[stanlyd]

Of the three mentioned above I would first go with DTN IQ data without opening another broker service. They just supply data for you and are usually pretty solid. Not sure about Zen or how they work. I would not recomend esignal anymore as I have had a lot of trouble with them in the past.

[Soultrader]

Esignal is a headache. The data is never reliable and bad tick is a common occurrence. Clean data in my opinion is a must in trading. Ive used DTN in the past but never had a problem with them. Though I think this industry needs more data vendors.

[Kiwi]

JKLM, to answer the question: is ib data useful for tick charts one has to know why you want to use tick charts. So, why?

[JKLM]

because I want eliminate time factor from charts ...

[BlowFish]

Constant Volume might do you then? If you are going to use indicators on top CV (arguably) produce smoother results.

[JKLM]

I already try with volume charts, but i geting better results on tick chart

but not sure are IB tick data in Multicharts reliable

[BlowFish]

Errm that was already answered at the start of the thread.

[Kiwi]

The question of reliability is an interesting one though blowfish.

I use IB tick data to generate tick charts. I have for the last few years.

I know that backfill won't give it (because backfill is limited to 5 seconds per bar or 30 seconds per bar or whatever best granularity your chart package requests from IB).

But in real time my tick charts spread out fast action so that action I wouldn't see on a minute chart after a breakout becomes clear and tradable. So for me, the tick chart is reliable (I don't care that the maximum ticks per second is 10 because thats still 600 tick or 100 6 tick bars in 1 minute).

So, for my use, IB ticks are perfectly "reliable." The show slow progress during slow times but spread the action out for clearer signals during fast action.

Personally, if you draw channels and trendlines or other angled lines on charts I recommend that you do that with minute charts because tick and volume charts distort them depending on current speed of action. But, although thats a common view, its just one view.