diff --git a/piker/_async_utils.py b/piker/_async_utils.py
deleted file mode 100644
index fb221215..00000000
--- a/piker/_async_utils.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,66 +0,0 @@
-# piker: trading gear for hackers
-# Copyright (C) 2018-present  Tyler Goodlet (in stewardship of piker0)
-
-# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
-# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
-# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
-# (at your option) any later version.
-
-# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
-# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
-
-# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
-# along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-
-"""
-Async utils no one seems to have built into a core lib (yet).
-"""
-from typing import AsyncContextManager
-from collections import OrderedDict
-from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
-
-
-def async_lifo_cache(maxsize=128):
-    """Async ``cache`` with a LIFO policy.
-
-    Implemented my own since no one else seems to have
-    a standard. I'll wait for the smarter people to come
-    up with one, but until then...
-    """
-    cache = OrderedDict()
-
-    def decorator(fn):
-
-        async def wrapper(*args):
-            key = args
-            try:
-                return cache[key]
-            except KeyError:
-                if len(cache) >= maxsize:
-                    # discard last added new entry
-                    cache.popitem()
-
-                # do it
-                cache[key] = await fn(*args)
-                return cache[key]
-
-        return wrapper
-
-    return decorator
-
-
-@asynccontextmanager
-async def _just_none():
-    # noop -> skip entering context
-    yield None
-
-
-@asynccontextmanager
-async def maybe_with_if(
-    predicate: bool,
-    context: AsyncContextManager,
-) -> AsyncContextManager:
-    async with context if predicate else _just_none() as output:
-        yield output
diff --git a/piker/_cacheables.py b/piker/_cacheables.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..87b700f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/piker/_cacheables.py
@@ -0,0 +1,195 @@
+# piker: trading gear for hackers
+# Copyright (C) Tyler Goodlet (in stewardship for piker0)
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+"""
+Cacheing apis and toolz.
+
+"""
+# further examples of interest:
+# https://gist.github.com/njsmith/cf6fc0a97f53865f2c671659c88c1798#file-cache-py-L8
+
+from collections import OrderedDict
+from typing import (
+    Any,
+    Hashable,
+    Optional,
+    TypeVar,
+    AsyncContextManager,
+)
+from contextlib import (
+    asynccontextmanager,
+)
+
+import trio
+from trio_typing import TaskStatus
+import tractor
+
+from .brokers import get_brokermod
+from .log import get_logger
+
+
+T = TypeVar('T')
+log = get_logger(__name__)
+
+
+def async_lifo_cache(maxsize=128):
+    """Async ``cache`` with a LIFO policy.
+
+    Implemented my own since no one else seems to have
+    a standard. I'll wait for the smarter people to come
+    up with one, but until then...
+    """
+    cache = OrderedDict()
+
+    def decorator(fn):
+
+        async def wrapper(*args):
+            key = args
+            try:
+                return cache[key]
+            except KeyError:
+                if len(cache) >= maxsize:
+                    # discard last added new entry
+                    cache.popitem()
+
+                # do it
+                cache[key] = await fn(*args)
+                return cache[key]
+
+        return wrapper
+
+    return decorator
+
+
+_cache: dict[str, 'Client'] = {}  # noqa
+
+
+class cache:
+    '''Globally (processs wide) cached, task access to a
+    kept-alive-while-in-use async resource.
+
+    '''
+    lock = trio.Lock()
+    users: int = 0
+    values: dict[Any,  Any] = {}
+    resources: dict[
+        int,
+        Optional[tuple[trio.Nursery, trio.Event]]
+    ] = {}
+    no_more_users: Optional[trio.Event] = None
+
+    @classmethod
+    async def run_ctx(
+        cls,
+        mng,
+        key,
+        task_status: TaskStatus[T] = trio.TASK_STATUS_IGNORED,
+
+    ) -> None:
+        async with mng as value:
+
+            _, no_more_users = cls.resources[id(mng)]
+            cls.values[key] = value
+            task_status.started(value)
+            try:
+                await no_more_users.wait()
+            finally:
+                value = cls.values.pop(key)
+                # discard nursery ref so it won't be re-used (an error)
+                cls.resources.pop(id(mng))
+
+
+@asynccontextmanager
+async def maybe_open_ctx(
+
+    key: Hashable,
+    mngr: AsyncContextManager[T],
+
+) -> (bool, T):
+    '''Maybe open a context manager if there is not already a cached
+    version for the provided ``key``. Return the cached instance on
+    a cache hit.
+
+    '''
+
+    await cache.lock.acquire()
+
+    ctx_key = id(mngr)
+
+    value = None
+    try:
+        # lock feed acquisition around task racing  / ``trio``'s
+        # scheduler protocol
+        value = cache.values[key]
+        log.info(f'Reusing cached resource for {key}')
+        cache.users += 1
+        cache.lock.release()
+        yield True, value
+
+    except KeyError:
+        log.info(f'Allocating new feed for {key}')
+
+        # **critical section** that should prevent other tasks from
+        # checking the cache until complete otherwise the scheduler
+        # may switch and by accident we create more then one feed.
+
+        # TODO: avoid pulling from ``tractor`` internals and
+        # instead offer a "root nursery" in piker actors?
+        service_n = tractor.current_actor()._service_n
+
+        # TODO: does this need to be a tractor "root nursery"?
+        ln = cache.resources.get(ctx_key)
+        assert not ln
+
+        ln, _ = cache.resources[ctx_key] = (service_n, trio.Event())
+
+        value = await ln.start(cache.run_ctx, mngr, key)
+        cache.users += 1
+        cache.lock.release()
+
+        yield False, value
+
+    finally:
+        cache.users -= 1
+
+        if cache.lock.locked():
+            cache.lock.release()
+
+        if value is not None:
+            # if no more consumers, teardown the client
+            if cache.users <= 0:
+                log.warning(f'De-allocating resource for {key}')
+
+                # terminate mngr nursery
+                _, no_more_users = cache.resources[ctx_key]
+                no_more_users.set()
+
+
+@asynccontextmanager
+async def open_cached_client(
+    brokername: str,
+) -> 'Client':  # noqa
+    '''Get a cached broker client from the current actor's local vars.
+
+    If one has not been setup do it and cache it.
+
+    '''
+    brokermod = get_brokermod(brokername)
+    async with maybe_open_ctx(
+        key=brokername,
+        mngr=brokermod.get_client(),
+    ) as (cache_hit, client):
+        yield client
diff --git a/piker/brokers/api.py b/piker/brokers/api.py
deleted file mode 100644
index c1e11a01..00000000
--- a/piker/brokers/api.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,85 +0,0 @@
-# piker: trading gear for hackers
-# Copyright (C) Tyler Goodlet (in stewardship for piker0)
-
-# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
-# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
-# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
-# (at your option) any later version.
-
-# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
-# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
-
-# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
-# along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-
-"""
-Actor-aware broker agnostic interface.
-
-"""
-from typing import Dict
-from contextlib import asynccontextmanager, AsyncExitStack
-
-import trio
-
-from . import get_brokermod
-from ..log import get_logger
-
-
-log = get_logger(__name__)
-
-
-_cache: Dict[str, 'Client'] = {}  # noqa
-
-
-@asynccontextmanager
-async def open_cached_client(
-    brokername: str,
-    *args,
-    **kwargs,
-) -> 'Client':  # noqa
-    """Get a cached broker client from the current actor's local vars.
-
-    If one has not been setup do it and cache it.
-    """
-    global _cache
-
-    clients = _cache.setdefault('clients', {'_lock': trio.Lock()})
-
-    # global cache task lock
-    lock = clients['_lock']
-
-    client = None
-
-    try:
-        log.info(f"Loading existing `{brokername}` client")
-
-        async with lock:
-            client = clients[brokername]
-            client._consumers += 1
-
-        yield client
-
-    except KeyError:
-        log.info(f"Creating new client for broker {brokername}")
-
-        async with lock:
-            brokermod = get_brokermod(brokername)
-            exit_stack = AsyncExitStack()
-
-            client = await exit_stack.enter_async_context(
-                brokermod.get_client()
-            )
-            client._consumers = 0
-            client._exit_stack = exit_stack
-            clients[brokername] = client
-
-        yield client
-
-    finally:
-        if client is not None:
-            # if no more consumers, teardown the client
-            client._consumers -= 1
-            if client._consumers <= 0:
-                await client._exit_stack.aclose()
diff --git a/piker/brokers/binance.py b/piker/brokers/binance.py
index e8309cdb..59fb3ea4 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/binance.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/binance.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ from pydantic.dataclasses import dataclass
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 import wsproto
 
-from .api import open_cached_client
+from .._cacheables import open_cached_client
 from ._util import resproc, SymbolNotFound
 from ..log import get_logger, get_console_log
 from ..data import ShmArray
diff --git a/piker/brokers/core.py b/piker/brokers/core.py
index 59621b63..b16f46fe 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/core.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/core.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import trio
 from ..log import get_logger
 from . import get_brokermod
 from .._daemon import maybe_spawn_brokerd
-from .api import open_cached_client
+from .._cacheables import open_cached_client
 
 
 log = get_logger(__name__)
diff --git a/piker/brokers/data.py b/piker/brokers/data.py
index 9369a73b..48b20d80 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/data.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/data.py
@@ -14,9 +14,14 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-"""
-Real-time data feed machinery
-"""
+'''
+NB: this is the old original implementation that was used way way back
+when the project started with ``kivy``.
+
+This code is left for reference but will likely be merged in
+appropriately and removed.
+
+'''
 import time
 from functools import partial
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib.py b/piker/brokers/ib.py
index f604fc93..45b93416 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/ib.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/ib.py
@@ -1358,6 +1358,9 @@ async def trades_dialogue(
         # start order request handler **before** local trades event loop
         n.start_soon(handle_order_requests, ems_stream)
 
+        # TODO: for some reason we can receive a ``None`` here when the
+        # ib-gw goes down? Not sure exactly how that's happening looking
+        # at the eventkit code above but we should probably handle it...
         async for event_name, item in ib_trade_events_stream:
 
             # XXX: begin normalization of nonsense ib_insync internal
@@ -1469,9 +1472,8 @@ async def trades_dialogue(
 @tractor.context
 async def open_symbol_search(
     ctx: tractor.Context,
-) -> None:
-    # async with open_cached_client('ib') as client:
 
+) -> None:
     # load all symbols locally for fast search
     await ctx.started({})
 
diff --git a/piker/brokers/kraken.py b/piker/brokers/kraken.py
index 6d41ab10..cfce2d5a 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/kraken.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/kraken.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ from pydantic.dataclasses import dataclass
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 import wsproto
 
-from .api import open_cached_client
+from .._cacheables import open_cached_client
 from ._util import resproc, SymbolNotFound, BrokerError
 from ..log import get_logger, get_console_log
 from ..data import ShmArray
diff --git a/piker/brokers/questrade.py b/piker/brokers/questrade.py
index 3f09587c..7a06ce76 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/questrade.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/questrade.py
@@ -42,12 +42,11 @@ import wrapt
 import asks
 
 from ..calc import humanize, percent_change
+from .._cacheables import open_cached_client, async_lifo_cache
 from . import config
 from ._util import resproc, BrokerError, SymbolNotFound
 from ..log import get_logger, colorize_json, get_console_log
-from .._async_utils import async_lifo_cache
 from . import get_brokermod
-from . import api
 
 
 log = get_logger(__name__)
@@ -1197,7 +1196,7 @@ async def stream_quotes(
     # XXX: required to propagate ``tractor`` loglevel to piker logging
     get_console_log(loglevel)
 
-    async with api.open_cached_client('questrade') as client:
+    async with open_cached_client('questrade') as client:
         if feed_type == 'stock':
             formatter = format_stock_quote
             get_quotes = await stock_quoter(client, symbols)
diff --git a/piker/clearing/_client.py b/piker/clearing/_client.py
index 97869bb9..89630722 100644
--- a/piker/clearing/_client.py
+++ b/piker/clearing/_client.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 
 import trio
 import tractor
+from tractor._broadcast import broadcast_receiver
 
 from ..data._source import Symbol
 from ..log import get_logger
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ log = get_logger(__name__)
 
 @dataclass
 class OrderBook:
-    """Buy-side (client-side ?) order book ctl and tracking.
+    '''EMS-client-side order book ctl and tracking.
 
     A style similar to "model-view" is used here where this api is
     provided as a supervised control for an EMS actor which does all the
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ class OrderBook:
     Currently, this is mostly for keeping local state to match the EMS
     and use received events to trigger graphics updates.
 
-    """
+    '''
     # mem channels used to relay order requests to the EMS daemon
     _to_ems: trio.abc.SendChannel
     _from_order_book: trio.abc.ReceiveChannel
@@ -123,10 +124,15 @@ def get_orders(
     global _orders
 
     if _orders is None:
+        size = 100
+        tx, rx = trio.open_memory_channel(size)
+        brx = broadcast_receiver(rx, size)
+
         # setup local ui event streaming channels for request/resp
         # streamging with EMS daemon
         _orders = OrderBook(
-            *trio.open_memory_channel(100),
+            _to_ems=tx,
+            _from_order_book=brx,
         )
 
     return _orders
@@ -157,23 +163,12 @@ async def relay_order_cmds_from_sync_code(
 
     """
     book = get_orders()
-    orders_stream = book._from_order_book
-
-    async for cmd in orders_stream:
-
-        print(cmd)
-        if cmd['symbol'] == symbol_key:
-
-            # send msg over IPC / wire
-            log.info(f'Send order cmd:\n{pformat(cmd)}')
-            await to_ems_stream.send(cmd)
-
-        else:
-            # XXX BRUTAL HACKZORZES !!!
-            # re-insert for another consumer
-            # we need broadcast channelz...asap
-            # https://github.com/goodboy/tractor/issues/204
-            book._to_ems.send_nowait(cmd)
+    async with book._from_order_book.subscribe() as orders_stream:
+        async for cmd in orders_stream:
+            if cmd['symbol'] == symbol_key:
+                log.info(f'Send order cmd:\n{pformat(cmd)}')
+                # send msg over IPC / wire
+                await to_ems_stream.send(cmd)
 
 
 @asynccontextmanager
diff --git a/piker/clearing/_ems.py b/piker/clearing/_ems.py
index 7dbbfbad..91197d60 100644
--- a/piker/clearing/_ems.py
+++ b/piker/clearing/_ems.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from pprint import pformat
 import time
-from typing import AsyncIterator, Callable, Any
+from typing import AsyncIterator, Callable
 
 from bidict import bidict
 from pydantic import BaseModel
@@ -30,10 +30,9 @@ import trio
 from trio_typing import TaskStatus
 import tractor
 
-from .. import data
 from ..log import get_logger
 from ..data._normalize import iterticks
-from ..data.feed import Feed
+from ..data.feed import Feed, maybe_open_feed
 from .._daemon import maybe_spawn_brokerd
 from . import _paper_engine as paper
 from ._messages import (
@@ -123,7 +122,7 @@ class _DarkBook:
 # XXX: this is in place to prevent accidental positions that are too
 # big. Now obviously this won't make sense for crypto like BTC, but
 # for most traditional brokers it should be fine unless you start
-# slinging NQ futes or something.
+# slinging NQ futes or something; check ur margin.
 _DEFAULT_SIZE: float = 1.0
 
 
@@ -132,7 +131,6 @@ async def clear_dark_triggers(
     brokerd_orders_stream: tractor.MsgStream,
     ems_client_order_stream: tractor.MsgStream,
     quote_stream: tractor.ReceiveMsgStream,  # noqa
-
     broker: str,
     symbol: str,
 
@@ -266,7 +264,7 @@ class TradesRelay:
     consumers: int = 0
 
 
-class _Router(BaseModel):
+class Router(BaseModel):
     '''Order router which manages and tracks per-broker dark book,
     alerts, clearing and related data feed management.
 
@@ -276,8 +274,6 @@ class _Router(BaseModel):
     # setup at actor spawn time
     nursery: trio.Nursery
 
-    feeds: dict[tuple[str, str], Any] = {}
-
     # broker to book map
     books: dict[str, _DarkBook] = {}
 
@@ -343,12 +339,12 @@ class _Router(BaseModel):
             relay.consumers -= 1
 
 
-_router: _Router = None
+_router: Router = None
 
 
 async def open_brokerd_trades_dialogue(
 
-    router: _Router,
+    router: Router,
     feed: Feed,
     symbol: str,
     _exec_mode: str,
@@ -466,7 +462,7 @@ async def _setup_persistent_emsd(
     # open a root "service nursery" for the ``emsd`` actor
     async with trio.open_nursery() as service_nursery:
 
-        _router = _Router(nursery=service_nursery)
+        _router = Router(nursery=service_nursery)
 
         # TODO: send back the full set of persistent
         # orders/execs?
@@ -480,7 +476,7 @@ async def translate_and_relay_brokerd_events(
 
     broker: str,
     brokerd_trades_stream: tractor.MsgStream,
-    router: _Router,
+    router: Router,
 
 ) -> AsyncIterator[dict]:
     '''Trades update loop - receive updates from ``brokerd`` trades
@@ -704,7 +700,7 @@ async def process_client_order_cmds(
     symbol: str,
     feed: Feed,  # noqa
     dark_book: _DarkBook,
-    router: _Router,
+    router: Router,
 
 ) -> None:
 
@@ -958,32 +954,25 @@ async def _emsd_main(
     # tractor.Context instead of strictly requiring a ctx arg.
     ems_ctx = ctx
 
-    cached_feed = _router.feeds.get((broker, symbol))
-    if cached_feed:
-        # TODO: use cached feeds per calling-actor
-        log.warning(f'Opening duplicate feed for {(broker, symbol)}')
+    feed: Feed
 
     # spawn one task per broker feed
     async with (
-        # TODO: eventually support N-brokers
-        data.open_feed(
+        maybe_open_feed(
             broker,
             [symbol],
             loglevel=loglevel,
-        ) as feed,
+        ) as (feed, stream),
     ):
-        if not cached_feed:
-            _router.feeds[(broker, symbol)] = feed
 
         # XXX: this should be initial price quote from target provider
         first_quote = feed.first_quote
 
-        # open a stream with the brokerd backend for order
-        # flow dialogue
-
         book = _router.get_dark_book(broker)
         book.lasts[(broker, symbol)] = first_quote[symbol]['last']
 
+        # open a stream with the brokerd backend for order
+        # flow dialogue
         async with (
 
             # only open if one isn't already up: we try to keep
@@ -1015,11 +1004,9 @@ async def _emsd_main(
                 n.start_soon(
                     clear_dark_triggers,
 
-                    # relay.brokerd_dialogue,
                     brokerd_stream,
                     ems_client_order_stream,
-                    feed.stream,
-
+                    stream,
                     broker,
                     symbol,
                     book
diff --git a/piker/data/_sampling.py b/piker/data/_sampling.py
index 490ae4b0..bf9ecbba 100644
--- a/piker/data/_sampling.py
+++ b/piker/data/_sampling.py
@@ -118,8 +118,9 @@ async def increment_ohlc_buffer(
                     shm.push(last)
 
                 # broadcast the buffer index step
-                # yield {'index': shm._last.value}
-                for ctx in _subscribers.get(delay_s, ()):
+                subs = _subscribers.get(delay_s, ())
+
+                for ctx in subs:
                     try:
                         await ctx.send_yield({'index': shm._last.value})
                     except (
@@ -127,6 +128,7 @@ async def increment_ohlc_buffer(
                         trio.ClosedResourceError
                     ):
                         log.error(f'{ctx.chan.uid} dropped connection')
+                        subs.remove(ctx)
 
 
 @tractor.stream
@@ -235,6 +237,8 @@ async def sample_and_broadcast(
 
                 try:
                     if tick_throttle:
+                        # this is a send mem chan that likely
+                        # pushes to the ``uniform_rate_send()`` below.
                         await stream.send(quote)
 
                     else:
@@ -255,6 +259,10 @@ async def sample_and_broadcast(
                     subs.remove((stream, tick_throttle))
 
 
+# TODO: a less naive throttler, here's some snippets:
+# token bucket by njs:
+# https://gist.github.com/njsmith/7ea44ec07e901cb78ebe1dd8dd846cb9
+
 async def uniform_rate_send(
 
     rate: float,
@@ -292,7 +300,7 @@ async def uniform_rate_send(
                 rate = 1 / (now - last_send)
                 last_send = now
 
-                # print(f'{rate} Hz sending quotes\n{first_quote}')
+                # print(f'{rate} Hz sending quotes')  # \n{first_quote}')
 
                 # TODO: now if only we could sync this to the display
                 # rate timing exactly lul
diff --git a/piker/data/_sharedmem.py b/piker/data/_sharedmem.py
index aa2a5320..f7f9f904 100644
--- a/piker/data/_sharedmem.py
+++ b/piker/data/_sharedmem.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 """
-NumPy compatible shared memory buffers for real-time FSP.
+NumPy compatible shared memory buffers for real-time IPC streaming.
 
 """
 from dataclasses import dataclass, asdict
@@ -207,11 +207,16 @@ class ShmArray:
     def push(
         self,
         data: np.ndarray,
+
         prepend: bool = False,
+
     ) -> int:
-        """Ring buffer like "push" to append data
+        '''Ring buffer like "push" to append data
         into the buffer and return updated "last" index.
-        """
+
+        NB: no actual ring logic yet to give a "loop around" on overflow
+        condition, lel.
+        '''
         length = len(data)
 
         if prepend:
diff --git a/piker/data/feed.py b/piker/data/feed.py
index ed24a095..72d3c50d 100644
--- a/piker/data/feed.py
+++ b/piker/data/feed.py
@@ -31,11 +31,14 @@ from typing import (
 )
 
 import trio
+from trio.abc import ReceiveChannel
 from trio_typing import TaskStatus
 import tractor
+# from tractor import _broadcast
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 
 from ..brokers import get_brokermod
+from .._cacheables import maybe_open_ctx
 from ..log import get_logger, get_console_log
 from .._daemon import (
     maybe_spawn_brokerd,
@@ -322,11 +325,28 @@ async def attach_feed_bus(
         else:
             sub = (stream, tick_throttle)
 
-        bus._subscribers[symbol].append(sub)
+        subs = bus._subscribers[symbol]
+        subs.append(sub)
 
         try:
-            await trio.sleep_forever()
+            uid = ctx.chan.uid
+            fqsn = f'{symbol}.{brokername}'
 
+            async for msg in stream:
+
+                if msg == 'pause':
+                    if sub in subs:
+                        log.info(
+                            f'Pausing {fqsn} feed for {uid}')
+                        subs.remove(sub)
+
+                elif msg == 'resume':
+                    if sub not in subs:
+                        log.info(
+                            f'Resuming {fqsn} feed for {uid}')
+                        subs.append(sub)
+                else:
+                    raise ValueError(msg)
         finally:
             log.info(
                 f'Stopping {symbol}.{brokername} feed for {ctx.chan.uid}')
@@ -335,6 +355,31 @@ async def attach_feed_bus(
             bus._subscribers[symbol].remove(sub)
 
 
+@asynccontextmanager
+async def open_sample_step_stream(
+    portal: tractor.Portal,
+    delay_s: int,
+
+) -> tractor.ReceiveMsgStream:
+    # XXX: this should be singleton on a host,
+    # a lone broker-daemon per provider should be
+    # created for all practical purposes
+    async with maybe_open_ctx(
+        key=delay_s,
+        mngr=portal.open_stream_from(
+            iter_ohlc_periods,
+            delay_s=delay_s,  # must be kwarg
+        ),
+    ) as (cache_hit, istream):
+        if cache_hit:
+            # add a new broadcast subscription for the quote stream
+            # if this feed is likely already in use
+            async with istream.subscribe() as bistream:
+                yield bistream
+        else:
+            yield istream
+
+
 @dataclass
 class Feed:
     """A data feed for client-side interaction with far-process# }}}
@@ -345,13 +390,12 @@ class Feed:
     memory buffer orchestration.
     """
     name: str
-    stream: AsyncIterator[dict[str, Any]]
     shm: ShmArray
     mod: ModuleType
     first_quote: dict
+    stream: trio.abc.ReceiveChannel[dict[str, Any]]
 
     _brokerd_portal: tractor._portal.Portal
-    _index_stream: Optional[AsyncIterator[int]] = None
     _trade_stream: Optional[AsyncIterator[dict[str, Any]]] = None
     _max_sample_rate: int = 0
 
@@ -362,7 +406,7 @@ class Feed:
     symbols: dict[str, Symbol] = field(default_factory=dict)
 
     async def receive(self) -> dict:
-        return await self.stream.__anext__()
+        return await self.stream.receive()
 
     @asynccontextmanager
     async def index_stream(
@@ -371,18 +415,19 @@ class Feed:
 
     ) -> AsyncIterator[int]:
 
-        if not self._index_stream:
-            # XXX: this should be singleton on a host,
-            # a lone broker-daemon per provider should be
-            # created for all practical purposes
-            async with self._brokerd_portal.open_stream_from(
-                iter_ohlc_periods,
-                delay_s=delay_s or self._max_sample_rate,
-            ) as self._index_stream:
+        delay_s = delay_s or self._max_sample_rate
 
-                yield self._index_stream
-        else:
-            yield self._index_stream
+        async with open_sample_step_stream(
+            self._brokerd_portal,
+            delay_s,
+        ) as istream:
+            yield istream
+
+    async def pause(self) -> None:
+        await self.stream.send('pause')
+
+    async def resume(self) -> None:
+        await self.stream.send('resume')
 
 
 def sym_to_shm_key(
@@ -395,7 +440,7 @@ def sym_to_shm_key(
 @asynccontextmanager
 async def install_brokerd_search(
 
-    portal: tractor._portal.Portal,
+    portal: tractor.Portal,
     brokermod: ModuleType,
 
 ) -> None:
@@ -435,33 +480,19 @@ async def open_feed(
 
     tick_throttle: Optional[float] = None,  # Hz
 
-) -> AsyncIterator[dict[str, Any]]:
+) -> Feed:
     '''
     Open a "data feed" which provides streamed real-time quotes.
 
     '''
     sym = symbols[0].lower()
 
-    # TODO: feed cache locking, right now this is causing
-    # issues when reconnecting to a long running emsd?
-    # global _searcher_cache
-
-    # async with _cache_lock:
-    #     feed = _searcher_cache.get((brokername, sym))
-
-    #     # if feed is not None and sym in feed.symbols:
-    #     if feed is not None:
-    #         yield feed
-    #         # short circuit
-    #         return
-
     try:
         mod = get_brokermod(brokername)
     except ImportError:
         mod = get_ingestormod(brokername)
 
     # no feed for broker exists so maybe spawn a data brokerd
-
     async with (
 
         maybe_spawn_brokerd(
@@ -481,8 +512,8 @@ async def open_feed(
         ) as (ctx, (init_msg, first_quote)),
 
         ctx.open_stream() as stream,
-    ):
 
+    ):
         # we can only read from shm
         shm = attach_shm_array(
             token=init_msg[sym]['shm_token'],
@@ -491,10 +522,10 @@ async def open_feed(
 
         feed = Feed(
             name=brokername,
-            stream=stream,
             shm=shm,
             mod=mod,
             first_quote=first_quote,
+            stream=stream,
             _brokerd_portal=portal,
         )
         ohlc_sample_rates = []
@@ -530,3 +561,39 @@ async def open_feed(
         finally:
             # drop the infinite stream connection
             await ctx.cancel()
+
+
+@asynccontextmanager
+async def maybe_open_feed(
+
+    brokername: str,
+    symbols: Sequence[str],
+    loglevel: Optional[str] = None,
+
+    **kwargs,
+
+) -> (Feed, ReceiveChannel[dict[str, Any]]):
+    '''Maybe open a data to a ``brokerd`` daemon only if there is no
+    local one for the broker-symbol pair, if one is cached use it wrapped
+    in a tractor broadcast receiver.
+
+    '''
+    sym = symbols[0].lower()
+
+    async with maybe_open_ctx(
+        key=(brokername, sym),
+        mngr=open_feed(
+            brokername,
+            [sym],
+            loglevel=loglevel,
+            **kwargs,
+        ),
+    ) as (cache_hit, feed):
+
+        if cache_hit:
+            # add a new broadcast subscription for the quote stream
+            # if this feed is likely already in use
+            async with feed.stream.subscribe() as bstream:
+                yield feed, bstream
+        else:
+            yield feed, feed.stream
diff --git a/piker/fsp/__init__.py b/piker/fsp/__init__.py
index 312a0cef..a6324bb6 100644
--- a/piker/fsp/__init__.py
+++ b/piker/fsp/__init__.py
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ async def fsp_compute(
     ctx: tractor.Context,
     symbol: str,
     feed: Feed,
+    stream: trio.abc.ReceiveChannel,
 
     src: ShmArray,
     dst: ShmArray,
@@ -93,14 +94,14 @@ async def fsp_compute(
         yield {}
 
         # task cancellation won't kill the channel
-        with stream.shield():
-            async for quotes in stream:
-                for symbol, quotes in quotes.items():
-                    if symbol == sym:
-                        yield quotes
+        # since we shielded at the `open_feed()` call
+        async for quotes in stream:
+            for symbol, quotes in quotes.items():
+                if symbol == sym:
+                    yield quotes
 
     out_stream = func(
-        filter_by_sym(symbol, feed.stream),
+        filter_by_sym(symbol, stream),
         feed.shm,
     )
 
@@ -164,7 +165,8 @@ async def cascade(
     dst_shm_token: Tuple[str, np.dtype],
     symbol: str,
     fsp_func_name: str,
-) -> AsyncIterator[dict]:
+
+) -> None:
     """Chain streaming signal processors and deliver output to
     destination mem buf.
 
@@ -175,7 +177,10 @@ async def cascade(
     func: Callable = _fsps[fsp_func_name]
 
     # open a data feed stream with requested broker
-    async with data.open_feed(brokername, [symbol]) as feed:
+    async with data.feed.maybe_open_feed(
+        brokername,
+        [symbol],
+    ) as (feed, stream):
 
         assert src.token == feed.shm.token
 
@@ -186,6 +191,7 @@ async def cascade(
             ctx=ctx,
             symbol=symbol,
             feed=feed,
+            stream=stream,
 
             src=src,
             dst=dst,