Quite a few traders seem to not know about a clever piece of kit that can make their trading life a lot easier with regards to getting TV pictures.
The piece of kit I am referring to is a Slingbox.
So what is a slingbox? Well it is a piece of kit that allows you to stream tv pictures (or DVD etc) over the internet. The cost of the basic slingbox (as shown) is around £70 and it is a one off payment. You can pay a further £20 and buy the application that allows you to stream to your mobile as well so you can have tv pictures anywhere your mobile gets a signal.
There are a few different versions of the slingbox:
~ The classic - this allows you to connect one source to the box and stream it over the internet ~ The solo - this allows you to connect one source to the box but this can be HD and stream it over the internet ~ The Pro - this allows you to connect upto 4 sources, HD, has a built in free view tuner and stream the images over the internet.
I personally think the Solo and Pro is more for the American market where HD is widespread unlike the backwards UK. Unless you want more than one source connected the classic would do the job.
It works by connecting the slingbox to your router via a Ethernet cable, you then connect your source to the slingbox. In my case I have my Sky+ box connected via an AV cable. You then connect the remote sensor cable which allows you to change the channel etc. from anywhere in the world, install the software, run the wizard and you are done. It is very simple and quick and all the cables are included and their support is awesome. I once had a problem, I went to their site and they took control of my PC and had it fixed in minutes, and it was free!!!
So that's what the product is, so how can it help you with trading?
Well there are several applications for it. The reason I bought one (well my brother) was so that when he lived abroad for a year he could continue to watch UK TV, in particular the Premiership matches and other sport.
The reason for this post has come about as I was chatting to a fellow trader who had installed Virgin in their house but the pictures were downstairs in the lounge and they had to trade upstairs. They used wireless internet and were struggling to find a video sender that didn't block the wireless internet. I have a video sender and when it is on you can't use the internet - it is very annoying.
So I suggested he try a slingbox and got him connected to mine to see what it was like. Well he loved it and it seems to be the perfect solution for him and has since bought one. Obviously with streaming pictures there is a bit of a delay however you can get this down to less than 1 second as long as you don't mind a slight reduction in Picture quality.
The reason he wanted pictures and likewise why I use them is mainly to see how long there is to the off, but also to see when a horse is playing up etc and to listen to what the presenters have to say as they can affect the price for example by doing an interview with the trainer. So for him a small drop in picture quality isn't much of an issue.
I wouldn't recommend using one for inplay betting as on ATR and RUK you are already behind the fast picture guys and this will just put you further behind and at more of a disadvantage.
A further use of the slingbox is say if you are having to go away for the day but still want to trade. Well set up your slingbox and you can have pictures with you at the mother in laws and thus continue to trade. I see a few bloggers like Adam Heathcote used his Slingbox on Boxing day as he was away from home. Likewise Peter Webb used one.
A further use and the way I mainly use mine is so that I can have pictures right in front of me on the ladder interface on Bet Angel. I did think about buying a separate tv card but to be honest there is no need when the slingbox does what I want.
It streams over the internet as I have said and my internet is just a 2mb unlimited connection but it copes no problem. There is no impact on response times on the trading software either.
The reason why I want pictures in front of me rather than the side on my TV screen is that near the off and when you have an open position I can just glance at the top left of the screen to see how long to go rather than having to move my head to the right which takes my gaze away from my current position and can mean missing a trade or an opportunity to close out.
I still have the pictures on the main TV at the side with the sound coming through the TV as this ensures I get 'live' sound and can easily see things that are harder to see on the small screen. Below is an image of the setup.
I shall do something about getting Pictures from abroad at a later time.
Anyone who wants more info should go to http://uk.slingmedia.com/ and if you want to see it in action just go to Youtube and search for Slingbox. There are plenty of videos showing it in action both on Youtube and on the slingbox website.
Let me know if you think posts like this are of interest, if not I won't bother with them. Thought it maybe of use to some.
**************** One final point I should have mentioned is that the slingbox will not allow you to watch something different to what the source is showing. For example, I have mine connected to my Sky+ box as I mentioned previously. Say I am in America and want to watch the Simpsons on Sky 1 via the slingbox I will change the Sky Channel to 106, however, if my brother is at home in England he too will now have to watch the simpsons, he can not watch say Sky Sports while I watch Sky 1. Basically you use the source the same as if you were sat in front of it at home, so you can change channel, record something, pause it rewind etc etc.
Well as you will all know UK racing is currently being decimated by the cold weather. Prospects for any jumps racing this week does not look good given the forecast. There is already talk of Thursdays turf racing being cancelled. However, it seems the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) have finally come out of hibernation this week!
The BHA have acted by introducing additional All Weather (AW) racing meetings to the racing program to ensure that there is a minimum of 2 UK meetings on each day. Furthermore they have moved the evening AW racing to the afternoons. For an industry that is mainly funded by the Levy, betting turnover is essential.
As many readers will know I have studied and worked within the racing industry around the world and it really does get to me to see the British racing authority acting so poorly and doing great damage to the industry. So I will be the first to congratulate the BHA for adding extra fixtures, however, I will also be the first to critisise the way they have introduced them.
Monday sees AW action at Lingfield and Wolverhampton, starting at 1.15 and 2.10 respectively and finishing at 3.45 and 5.40 respectively. Why on earth do they start an hour apart and thus leave 2hrs at the end of the day where there is just one meeting on. It means there is only 2 meetings on for a total of 1hr 35mins and furthermore there is two races on within 5 mins of each other and then nothing for 25mins. There is only one loser in this situation and it is British racing and their take of the turnover. If both meetings were on at the same time turnover would be up much more.
We see it again on Tuesday, Kempton and Southwell, starting at 2.15 and 12.40 respectively and finishing at 4.45 and 3.40 respectively.
On a postive note I heard on ATR that the BHA have taken another positive step forward on an issue I have argued for some years including when I have met them during my studies. They have finally realised that the racing industry suffers through a reduction in betting turnover when races clash.
From time to time on busy days clashes can be excused for example on Boxing Day when so much racing was on, however, time and again we see needless clashes brought about due to racecourses in abilities to get races off on time plus other events often out of their control such as a horse bolting.
The new directive is that the BHA will actively contact courses and get them to delay a race so they do not clash. There is one main benefactor of this and that is racing as turnover will be increased and thus the levy payment will be higher.
For those of you still reading I shall continue :)
When I was based in Dubai we as part of our studies shadowed racing officials during the Dubai Racing Carnival. Due to the fact that racing in Dubai is exported on the TV it was essential that it started at a specific time, a lot of people don't realise that despite gambling being illegal in Dubai they still take their share from betting around the world (Of course this isn't shouted from the rooftops ;-) ). The starter would be in contact with the stewards who were watching TV pictures of racing from around the world, including the UK and were in contact with various media from around the world. The steward would be in contact with the starter constantly to ensure that the race went off at the best time to suit all.
Unfortunately this is something the UK and Irish racing authorities have yet to realise and they are doing themselves a lot of damage. As the betting in one country does not pay into the others levy they basically don't give a toss if they clash. Unfortunately they don't seem to realise that by working together they would benefit each other rather than the current situation where that is exactly all they are doing. One day they will realise.
Right I shall bring this to a close, a lot of what I have said has a large impact on you as a trader as when races clash we have less races to trade and liquidity gets messed up. I am sure you have all said at some point, I can't be bothered to wait for the last two races at.... as there is only 1 race every 30 mins. So if racing gets their act together not only will racing benefit but us as traders will.
A lot of pre-race traders have no interest in racing itself, however, without racing they will not have anything to trade. Racing is in a very poor position, its finances are a mess in the UK and without the Arabs it would be a totally different and much much poorer sport. As you know I have a background in racing and I want it to prosper but without change both in policy and people it will continue to fall behind other sports and will get in a bigger and bigger mess than it currently is in.
One last point I will put up for discussion for those of you who are interested in racing:
- What right does horseracing actually have to the levy? The FA don't get anything for the betting on football matches, nor does cricket etc etc???
And finally, bring on April the 17th - the first day of the summer evening racing, from then until August 29th there is two or three evening fixtures in addition to the 3 afternoon meetings bar Sundays where we have to make do with just the three afternoon meetings (http://www.britishhorseracing.com/inside_horseracing/media/fixturelist.asp).
The traders harvest time - it can't come soon enough!!!!
This evening when catching up on some blogs and threads I came across a post on the Betting Traders forum that was discussing the lack of Betfair's Christmas Presents that I and several others have discussed on blogs. Someone had posted a link on the thread to the Betfair Christmas Promotion where you earn Betfair Festive Points depending on your levels of betting which you can then redeem for presents.
It does seem funny that virtually no one knows about this promotion - whats even odder is that I and no one I know can log in either - is it just for the few chosen ones????
************** I forgot to post up the link yesterday incase you want a look.
https://pro.betfair.com/2008/christmas/
Please remember that this link was posted on a forum and did not come directly from Betfair, I am sure it is legit but thought I best mention it to be on the safe side!
Just a quick post to say happy new year to all my readers - I hope 2009 is going to be a profitable one for me and you and we all go from strength to strength with our trading. The end of 2008 saw me learn an awful lot about trading and myself and I hope to really build on this in 2009.
I shall be back to posting from Monday which will include a review of 2008. I have been busy working on setting up a new set of spreadsheets that will allow me to track my progress and compare it to my previous performance. One interesting thing that I have found out is that in 2008 I put a staggering £6.5 million through Betfair. It was funny asking my family and friends how much they thought I had put through Betfair, it ranged from £10,000 to £100,000 and just reminds me that most people don't understand what trading really is about and what it involves!
Also over the break I have found myself going back over my previous posts to extract information which without the blog I would have no record of. Another interesting thing I found out was that I had remained at using £900 stakes for 10 month in 2008. It is amazing the tricks your mind plays on you as I thought it had just been about 5 at the most!
Anyway I shall give a full blown detailed write up on 2008 and my performance, what I am aiming for in 2009, what I hope for in 2009 plus much more starting from Monday.
Well it is that time of year again and it is good to see that Betfair are putting my Premium Charge to good use and giving me a nice Christmas present - Slow Response Times!!!
I had planned to trade both today, Monday, and tomorrow but with slow response times I have decided I may as well take the days off and spend time with the family.
I won't be updating again until after Christmas - so I wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas!!!!
Well that is quite an increase isn't it!?!?!? To achieve a 30,000% increase in your bank is some achievement and to have done it in just 11months is quite something!!! Well that is exactly what Alistair over at Bet Your Life has achieved. I read his blog daily and think it is a very good read and all would be traders should have a look I think as it gives great detail on his daily trading and the highs and lows. You can find a link over on the right in the blogs list or by going to: http://betyourlife.blogspot.com/
So a big well done mate - here's to the next £3,000!!!!
Today saw a great reason why it is essential to have TV pictures while trading. Often you hear from people saying that the cost of the pictures is too much at about £50 a month but I personally would not trade without them. There are several reasons for this and it changes depending on the time of the year.
At present we are in the jumps season which seem to have races delayed a lot more than on the flat - so by having pictures I am able to trade right up until the off which can often mean an extra 3 to 5 minutes of trading time.
During the flat season and in particular with 2 year old maiden races you get a lot of horses playing up as it is their first time on the track and they are really just babies seeing it all for the first few times so it is not surprising they play up. The advantage this brings is you can see a horse that is playing up on the way to the start, before loading or in the stalls all of which will lead to the price drifting and often very quickly. Without the pictures you wouldn't know about these things happening and you may have an order taken that you would have cancelled had you had the pictures. But more importantly you are not able to spot them and thus lay and then ride the increase in the price.
Also selecting the right pictures to have on is important, different channels have different ways of showing the racing. Normally you either have a choice of ATR for ATR tracks or RUK for RUK tracks, however, on the weekend you have coverage on the BBC and Channel 4. Recently Peter Webb did a great post on his blog that clearly showed the time difference between the various streams and I would recommend you have a look at his blog and read that post. Unfortunately with my current setup I am only able to get my pictures through my sky box and thus I am at a delay over the terrestrial BBC and Channel 4 pictures, however, the BBC and Channel 4 pictures are faster through my Sky box than the coverage from ATR and RUK through my sky box. For this reason I normally put on the BBC and Channel 4 coverage in the build up to races rather than RUK and ATR.
As you will know Ascot is a ATR track, however, they had most of the racing on today and as such were not showing the build up to the Ascot races where as the BBC were giving good build up coverage, for that reason I had my BBC pictures on. By having the pictures on I was able to take advantage of Binocular sweating up on his way out onto the track by laying at 2.02 and getting out at various stages up to 2.16. Had I not had the pictures on I would not have known about this and could have easily been caught out.
It is for these reasons that I wont trade without pictures and you can about guarantee that each month you will get plenty of opportunities to profit from the fact of having the pictures which will more than pay for the monthly subscriptions. I remember Peter Webb did a post a few months back where thanks to having pictures he won over £100 from spotting a horse playing up. I haven't made £100 yet from one trade thanks to the pictures but I have made plenty of money from it and it has saved me plenty, so you really can't afford not to have pictures in my opinion!!!
Here is a video I put together that showed the affect of the pictures and what the commentator was saying about Binocular had upon the price, the quality of the video is not good enough to clearly see the horse sweating but you can make it out and you can hear what the commentator had to say.
So what is a slingbox? Well it is a piece of kit that allows you to stream tv pictures (or DVD etc) over the internet. The cost of the basic slingbox (as shown) is around £70 and it is a one off payment. You can pay a further £20 and buy the application that allows you to stream to your mobile as well so you can have tv pictures anywhere your mobile gets a signal.
Anyone who wants more info should go to http://uk.slingmedia.com/ and if you want to see it in action just go to Youtube and search for Slingbox. There are plenty of videos showing it in action both on Youtube and on the slingbox website.
