> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.stockhero.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.stockhero.ai/getting-started/using-stockhero-as-a-signal-generator.md).
# Using StockHero as a Signal Generator
{% hint style="info" %}
We strongly recommend connecting your brokerage to StockHero for automated live trading. However, if your brokerage isn't supported, you can use StockHero as a signal generator instead.
{% endhint %}
StockHero can function as an automated Signal Generator. By pairing StockHero's risk-free Paper Exchangewith real-time notification alerts, you can receive precise trade signals on your phone or computer whenever your trading bot executes a simulated trade in the Paper account. This allows you to evaluate market conditions and manually execute the trade in your live brokerage account.
### How Signal Generation Works
```
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ StockHero │
│ [Market Data] ──► [Bot Strategy] ──► [Paper Exchange] │
└───────────────────────────────────────────┬──────────────┘
│
Simulated Trade Signal
│
▼
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Notification Alert │
│ (Email / Mobile Push / SMS / WhatsApp) │
└───────────────────────────────────────────┬──────────────┘
│
User Alerted
│
▼
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Manual Brokerage Execution │
│ (Review alert ──► Open Brokerage ──► Execute) │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```
1. Market Simulation: The StockHero Paper Exchange tracks live market price movements in real time.
2. Signal Trigger: Your configured trading bot triggers a buy or sell action based the strategy's conditions.
3. Push Alert: StockHero sends an alert with trade details (ticker, price, quantity) via your configured alert channels. By default, alerts are pushed via email and mobile channels.
4. Manual Execution: You decide whether to replicate the trade in your actual brokerage account.
### Setup Steps
**I. Configure Your Notification Preferences**
Ensure instant receipt of trade alerts.Before deploying your bot, configure where trade alerts will be delivered.
1. Log in to StockHero and open Settings -> Notifications.
2. Choose your preferred alert channels:
* Email & Mobile Push Notifications: Available on all subscription plans.
* SMS & WhatsApp Alerts: Exclusively available to Professional plan subscribers. Select your country code and enter your phone number.\
**II. Configure Your Paper Exchange Wallet**
Set up your risk-free testing environment.Ensure your virtual Paper wallet has sufficient capital to simulate trading positions.
1. Navigate to Portfolio.
2. Review your virtual USD balance.
3. Adjust or add virtual capital if necessary to accommodate your strategy's position sizing. \[[How to adjust your virtual USD?](/getting-started/paper-trading.md)]
**III. Configure Your Trading Bot Strategy**
Define the logic for generating signals.Set up the parameters that determine when a buy or sell signal triggers.
1. At the top of the page, make sure "Paper" is selected. This ensures that all bots that you create will run in our internal virtual Paper exchange.
2. Click Bots -> Create Bot (or choose a pre-built strategy from the Strategy Marketplace). You can access your strategies in **My Strategies** page in our Web App(see image below). For Mobile app users, the strategies are located in the **Market** screen.
\
**IV. Deploy and Monitor**
Run the bot on simulated real-time data. Launch the bot to start generating continuous signal alerts.
1. Review settings and click Create Bot. This bot will run in our Paper exchange.
2. The bot continuously monitors real-time market data during trading hours.
3. When conditions are met, the bot places a trade on the Paper Exchange and transmits an instant signal notification to your selected delivery channels.
### Notification Channel Breakdown
| **Notification Method** | **Plan Requirement** | **Typical Use Case** |
| ----------------------- | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Email | All Plans | Desktop monitoring and trade audit history. |
| Mobile App Push | All Plans | Real-time smartphone alerts while on the go. |
| SMS | Professional Plan Only | Direct cellular text alerts in regions with cellular service. |
| WhatsApp | Professional Plan Only | Instant messaging alerts delivered via Wi-Fi or mobile data. |
### Executing Trades from Generated Signals
Upon receiving a notification:
1. Review the Signal Details:
* Action Type: BUY / SELL
* Ticker Symbol: Target stock symbol
* Executed Price: Price trigger on the Paper Exchange
* Position Size: Share count
2. Verify Live Market Conditions: Open your brokerage app to review current bid/ask spreads and market momentum.
3. Execute Manually: Enter a market or limit order matching the signal parameters if you agree with the trade signal.
**Important Considerations for Signal Execution**
* Execution Slippage: Simulated paper execution prices may differ slightly from live order execution prices in your brokerage account due to bid/ask spreads and market velocity.
* Time Sensitivity: Signals should be reviewed and acted upon promptly. Delayed execution may lead to entry or exit prices far off from the bot's initial trigger point.
* Capital Sizing: Ensure your live brokerage account risk management matches the position limits you configured on the Paper Exchange.
---
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