What does the MT4 kb download mean?!

I have been trading for ages but never have found out what this bar means in Metatrader. Is the kb the total downloaded? And I used to think that the left number was the number of ticks received, but now I'm not so sure as it doesn't always change when a new tick is received. Anyone any ideas:

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/5564/countercx9.png

My understanding is the two numbers are (downloaded / uploaded) in kb.

While we are on this subject does anyone know why some brokers use a graph with the color green over blue to show you are logged into your account, while other brokers, like IBFX, use green over red? Any ideas? I tested with the same platform using different server files and the color combination changes depending which broker you are logged in to. So it has nothing to do with the original platform software.

Nvwine, I'm pretty sure that you're correct - it's the number of KB downloaded and uploaded.

As for the colors:
I've tried Alpari, North Finance, WHC, WSD and IBFX. As far as I can tell, all show a green flag pointing rightward over a red flag pointing leftward when the connection is open, but the green flag changes to red for either "No connection" or "Invalid account". I've never seen a blue flag (although I must admit I've never taken much notice of this area of the screen - my eyes are usually focused on the price chart - LOL). I can think of these possible reasons:

1. There is a status other than connection open, no connection or invalid account, that I'm unaware of, that causes a blue flag to be displayed.

2. There may be settings in the broker version of MT4 that allow brokers to customize with different color selections.

3. The MT4 developers may have changed the colors during different builds of MT4, and the blue flag applies to an earlier build.

4. Is it possible that blue reflects a live account, and green a demo account? Or blue when you have live trade(s) currently open, for example? Or blue when you have an EA loaded? Or an offline chart? Or some setting under Tools/Options has been enabled/disabled?

5. It might reflect different servers on the MT4 broker's system (e.g. demo vs live, like in point 4).

All I can suggest is that you try to find something that's different when you see the blue flag, and try switching settings to make it turn green. Sorry I can't be of more help, it's something I've never really paid much attention to.

David

Many thanks, it had never really occured to me that kb could apply to both numbers. Uploaded and downloaded makes sense to me.

Thanks for the ideas.
I think number two above is the most likely. I found exceptions to most of the other suggestions. I'll follow one of your other suggestions and keep investigating.

Edit: Your welcome, jcalow.

the connection shows if it's connected directly to server (green over red) or connected to a data center (green over blue)

http://www.metatrader4.com/forum/2526

Many thanks for the info!
I've been using MT4 since 2007, and I always wondered what the colors meant.

so what is the difference between connecting to server and connecting to data center?

I found the explanation here: http://www.ava-metatrader-trading.co...r-data-center/

Great info guys!

Update as previous link does not work.

https://www.mql5.com/en/forum/46161