The definition definitely helps to understand difficulty.  My question is why would I want to have the option to increase or decrease difficulty? For example, if I start up my mining software, I have the option to increase or decrease the difficulty number. Would I want to make this number as low as possible or are there benefits to increasing the number? Basically, how does the option to adjust the number benefit a user?

Working with the Technobit HEX16 devices isn't as complicated as it seems. However, people, including myself, seem to have serious issues because, whether information is on the technobit Web site, in a Youtube tutorial, or in various posts in forums, it tends to be incomplete or spaced-out, as it addresses only certain aspects of the installation process.

I took a little time to put together the entire process, hopefully simplified enough that it greatly decreases any complications, stress, and sledgehammers to hardware.

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If you are having issues getting your HEX devices to mine, then follow these steps. START FROM SCRATCH, meaning unplug and un-install the devices before you start. This will help avoid any conflicts with unnecessary driver and software installations.

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Steps for Bitcoin Mining/HEX Miner and Technobit/Avalon Installation


1 - Ensure that your Technobit HEX16/Avalon device is unplugged.

2 - Download HEX Miner from http://technobit.eu/index.php?id_product=53&controller=product&id_lang=1.

 - Windows 7 includes drivers for the device. However, the technobit page contains information and drivers for other OS versions.
 
 - The page also contains a link to an informative PDF that details the device and installation options.                   

HEX Miner works by accessing Com ports. Your Avalon devices must be associated with Com ports before they can be accessed and run.

3 - Download Virtual Com Port drivers from http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm.

 - The site allows you to download an executable application or just the drivers. The easiest way to go is to download the executable. If you get a message that says the installation has to be elevated, then just right-click on the install icon and run it as an administrator.

4 - Reboot computer and plug in the Avalon device(s).

 - The devices should have installed as Serial/Com port devices. Check this in either device manager or in the Devices and Printers folder.
 
5 - Open HEX Miner and ensure that you have the "Miner" tab selected. This is the only tab that new users need worry about.

6 - Click on the "Serial" drop-down menu to ensure that your Avalon devices are now recognized.

 - They will be listed as Com numbers. NOTE THAT COM 1 IS NOT ONE OF THE DEVICES. If this is the only visible Com number, then your device(s) is not recognized. Unplug and ensure that the devices are uninstalled in Device Manager. Then start again.

6 - If all has gone as hoped, you will see several Com ports listed in the Serial menu. Locate the "Pool Settings" section and ensure that the Pool is set to localhost.

7 - Enter the same User and Pass that you would normally use.

8 - Locate the "Stratum Converter" section and click on Start.

 - This is the "back-end" program that will actually be doing the mining, which is why your pool should be set to localhost. The easiest way to describe it is that localhost connects you to the converter, which does the work of connecting to the outside world, thus eliminating the more technical aspects of the process.

9 - At this point, most of the more important settings (Protocol, chip count, voltage, etc.) should be defaulted. Beneath the Protocol drop-down box is a double-play arrow button. Click the button to start all of your devices.

 - Once your devices start mining, you will see their numbers and statistics in the window to the right. If your devices were installed and correctly recognized as Com devices, their Work age, clock speed, etc., will be moving along, and you'll be mining.

The PDF located on http://technobit.eu/index.php?id_product=53&controller=product&id_lang=1 has a list of basic settings and numbers. If, somewhere along the line, you decide to mess with Mh/s, Voltage, etc, be careful. I blew up one power supply and melted some of the cables on another when I was messing with the settings. The miners are nifty, but they run hot.

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I hope that this helps anybody who hasn't already spent hours and hours weaving through all of the bits and pieces of info out there.