how to pick rangebound futures market

Heres a massive question for ya's all.
I would love to know if there is anyway to idendify a choppy rangebound market on the ES so i can sit on the fence and not trade.
The system i use works great, but not as good in a rangebound market.
I obviously know theres no magical indicator, but was wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction that might give me just a little heads up.
cheers guys and girls, Shan

5 minute chart, first 30 minutes from open, volume <10,000 per bar = choppy day ???

low volume good indication..also trin reading just below around .9-1.0

A point in the right direction? Ok, forget your 'system' and watch the market, day in day out, day in day out ad nauseam. But don't just look, make an effort to see and understand. That is the only way you will learn what's what and what's not. There are no formulas or magic numbers in an arena of gladiatorial combat.

Attached is the daily chart of the March contract.

Note how new highs or lows which fail to close beyond the range serve only to widen the range, and not to initiate a new trend.

thansk guys, really appreciate your replies.
In regard to the over 10,000 volume, i have read mastering the trade by john f carter and love it, so i know that signal, but the one problem is i am trading the premarket as i live in Australia so that doesnt really apply.
Yeh, and obviously watching the market breath in and out on a constant basis is the answer, but it'd be nice to get a little indication of volatility or lack of it. maybe VIX??