Trading delay, what sets it and how to measure it
The short answer
Delay, also called ping, is how long data takes to go from your computer to your broker and back. We don’t promise lower ping, because distance sets the minimum. These guides show you how to measure your own, so you can tell distance from a problem you can fix.
Read them in this order
- What is trading delay?Read this first if the word is new. It shows the simple maths, and why lost data makes you wait on top of distance.
- Delay and uneven delayRead this if your delay is fine one minute and bad the next. It shows how to read uneven delays in your own numbers.
- Measure your broker delayRead this to find your broker’s server in MetaTrader 4 or 5, time the connection yourself and read the result.
- Where brokers host serversRead this to see where some brokers say their trade servers are, so you can pick the matching city. Others name no city.
- Delay spikes after hoursRead this if your delay changes at certain hours of the day. It shows how to log your own pattern and what it points to.
- Delay versus order fillsRead this if orders fill at a different price. It shows which gaps come from your broker’s way of filling orders, not your connection.
Warning. Check your broker’s terms
Traders Proxy is a trading proxy, and it doesn’t change what your broker allows. If your broker prohibits proxies, don’t use one.
Start here
Trading latency is how long your order takes to reach your broker. While it travels, the price can move, and lost data makes it wait longer.
How to check ping to your broker’s server from MT4 or MT5
This page shows how to check ping, the time data takes there and back, from MetaTrader 4 or 5.
Ping vs latency vs jitter in trading, what is the difference?
This page explains three words you meet when a connection drops or an order is late. Knowing which one is high shows where to look.
Where are IC Markets, Pepperstone and other brokers’ servers?
This page lists the city each broker states for its trade servers. A wrong guess puts our server far from your broker.
Why does my ping to my broker spike at certain times of day?
This page explains why ping, the time data takes to your broker and back, spikes at certain times of day.
How much does latency matter for scalping?
This page shows how much latency, the time your order takes to reach your broker, matters for scalping.
Broker cities, busy hours, scalping and fills
How much does latency matter for scalping?
This page shows how much latency, the time your order takes to reach your broker, matters for scalping.
Latency vs slippage, what is the difference?
This page shows the difference between latency and slippage in forex.
Where are IC Markets, Pepperstone and other brokers’ servers?
This page lists the city each broker states for its trade servers. A wrong guess puts our server far from your broker.
Why does my ping to my broker spike at certain times of day?
This page explains why ping, the time data takes to your broker and back, spikes at certain times of day.
What delay is and how to measure it
How to check ping to your broker’s server from MT4 or MT5
This page shows how to check ping, the time data takes there and back, from MetaTrader 4 or 5.
Ping vs latency vs jitter in trading, what is the difference?
This page explains three words you meet when a connection drops or an order is late. Knowing which one is high shows where to look.
Trading latency is how long your order takes to reach your broker. While it travels, the price can move, and lost data makes it wait longer.
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