Topic: GekkoScience Compac BM1384 Stickminer Official Support Thread - page 35. (Read 268147 times)

i read it.. he is saying that he bought the sticks from amazon and had NO idea how they worked.. by chance he found this thread and got them working..

he is basically saying they kick ass.. but we already knew that.

I recently ordered 2 of the new GreenMiners (along with a powered USB 3.0 10-Port Hub) from Amazon and have had them for a few days now. Even though I am most definitely a noob, the GreenMiners should have come with some sort of instructions (even if it was just a link to this Forum)! Luckily, I am not a complete idiot when it comes to computers (but am a complete noob to mining bitcoin & ASIC USB Miners), & I was able to find this support Thread on my own.

For Newbies like myself:
I downloaded the recommended version of CGMiner (found on page 1 of this Thread) & started mining on a pool that I had previously mined on years ago with my CPU/GPU. I was very frustrated that my hash rates were maxing out at only 7 GH/s per stick, especially when they were advertised on Amazon to do much higher rates. Today, I FINALLY learned how to change the frequencies via a simple .bat file created with Notepad, & am now getting MUCH higher hash rates! In case anyone else (like me) is wondering how to do this, it is very simple - use Notepad to create a new file & add the following (leave the quotation marks & all x's out): "cgminer.exe -o stratum+tcp://xxxURLofYourPoolxxx -u xxxYourUsername.worker1xxx --compac-freq xxx225xxx". Once you have input all of your necessary information, save the file as (again, leave the quotation marks out): "cgminer.bat", (be sure to save it in the same folder where you installed CGMiner). Lastly, right-click on the file you just made (cgminer.bat), & send it to Desktop (basically creating a shortcut on your desktop for quick startups). Now, make sure you have closed CGMiner if you were mining during that process, find the shortcut you created on your desktop, double click on it & CGMiner will now open automatically using the credentials from the file you created (making it so you don't have to manually enter the URL of your pool or your username either). After playing around with the frequencies, I am happy to say I am now extremely satisfied with my current hash rates (to adjust the frequency, just right click on the shortcut cgminer.bat, click "edit", change them to whatever, save the file, & then relaunch)! I found the best, most stable hash rates with the potentiometer set at approximately 12 o'clock & the frequency at 225-250 MHZ - I did have them running a bit higher, but the units became extremely hot so I lowered everything a bit. Anyway, great product (minus the existence of instructions), & I posted a screenshot showing my current stats running both sticks!

EDIT: (Made original Post into a couple of paragraphs for the haters - Will wait to leave Amazon Feedback for purchase after reading some of the replies from Sr. Members, when I made it clear I was a noob - Went out & bought a great little USB Powered fan - Turned the frequency up to 325 MHZ, turned potentiometer slightly to right on each stick, & am now getting 17-18 MH/s as reflected in new screenshot)

thanks for the shout out, the best place to buy a 49 port usb hub, if you are in USA (just for the sake of shipping speed), is via Amazon here:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JCA4ARS

Otherwise pick them up here:

http://www.eyeboot.com/

Super thanks guys. Ill get a raspi ordered and see what happens 

All the info you should need is in the README file in the folder with the source code and whatnot. It's a mostly automated process requiring only a few commands. Early in this thread there's a step-by-step; the main difference will be you'll want --enable-icarus as well as --enable-gekko when you get to that part.

Sounds good to me. Now I've just got to build the gekko version of cgminer on a pi that can do the gekko and rbox. Not exactly my fortay. I've checked out YouTube videos and they are all using cgminer 3.8.0 or something like that.

Im running on a rPi B (not the "2"). heck I never reboot it, maybe every couple months I update its OS. pretty much I just ignore it. use kanos api in cgminer-gekko to check mining stats from whatever networked device im on at the time.

pretty bulletproof setup with 5 compacs on superbpag 70 watt hub. hub lays down on its side so the compacs are horizontal with a 140mm fan just laying on top.

Mine have been running on a Pi 2-B since the first batch went on sale. Only played around with different PSU and hubs.

Only thing I do now is reboot the Pi about once a week and update it (which it's about time to do now).

Ive got a usb fan on it aswell. I did notice the current draw increase as the temp went up. Voltage dropped more aswell. So far shes stable at 275m so ill leave her there for the time being.

Make sure to keep the heatsinks adequately cooled. When I've tested sticks at 300MHz they were usually stable at 6.7-7W draw. The current demand actually increases as the chip temperature increases, so the cooler you keep them the easier it is to keep them cool.

I would but it seems to have thrown its toys out of the pram and now struggles to stay at 275m.  Has anyone had better luck with it running off a raspi? Im considering getting one so I don't have my laptop on all the time. The only other mining gear I have is an old R-Box 100ghs. The raspi could do both I assume aslong as its got the externally powered hub for the gecko?

Congrats, sounds good !
Can you share some pics of your setup?

andY

Got the new voltage regulator circuit board today and hooked it up. Set it at 5v and now the gekko is getting 4.89v from the Y cable. Now happily running at 310m after a couple of plug/unplugs 

They make a couple different ones, this is the one thats 70W 14A http://www.amazon.com/Superbpag-Portable-Charger-Transfer-Samsung/dp/B013OK10YM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464263368&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=70+watt+usb+hub&psc=1

As for Y-cable, it all depends on how hard you want to push the sticks. If you want to stay around 200-300MHz with 2 sticks, hub wouldn't break a sweat, want to go for ~400MHz, use Y-cables.

Also, watch the cables, some are way to cheaply made (to small of gauge wire used), they could get very hot...

check the thread for more details, but I personally have 6 sticks on a superbpag each running at 300Mhs without issues

So if I got the superbpag hub, would I need a splitter or will that hub provide enough power all on its own?

Fresh stock of Batch 3 Units just arrived back in stock yesterday and I have them listed back available.


I can do additional bulk discounts for anyone needing large quantities of these.

Well mine has been running stable at 300mhz for the past 3 days. 4.45v, 1.64a, 7.32w according to the oled usb meter that's inline with it. Currently returning 16ghs avg. Will be changing the cheap 12v-5v usb converter for one with an lm2596(?) chip and adjustable voltage so I can up the voltage a bit so it will hopefully give it a decent 5v not the 4.4v its currently receiving.

If the powered hub is not restricted per port, yes that would.

That's why a lot of people including me are using the superbpag 5V/14W hub

Yes sidehack ,
but my answer was only dedicated to MacEntyre advice at me:


...and not for the guys, who works with 200 - 300MHz .

andY