Topic: New GekkoScience product, the Compac A1 (Read 963 times)

Should be possible but the speed's gonna suck, likely under 100GH.

Running w/o a hub I doubt. A PC USB port will not be able to deliver enough current, most have a limit or 1A or less.

Possible to under clock enough to run without a usb hub or fan?

Quick question, currently running the older version of kano's cgminer, launching with a batch file with these settings --gekko-compacf-freq 575 --gekko-mine2 --gekko-start-freq 300 --gekko-tune-up 60 --suggest-diff 442 --gekko-compacf-detect  --


I'm running the Compaq F's right now, just curious if I pick up some of these new A1's and run the new cgminer, can I just add to this same batch file any necessary settings? If so, what would be the mandatory settings?

Thanks Kano,

With PI i've always used the stock images from Raspberry, I think its bullseye that I'm running on most of my boards, for the most part it just works.

Though with one of my set-ups I've seen some weird issues with USB and LIBUSB dissappears up its own behind. I think it might just be that one PI board though, all the rest run fine.

Its only on the PI5 there's ever been an issue with building CGMiner, for exactly the reasons you mention.

I worked around that by copying the binary from a build off an earlier PI, that works fine on the PI5. I've had that running one of my rigs for about 2 months now.

I've not tried running Ubuntu on PI. Now you've mentioned it I'll give it a go at some point.

Cheers

G.

Ubuntu runs on the RPi5, RPi4, RPi3, RPi2zeroW etc
Latest version works fine for RPi5, with a more recent GCC than the buggy old RPi OS by the Raspberry people

As I've said already it is the Raspberry OS GCC that is broken, it says (TMPBUFSIZ/2)-1 is greater than TMPBUFSIZ (8192)
you can't fix that - obviously, you need to fix that GCC, which Raspberry will probably never bother to do, so don't use it, use a more recent Ubuntu

yep, here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFEIp4E2f1M

Generally guys I have a BitAxe and was curious to by the new Supra version of the Compac A1 which go for about the same price.
Only reason I wanted to check out the A1 as thought it maybe something intresting and not so hyped like the Bitaxe versions to come.
To me it seems more complex :-(

The plan is to install Start9 - when the new version comes out, install the pool you mentioned, but not heard of tmux, do you have a guide?
Its a POC I'm doing, a previous poster mentioned the miner software will not work on pi5 is this something @kano you can get to work?

TEL bus added winusb and I got the a1 mining

look into public pool if you'd like to mine to your own node/pool. pretty sure you can compile that locally if you have access to the terminal.

https://github.com/benjamin-wilson/public-pool

as for running the usb stick miner on the raspberry pi 5, while i don't have a Pi 5, i have mynode running on a pi 4/compac F. if you install tmux, you should be able to run the miner "in a separate window" that runs in the background.

Ran zadig 2.9 and successfully installed winusb on asic bus the only new device listed. Now cgminer doesn’t recognize a1 only f

CGMiner has been the core of bitcoin mining used by thousands of people, these other mining software solutions you mention dont even come up on my radar to be honest and as you say are likely to be full of security issues.

CGMiner from Kano is tried and tested, apart from which it is the only current release source that has driver the for the CompacA1

As for your other comment on Raspberry PI5, CGMiner can be run on a PI5, I've done it myself, but you have to compile the software on an earlier model PI board as the current core software release for PI5 GCC is buggy so won't compile CGMiner correctly.

There's a thread on that issue from Kano here: https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.63287718


If you have a PI3B or PI4, follow the instructions on Kano's github for building under Linux https://github.com/kanoi/cgminer/

Once compiled, then you're free to copy the compiled cgminer binary onto your PI5 and it should run fine.

Thank you, I have a Rasberry Pi5 so wanted to use it instead of spending more on purchasing the SmartHub.
Would you recommend a operating system for the Pi5 to run the cgminer to mine to Kanos pool, plan to purchase 1 compac A1 and then additional as time goes on.
I'm also not sure how many A1s can a Pi power from standard pi powercable

Fair enough, was told to run umbrel - but have concerns around security and research done on net. Cittadel is another example, as not many people have done this, was up for a challange, if cannot be done then i mine to a pool, not a issue.

There's a good thread here for setting up a solo bitcoin node.

https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/guide-solo-mine-testnet-bitcoins-with-cgminer-bitcoin-core-and-a-compac-f-5415335

Though I don't think Kano has imported the modifications required to his branch of CGMiner to allow it to mine to Bitcoind directly.

I had to mod Kano's CGMiner 4.12.1 with the changes from https://github.com/cmmodtools/cgminer to make it work.

So its not straight forward unfortunately.


Using stock CGMiner from Kano https://github.com/kanoi/cgminer/ with a solo pool is far easier for the novice and that would be my preferred route too after finding out the effort required to set-up a local bitcoind node.

I'm not sure of the specifics of running a solo node, but you should be able to point cgminer at your local for work generation. I tend to solo using a solo pool (like kano's solo) but I know mining entirely to a local node is possible.

Instead of looking specifically for information for this miner, look up information for cgminer in general and go from there.

Hey, see my question above, curious about running your miner?

Hi all,

Im new to this miner, I was wondering if @sidehack you can help me understand about it,
There really is not proper guides on the net.

My plan is to plug this into a Rasberry 5, running a bitcoin node such as Start9orCitadel.

This way it be my own solo miner.

But Im not sure the software is compatible, if not running on node then maybe just run it of Rasberry Pi 5,

Hope this makes sense?

I put up a windows binary yesterday.

The gekko setup/config/running is updated here: https://kano.is/gekko.php

It has the windows download link at https://kano.is/gekko.php#doz

No secret squirrel pre production unit sent before anyone else knew they existed? 

Hope the code writing goes well. Looking forward to getting the new image then hopefully ordering a few to get on my smarthub and retire the Ferraris.

Got mine today! Very excited! LOVE how the temp/core voltage are shown RIGHT in the CG miner A1's line of text. Fantastic.

What are the recommended core clocks?

I tried that procedure, but it may be obsolete now. Kept getting errors for various missing libraries.
I guess we have to wait for kano to release the executables.

Working on it right now. I only got my hands on an A1 last night...!

I was wondering the same thing. Seems like a fairly substantial update for the UI that IAmGPIO has to sort out with all the newly controllable aspect of this stick. Hopefully he won't keep us waiting too long 

Is this the only way to use this new stick with windows?

https://github.com/kanoi/cgminer/blob/master/windows-build.txt

Do you have a MHZ/AMPS/GH chart like this one for the CompacF but for your new stick?

Thanks

CompacF

happy to hear you guys at Altair took delivery of some! preordered a couple as soon as they hit your site =)

I'm going to take a gander and say we've got to update the SmartHub - any info available on where to download the new img?

can certainly use my gen2 GSHub and my RPi or OPi in the meantime.

I am stupid I should have asked what is an igloopac cooler?

hmm I now see a photo of the fan which I assume is the cooler.

I wonder why it did not show yesterday.

the net was cranky I guess

Just the stick and IglooPac Cooler in a Fancy box 
Would highly recommend purchasing a smarthub along with Gekkoscience products. It can run 9 miners and makes everything plug and play.

@ altairtech  what comes with your stick + cooler option?



https://altairtech.io/product/gekkoscience-compac-a1/


Compac A1 + IglooPac Cooling Upgrade

Thanks for releasing the new linux cgminer Kano! We received our first batch of Compac A1s yesterday so looking forward to test.
Will you also be releasing the windows version soon?

These should be in the wild soon.

The new code is up in my git (see my sig)
It reports temperature and per chip voltage on the screen
It does cooldown if it overheats
Voltage is controlled by startup and via the API.
Current code is only tested on Linux so far.

There's a new 01-cgminer.rules needed for linux for the new USB chip
See the README/USB for details,
though this works the same as required before for linux, just an updated file.

I'll update the help page https://kano.is/gekko.php at a later date,
but the dual BM1362 has mostly the same API as the R909 and CompacF
but a couple of extras.

It has a specific A1 start value - which I guess all the old Gekkos should have had before,
but it's there for the new A1
All the A1 specific options are:
--gekko-compaca1-start-freq NNN
--gekko-compaca1-corev nnn (mV)
--gekko-compaca1-detect
--gekko-compaca1-freq NNN

Miner selection by serial --gekko-serial can now also be a comma list of miners,
not only just one miner.

The blinky led is as follow:
When you first plug it in, it blinks every 1 second until it starts mining.
When mining, it blinks with work processing.
When you stop mining, the led goes off.

Have fun

pre-ordered a few! stoked to check them out!

As per usual - nicely done, Sidehack!

I need one for the toy rack.

Loving the blue. Looks like I’ll be spending a bit of money after paying my tax bill in April 

Hello all. I hope you've been HALVING a good time mining lately!

(yes, it wasn't funny; no, I won't apologize)

Your old pals at GekkoScience are rolling out more stuff. Our new product for 2024, the first of many if everything works out, is a new stickminer. Of course it is; we always start with new stickminers.

This fellow is called the Compac A1.



If you have figured out the nomenclature of our company and products, you know it's all an homage to Eureka Seven, in which the Amita Drive was attached to Renton's Compac Drive, expanding its abilities. In the same vein, we've added our own Amita Drive of sorts to the Compac A1 (get it?) in the form of built-in telemetry and software control. No longer will you need to reach for a tiny screwdriver to tweak the voltage; it'll be done in software via cgminer commands or the API. And you'll be able to watch the temperature! And the USB bus voltage! And even change how the blinky light blinks! It should be possible to adjust the voltage on the fly, making tuning easy. Should be pretty fun.

There's also an optional 2-pin fan jack for snap-on fans without tying up another USB port. That's a new feature. Resellers will probably have add-on fan packages utilizing this. Please note that the fan jack is spec'd for fan loads only and CANNOT be used as an external 5V power input. You will burn things up by doing this.


This stickminer is built around S19 chips for good efficency, approximately 30% better than the Compac F. Samples have marked Compac F stock speeds around 260GH from under 8 watts.

Another benefit over the Compac F is low-end stability. It's built to handle high speeds, but unlike the F, it won't choke up at low speeds, so you don't have to overclock it on a juiced-up hub just to make it work.

But you can if you want. I've clocked samples running over 550GH on stock Smart Hubs, with a bit beefed up cooling of course. The main regulator on this stick is built to handle high power, up around 20W without blinking. The LEDs will blink of course, but power won't. Power will be fine.

And as always, these guys are Designed And Built In America.


*May not come in fancy retail packaging


The Compac A1 will be shipping in May. We're working on our own website for limited direct sales, but in the meantime confirmed resellers include:

AltairTech in USA
Bitshopper.de in Germany
The Solo Mining Co in England
101 Crypto in Australia
MineFarmBuy
Eyeboot (under construction)
BitcoinMerch