Saturday, March 11, 2006
Ensign's Echat Program (update)
I'm already a dyed-in-the-wool fan of Ensign Software for my charting and more recently, have been beta testing Ensign's completely redesigned Echat client, detailed in Howard Arrington's
February 2006 Trading Tips Newsletter, where you can also download the program.
There are three major benefits in this program:
- Built-In Chart Viewer
- Built-in Voice client
- Built-in Browser
Having found a group of companionable traders, you naturally want to share what you see, and the closer to a potential signal event, the better. And while a picture may be worth a thousand words to some, there are times when having direct, immediate, verbal contact not only enhances the trading, but the comraderie, which, all things considered, may be the more important part of the 'trading chat' experience. I included the built-in browser as a key feature as, along with one less voice program, means one less application that needs to be open. Even with three monitors, space is at a premium and this, to me, is great.
If you've used the first release of Echat, you'll find the NEW download method is different than the old one. Once you download the file and open it, it has a dialogue like most other programs: a series of windows leading to a folder for the program. So you'll know where to find the transcripts (if you save them), I suggest you put inside its own folder inside Ensign Windows. Howard's write up has other useful tips.
The new Echat2 is very much improved and enhanced from the prior version. During Beta testing, the voice feature was tested successfully and with very nice clarity with 70+ users on voice. It isn't known yet if quality will degrade as more people open rooms and also use built-in voice, however, knowing Ensign staff, it will be monitored and if necessary, improved. With Ensigns earlier move to faster dedicated servers, continuous stability of the program looks promising.
There are many bells and whistles type features, like selecting a personal icon, albeit from a list rather than your own creation; icons for when people are gone or listening with the built-in voice, or using the "second room" feature; entering your own URLs if you use Echat as a browser replacement; and as before, ability to private message (PM) other users. One new feature is the ability to politely block PMs during the trading day. Fifty rooms have also been set up for use by serious traders that trade a specific method or have joined together as trading partnerships.
If there is one feature I'm not convinced I like, it is the ability to "Find User", sort of like a "hunt them down" idea which of course can be useful, but if you are trying to simply hang around quietly, you can run but you can't hide. This is a minor gripe and may well fade into the background as there are far more responsible users than not.
I saved the last great feature for last. Mr. Arrington provides this wonderful program
free of charge to serious traders, preferably those using Ensign, although non-Ensign users are, of course, free to join any of the chat rooms hosted by Echat. It is a wonderful gift to the Ensign community, and those who we trade with.
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