GekkoScience Compac BM1384 Stickminer Official Support Thread

[hurricandave]

I'm using the Pi 2, getting ready to do another build, been having trouble with saving the configuration file in cgminer-gekko. Think I narrowed it down to libjansson-dev, but not sure yet.

Are you sure that your config file is not damaged? If you're been cutting and copying from web pages, it might have high ASCII or other unreadable characters in it.

I don't know what platform you're on, but you probably can "clean" the text to make sure it doesn't have whacky characters in it. On the Mac there's a tool called TextWrangler (it's free) that has a "Zap Gremlins" command that removes non-ASCII characters. Very useful.

No, it's after the build and cgminer is running, when I hit "s" and "w" to save the cgminer.conf file, it quits cgminer and kicks me back to terminal.

When cgminer is running, if I hit "s" and "c" to restart cgminer that's where the fatal json error message comes up and with another message saying it can't read the cgminer.conf file (because all it makes is a blank file). Even when I fill in the cgminer.conf file with pool/s and freq, it can't read it.

I'm not sure about how to resolve the conf. file problem. BUT... Don't bother trying to "Restart" cgminer from a running instance. It is a LONNNNNnnngggggGG know fact that, that particular function "ReStart" is/has been broken. If you NEED to ReStart, your only choice is too "Quit" and run .exe again.

[Jake36]

I'm using the Pi 2, getting ready to do another build, been having trouble with saving the configuration file in cgminer-gekko. Think I narrowed it down to libjansson-dev, but not sure yet.

Are you sure that your config file is not damaged? If you're been cutting and copying from web pages, it might have high ASCII or other unreadable characters in it.

I don't know what platform you're on, but you probably can "clean" the text to make sure it doesn't have whacky characters in it. On the Mac there's a tool called TextWrangler (it's free) that has a "Zap Gremlins" command that removes non-ASCII characters. Very useful.

No, it's after the build and cgminer is running, when I hit "s" and "w" to save the cgminer.conf file, it quits cgminer and kicks me back to terminal.

When cgminer is running, if I hit "s" and "c" to restart cgminer that's where the fatal json error message comes up and with another message saying it can't read the cgminer.conf file (because all it makes is a blank file). Even when I fill in the cgminer.conf file with pool/s and freq, it can't read it.

I'm not sure about how to resolve the conf. file problem. BUT... Don't bother trying to "Restart" cgminer from a running instance. It is a LONNNNNnnngggggGG know fact that, that particular function "ReStart" is/has been broken. If you NEED to ReStart, your only choice is too "Quit" and run .exe again.

That's the problem, it should be as simple as just typing cd cgminer-gekko (if not already in the dir) sudo ./cgminer and have it start mining on the pool/s (after filling in the pool/s and everything "once", without any more typing.

But because it can't read/write the cgminer.conf file I have to type: sudo ./cgminer -o stratum+tcp://stratum+tcp://solo.ckpool.org:3333 -u 1JiWuyX94wrCr7JhkAn7x5qNMCEef1KhqX.Jake36stick --compac-freq 150 every time.

Edit: that is on a Pi 2 with fresh and updated install of 2015-05-05-raspbian-wheezy on it. And scrolling back after every step of the build and seeing no errors in the build. Hmmm, that gives me an ideal, try building with out updating raspbian and see if maybe something in the updates are not compatible.

Edit 2: I have cgminer-4.9.2 running on a second Pi 2 with the same raspbian on it, but it reads/writes the cgminer.conf file, but it was done back around when 4.9.2 was first released.

[edonkey]

That's the problem, it should be as simple as just typing cd cgminer-gekko (if not already in the dir) sudo ./cgminer and have it start mining on the pool/s (after filling in the pool/s and everything "once", without any more typing.

But because it can't read/write the cgminer.conf file I have to type: sudo ./cgminer -o stratum+tcp://stratum+tcp://solo.ckpool.org:3333 -u 1JiWuyX94wrCr7JhkAn7x5qNMCEef1KhqX.Jake36stick --compac-freq 150 every time.

Edit: that is on a Pi 2 with fresh and updated install of 2015-05-05-raspbian-wheezy on it. And scrolling back after every step of the build and seeing no errors in the build. Hmmm, that gives me an ideal, try building with out updating raspbian and see if maybe something in the updates are not compatible.

Edit 2: I have cgminer-4.9.2 running on a second Pi 2 with the same raspbian on it, but it reads/writes the cgminer.conf file, but it was done back around when 4.9.2 was first released.

This is probably a long shot, but could it be a permissions problem? Maybe the user you're running cgminer under doesn't have write permission for the destination folder where you're trying to put the config?

Of course I would expect it to error, but not quit or crash. So maybe that's not it. Worth checking though.

[philipma1957]

it has the quirk that I can't make a good .bat file.  I have to run cgminer alone then enter a pool.  pretty sure that is something to do with vmware fusion shell.

This might be VM performance lag; I would suggest adding:

timeout 5

between each step in the bat file.  This will cause a pause of 5 seconds between each step.  If its VM performance lag thats the problem this should solve it.  Maybe if your mac is old you will need 10 seconds.

so

cgminer.exe -o stratum+tcp://solo.ckpool.org:3333 -u 1JiWuyX94wrCr7JhkAn7x5qNMCEef1KhqX.philipma1957sticks

[philipma1957]

it has the quirk that I can't make a good .bat file.  I have to run cgminer alone then enter a pool.  pretty sure that is something to do with vmware fusion shell.

This might be VM performance lag; I would suggest adding:

timeout 5

between each step in the bat file.  This will cause a pause of 5 seconds between each step.  If its VM performance lag thats the problem this should solve it.  Maybe if your mac is old you will need 10 seconds.


so

cgminer.exe -o stratum+tcp://solo.ckpool.org:3333 -u 1JiWuyX94wrCr7JhkAn7x5qNMCEef1KhqX.philipma1957sticks --compac-freq 150


needs to be :

cgminer.exe -o stratum+tcp://solo.ckpool.org:3333 -u 1JiWuyX94wrCr7JhkAn7x5qNMCEef1KhqX.philipma1957sticks --timeout 5 --compac-freq 150


did not work

[TheRealSteve]

Unrelated, but just dropping it here: a switch that'll work with solo.ckpool: --suggest-diff N.  Set N equal to or greater than your hash rate in Gh/s.  Saves some unnecessary diff switching and high diff on startup.

[notlist3d]

I should get my RPI today.  So looking into trying it was review compac.  I was pretty late on queue since of when I bought so will not be using production unit in testing. 

But excited to play with RPI and review one to see how it goes.  Has to beat my debian machine that kept dropping wireless once a day.

[sidehack]

Your stick is going out today, and probably delivered tomorrow given the proximity.

[notlist3d]

Your stick is going out today, and probably delivered tomorrow given the proximity.

Sounds great thank you for the update.  I do appreciate it.

That means I should be able to test RPI with it pretty easy.  I think I will try raspbian first see how it goes, then minera as a second option.

[Chris_Sabian]

I'm using the Gekko build of cgminer.  I used Zadig on a Win7 machine to install the correct drive.  When I start the bat file, I get a "No valid hashes for over 10 secs, attempting to restart"  then I get a  "LIBUSB_SUCCESS" but there is no hash going on.  I've tried 2 different machines and am getting the same error.

bat file code:

cgminer -o stratum+tcp://solo.ckpool.org:3333  -u 1JiWuyX94wrCr7JhkAn7x5qNMCEef1KhqX.Chris_Sabianstick --compac-freq 150

[philipma1957]

I'm using the Gekko build of cgminer.  I used Zadig on a Win7 machine to install the correct drive.  When I start the bat file, I get a "No valid hashes for over 10 secs, attempting to restart"  then I get a  "LIBUSB_SUCCESS" but there is no hash going on.  I've tried 2 different machines and am getting the same error.

bat file code:

cgminer -o stratum+tcp://solo.ckpool.org:3333  -u 1JiWuyX94wrCr7JhkAn7x5qNMCEef1KhqX.Chris_Sabianstick --compac-freq 150

yeah this happens way too much. 

what is your powered hub?
how many sticks are you running?

back it down to one stick.

try a little turn on the power pot          say it is in this position    +    the top is at 12 oclock rotate clockwise to 1 oclock

[Chris_Sabian]

I'm using the Gekko build of cgminer.  I used Zadig on a Win7 machine to install the correct drive.  When I start the bat file, I get a "No valid hashes for over 10 secs, attempting to restart"  then I get a  "LIBUSB_SUCCESS" but there is no hash going on.  I've tried 2 different machines and am getting the same error.

bat file code:

cgminer -o stratum+tcp://solo.ckpool.org:3333  -u 1JiWuyX94wrCr7JhkAn7x5qNMCEef1KhqX.Chris_Sabianstick --compac-freq 150

yeah this happens way too much. 

what is your powered hub?
how many sticks are you running?

back it down to one stick.

try a little turn on the power pot          say it is in this position    +    the top is at 12 oclock rotate clockwise to 1 oclock

No powered hub.  It is running directly into a computer.

1 stick

Power pot turned. 

Now getting ~7 gh/s at 150 frequency.

[sidehack]

When they leave my bench, they've successfully lit up directly from a Windows laptop port and stock cgminer 4.9.2 at 150MHz. Novak flashes the CP2102 and before they get bagged for shipping they've successfully lit up and submitted a 512+ share off a powered hub and cgminer-gekko at 200MHz on a Debian 7 box.

[novak@gekkoscience]

I'm using the Gekko build of cgminer.  I used Zadig on a Win7 machine to install the correct drive.  When I start the bat file, I get a "No valid hashes for over 10 secs, attempting to restart"  then I get a  "LIBUSB_SUCCESS" but there is no hash going on.  I've tried 2 different machines and am getting the same error.

bat file code:

cgminer -o stratum+tcp://solo.ckpool.org:3333  -u 1JiWuyX94wrCr7JhkAn7x5qNMCEef1KhqX.Chris_Sabianstick --compac-freq 150

yeah this happens way too much. 

what is your powered hub?
how many sticks are you running?

back it down to one stick.

try a little turn on the power pot          say it is in this position    +    the top is at 12 oclock rotate clockwise to 1 oclock

Also windows can be really picky with zadig, I've noticed that for most hardware I have to hotplug it while cgminer is running for it to start mining.  I've gotten exactly that error if I install zadig and then run cgminer, but it starts mining if I hotplug it.

--
novak

[mindtrip]

Quick Update on MY progress

I have 9 Compacs Running 281.25mhz on a EyeBoot USB hub with 60AMP power supply running on Raspberry Pi 2 I am up to 138GH

[notlist3d]

Quick Update on MY progress

I have 9 Compacs Running 281.25mhz on a EyeBoot USB hub with 60AMP power supply running on Raspberry Pi 2 I am up to 138GH

How hot do they seem to get running at the 281 for a period of time?   It seems like they would get kinda hot.

Thanks for sharing nice to see it.

[vapourminer]

I'm using the Gekko build of cgminer.  I used Zadig on a Win7 machine to install the correct drive.  When I start the bat file, I get a "No valid hashes for over 10 secs, attempting to restart"  then I get a  "LIBUSB_SUCCESS" but there is no hash going on.  I've tried 2 different machines and am getting the same error.

bat file code:

cgminer -o stratum+tcp://solo.ckpool.org:3333  -u 1JiWuyX94wrCr7JhkAn7x5qNMCEef1KhqX.Chris_Sabianstick --compac-freq 150

when I messed around with my sticks the only time I got that (libusb_success and 0 hashes) was when the voltage was too low for the frequency. tweaked the voltage pot a bit and it would fire up.

novak build on win32

[mindtrip]

I have 2 USB fans blowing on them but next time i get my laser temp thermometer I can check that for you

[Ecnad]

try a little turn on the power pot          say it is in this position    +    the top is at 12 oclock rotate clockwise to 1 oclock

This solved my errors. Sticks now running smoothly at 225Mhz, and hashing at about 12gigs.

EDIT: Pushed it up to 300Mhz with another small turn of the power pot.  That's the most I want to push them for now. But doing 15gh a stick now.

[mindtrip]

i am drawing about 91 Watts at the wall with my 2 USB fans and the 9 sticks and the pi running of the power supply