, depending on what workstation or situation I am in. One of them is usually a laptop and the other is an external, usually a 27" or 28". If I was daytrading the markets all day I'd probably want more, but for end-of-day sort of position trades 1-2 is fine for me. Honestly, you can only focus on one at a time, but having multiple monitors reduces window switching.

I run into new traders that feel like they have to have 4-8 monitors to be a "real" trader. Maybe that is so for some people, but for others it's more of a vanity thing, something to show off or brag about. Try not to fall into that trap.

Have you ever worked with 4+ monitors on a daily basis at your desk? I think if yes, you would probably be a convert...

Just saying, I can remember 10+ years ago when I outfitted the entire company I worked for with dual or in some cases triple monitors. Everyone couldn't believe how much more productive they were.

I live in email all day, and obviously on the web. Since I use Outlook, that's two monitors right there. The other four are for trading, and it would be painful to try to use fewer. Besides, they are so incredibly inexpensive these days I don't understand why you wouldn't want to afford this productivity boost. I think I paid less than $300 per monitor several years ago for my Dell 24" 1920x1200 monitors.

Mike

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