Anatomy of a Signal
A Vector Ridge card shows the information needed to identify, follow, and audit a signal: product, symbol, direction, entry basis, grade, state, active risk or protection, expiry, live price, P&L, and timestamps.
Identity fields
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Product | The public lane whose horizon and manager govern the card. |
| Symbol | The instrument being tracked. |
| Side | Long or short. |
| Entry basis | The published price or execution convention used by the research record. |
| Grade | Conviction metadata scoped to the product and source context. |
Lifecycle fields
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| State | Pending, near, at risk, confirmed, protected, or closed as applicable. |
| Active risk / protection | The level or state currently governing the card. It can supersede an earlier display. |
| Expiry | The product-specific clock or end condition. |
| Live price / P&L | The current reference price and research-record result. |
| Timestamps | Publication, update, and close timing used for audit. |
Read state before price fields
A number without its state can be misleading. A pending level is not an open trade. A starting risk field can be retired after confirmation. A closed card is evidence, not a live instruction. Always read the state and last update together.
Entry is product specific
Some cards wait for a level; others engage after a qualifying event using a next-bar or next-session basis. The card's state and entry basis are authoritative. There is no universal public rule that every product opens on an entry-zone touch.
Published result vs your fill
The published result follows the research convention stated by the card and manager. Your actual result can differ because of spread, slippage, latency, gaps, halts, and position sizing. Keep those two records separate.
Does every card show the same exit fields?
No. The terminal shows the lifecycle and risk fields relevant to the assigned product manager.
Can I treat a protected card like an unconfirmed card?
No. The current state determines which risk or protection information is active.
Does the grade tell me how much to risk?
No. Grade is conviction metadata, not position-size advice.