troubleshooting & FAQ

This guide provides troubleshooting solutions for desktop integrations, web platform latency, API connectivity, and synthetic futures pricing.

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Web Platform & Live Latency

Browser Tab Sleeping & Latency Spinner

If the latency indicator in the bottom-right corner displays yellow/red or large timestamp delays when switching back to the browser tab, the browser has throttled background JavaScript execution.

Resolution:

• In Google Chrome / Brave / Edge, navigate to Settings → Performance.
• Under Always keep these sites active, add: https://www.gexbot.com
• This ensures uninterrupted real-time WebSocket tick processing and chart rendering.

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Desktop Plugins

1. Windows DLL "Blocked" Security Attribute

Windows blocks .dll files downloaded from the internet. Blocked files fail to load in ATAS, Sierra Chart, NinjaTrader, or Quantower.

Resolution:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Run Unblock-File on the downloaded DLL:

   Unblock-File -Path "C:\Path\To\Gexbot_ATAS.dll"

3. Alternatively, right-click the .dll file in Windows Explorer, select Properties, check Unblock at the bottom, and click Apply.

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2. Sierra Chart DLL Location

Sierra Chart requires custom studies to reside in its data directory.

Resolution:

• Copy gexbot.dll directly to your Sierra Chart Data path (typically C:\SierraChart\Data\ or C:\SierraChartInstance_1\Data\).
• In Sierra Chart, click Analysis → Build/Open Custom Studies DLL to verify compilation or load status.
• Configure all parameters in the Settings and Inputs tab (not Subgraphs).

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3. Bookmap & MotiveWave Java Runtime Setup

• Bookmap: Install Java 17 or higher. Add the add-on through the in-app Add-ons manager.
• MotiveWave: Ensure MotiveWave is closed before placing the JAR in the Extensions directory.

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4. NinjaTrader 8 Compatibility

• NinjaTrader plugin requires NinjaTrader 8.1+ (64-bit).
• If upgrading, remove legacy Newtonsoft.Json.dll from the NinjaTrader bin directory before importing modern assemblies.

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Developer API & WebSocket

1. Daily Quota Reset Schedule

• Daily API request quotas and hourly burst rate limits reset every night at Midnight US Eastern Time (00:00 ET).

2. HTTP 429 Too Many Requests

If your application exceeds your subscription rate limit, the API returns status code 429.

Resolution:

• Inspect the Retry-After HTTP response header.
• Implement exponential backoff in your HTTP client:

  import time, requests
  
  def fetch_with_backoff(url, headers, max_retries=3):
      for attempt in range(max_retries):
          response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
          if response.status_code == 429:
              wait_time = int(response.headers.get("Retry-After", 2 ** attempt))
              time.sleep(wait_time)
              continue
          return response
      return response

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3. WebSocket Handshake Timeout & Reconnections

• The client URL returned by POST /v2/negotiate expires after 15 minutes if not connected.
• If the WebSocket disconnects, negotiate a new client token via POST /v2/negotiate before reconnecting.
• To modify group subscriptions on an active connection without reconnecting, send a PATCH /v2/negotiate request.

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Synthetic Futures Pricing & Basis Offset

Why does SPX 5,000 not equal ES 5,000?

Cash indices (SPX, NDX, RUT) and equity index futures (ES, NQ, RTY) trade with a basis offset.

Basis Offset Factors:

1. Dividend Yield Drag: S&P 500 dividends reduce the future cash value.
2. Cost of Carry / Interest Rates: Short-term interest rates increase the futures price relative to spot until expiration.
3. Fair Value Basis Formula:

   Futures Price = (Cash Index × Multiplier) + Basis Offset

4. Historical Replay Calibration: When calibrating historical basis for replay charts:

   Additive Offset = Futures Price - (Spot Price × Multiplier)

   Use the Level Converter to convert strike levels automatically.