So it looks like we've gotten some sort of approval from four of the eight testers. Still waiting to hear anything from MrTeal, CanaryInTheMine, vs3 and ManeBjorn. I'd like to have approval from at least two of them before opening a sales queue. I've gotten word from vs3 and ManeBjorn that sticks have been received, so hopefully something pops up in the next few days. I'm tentatively looking to open sales next Wednesday with at least 600 sticks (more if I hear back from Bitmain about a potential second chip buy). As I've done before on limited-batch opening sales, I'll announce several days beforehand the time (and time zone) and orders will be queued on a first-come first-serve basis.
I'll be focusing on North America, I reckon. I'm supposed to send European customers to the German guy, who has received manufacturing data and tells me he'll be running out a tiny batch to test before doing a full run. Anyone in Europe specifically wanting a GekkoScience-made stick for posterity (like, you know, TheRealSteve) I can probably send a couple, but so's I don't cut in on his turf I'd just as soon stick to the Western Hemisphere.
I think I posted my note to the other thread, so just to repeat it here too -
Regarding feedback - I've shared my observations and feedback with sidehack already (in PMs, I'll leave it up to him if he wants to repost them here - that's fine by me). Aside from that this thread already covers 99% of the rest, so I'm not sure if there is any benefit of repeating that.
In a nutshell - a very nice design, the kind of solid plug-and-play stuff that you would expect for a USB miner, and of course if anyone wants to overclock it (I guess that includes everyone
) - don't forget to use a powered USB hub and cooling.
The only other thing worth mentioning again is cgminer. Version 4.9.0 was the only one that worked consistently for me (on Windows - both 7 and 8 and x86 and x64).
For some reason the officially published 4.9.1 and 4.9.2 did not recognize the devices.As for EU - if that's the same German guy (selling NF2s on bitshopper.de) I would highly vouch for him!
I got windows 7 to work with 4.9.0 and 4.9.2
zadig is tricky right click run in admin and have every app/program turned off except zadig.
do a restart of windows 7 and it then lets zadig do the driver swap. I have to do each stick (I have 2) with the other unplugged from the hub.
Then start 4.9.2 making sure the amps are boosted a bit too high. Then the gear gets found easy.
Basically I really needed the usb meter to do set up.
When I get my larger order I will post how hard or easy to do 5 sticks and 10 sticks.
