What am I looking to do? What do I use?

I have an idea for a scalping system I want to automate since that is the only way this system would work. If I need to learn MT4 language then I will. Right now I'm just lost at where I will be able to implement the strategy.

I have no broker selected right now. Since it is a scalping system I will need to use an ECN broker such as MB Trading or FXCM. FXCM will be offering MT4 in a few weeks. MB Trading does not support MT4. Is FXCM the only ECN that supports MT4?

Are there any brokers I can open a demo account with an forward test the EA on? FXCM would require I open a live account before I can use the EA on the demo account.

Is MT4 the answer for me? Is there another program I would be better of learning to write my VERY simple system in?

MB Trading requires I purchase a $1000 trading platform to run on top of MB Trading that I could code EA's through; such as using NinjaTrader.

I'd rather not pay $1000 just so I can do all the work myself. What do I do? Sorry if this has been asked before, I'm just not very fond of this sites inadequate search function.

Thanks in advance,
Matt

Sounds like an MT4 broker would be a good start then. Would give you a chance to backtest your idea before committing any money to it. A lot of ideas that work on paper don't work so well in the market... so I certainly wouldn't commit any cash to it until I knew it would work in a backtest.

....and a lot of ideas that seem like they should work, don't even work so well on paper.

Well I was really hoping to forward test more than backtest. I don't particularly care for backtesting as it is only so useful. I want to see how the system performs in real conditions with slippage and so forth. That's a big deal in a scalping system.

I need more than just an MT4 broker. I need an ECN MT4 broker.

My initial question was sort of asking what ECN brokers are MT4 compatible? I was thrown off by the idea that MT4 was designed for dealing desk brokers. I don't know why that would be such a big deal. Does that mean there are no ECN brokers that are compatible with MT4 except for FXCM; which is just starting to roll it out?

So then the next part of my question is, if I don't use MT4, what other EA platforms are available that I could use with an ECN broker? Are the only other platforms something like ninjatrader where I need to pay a large fee to use or buy the software? That is a waste of money in my opinion.

Anywho, I'd much rather forward test with live money than throw all of my funds at a backtested system thinking it is perfect. I'll start with a small balance and grow it from there if the system runs as I expect it to.

My last question would be, do any ECN brokers offer forward testing on a demo account without having to open a live account? If not, are there any brokers that offer EA testing on a demo account without a live account? I imagine a bucket broker would since they've been set up for MT4 for a while now. Correct me if I'm wrong.

TIA. Matt

I thought that in order to scalp, you don't necessarily need an ECN broker. Doesn't Alpari support scalping? IBFX? FXDD? ODLS? I do have to admit that I only have demo accounts with them, so I'm not sure whether I'm thinking right.

No you need an ECN broker or else you'll get flagged as a scalper and they'll block you out. ECN brokers simply pass your trade along to the liquidity providers.