DTN VS. BMI

[HLu6091187@xxxxxxx]

GEN - quality and quantity on DTN data feed vs BMI

RT,

Currently, I'm using TrateStation Ver4  with BMI data feed via cable.  If  I
upgrade to TS2000, I'm considering to switch my data feed to DTN.  I need to
resolve some of my questions and concerns before I switch the data feed.  I'd
appreciate it if anyone out there can answer my questions as follows:

1)  I'm trading  S&P futures.  BMI carries S&P futures in two symbols, SP* and
DSP*.  SP* includes both day session and Globex session.  DSP* only has the
day session.  My trading systems were designed based on these two separate
symbols.  Without these two separate symbols on S&P futures, I won't switch to
DTN.  Can any current DTN subscribers tell me wether DTN carries these two
separate S&P futures symbols?

2)  I'd like to know how many ticks of  SP March contract DTN transmited
during last week.  For the comparison purpose,  I'll list the number of ticks
I received from BMI for the last week as follow:  (In TS server, click File,
Portofolio, highlight SP9H or DSP9H, then click Edit tick, then you can find
total number of ticks for each day).  You don't have to list the tick numbers
in details.  It's O.K. to mention just "MORE", "LESS", or "ABOUT the SAME".

      SP9H    353 ticks on 2/28/99, 6:30PM thru midnight
                 4846 ticks on 3/1/99,   midnight thru 10:59PM
                 5191 ticks on 3/2/99,   midnight thru 10:59PM
                 5711 ticks on 3/3/99,   midnight thru 10:59PM
                 5291 ticks on 3/4/99,   midnight thru 10:59PM 
                 5468 ticks on 3/5/99,   midnight thru 4:15PM   

       DSP9H  day session only
                 3590 ticks on 3/1/99,   9:30 AM thru 4:15PM
                 3482 ticks on 3/2/99,   9:30 AM thru 4:15PM
                 4027 ticks on 3/3/99,   9:30 AM thru 4:15PM
                 3594 ticks on 3/4/99,   9:30 AM thru 4:15PM
                 3350 ticks on 3/5/99,   9:30 AM thru 4:15PM

3)  I also follow the major indeces.  Does  DTN carries all major indeces,
such as TICK, TIKI, SPX, SPY and @PREM ?

        If  DTN transmit as many number of SP futures ticks as BMI,  I
definitely will switch to DTN service as soon as I upgrade my TS to TS2000.

ion is  satellite.  Unfortunately, my homesite is
blocked by tall trees, my only choice is cable.  A friend of mine subscribes
BMI via satellite.  In the past, I was on the phone several times with this
friend  to compare the arrival of  SP futures data tick by tick.  In 1996 and
1997, he received data about 12 to 18 second ahead of me.  Sometime in 1998,
the speed of BMI cable data feed improved quite a lot, but still 3 to 8 second
behind satellite.  I complained to BMI's technical services for the delay on
cable data feed.  Guess what?!  As usual, they never admit that there is any
difference on the data feed speed between satellite and cable.  After few more
complaints, they blamed the delay on cable delivery to the cable carrier.

Hank