GekkoScience Compac BM1384 Stickminer Official Support Thread

[Biodom]

Partially OT, but in pursuit of running a stick: wasted all my free time today trying to make a double boot Windows 8.1/Debian Jessie machine and so far could not. Live Debian works, but when I install full version either using DVD OR making USB from netinstall, everything works peachy until grub2 does not show up and system instead boots into Windows. I followed a dozen leads, looked into BIOS, tried to make advised changes to boot process, NOTHING.

If anybody had problems with this that they overcame-I am all ears.

that said, a bunch of sticks work fine on rasp pi, i just wanted to try on debian since i have one hub that does not work with pi and i don't want to bother with drivers on windows- i will, of course, if it comes to that.

Yea, some times it can be a pain.... try the the free version of EasyBCD in Windows to edit the boot to add debian, it makes it so much easier.

https://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/

much thanks, will definitely try tomorrow (it's late now in my time zone).

[Searing]

hey i've been banging my head on a wall off and on for 2 months trying to get these gekko miners on an old compaq evo n800v miner with unbuntu 12.04

does anyone have a link for the bfgminer...i go to the page and hit the apt-get install bfgminer and zippo...got squat and as a 'newbie tool' I know not how

to get it off github an install etc (using unbuntu 12.04 up to this point just with putty to monitor my 2 knc titan scrypt miners...so below newbie status on such stuff)

http://bfgminer.org/


So my question is ..as an IDIOT how idiot proof is this to get running? Assuming I can get a version that works with unbuntu 12.04 on my ...(too old ro  run xp nor
any version of unbuntu beyond 12.04...ie free laptops they are) junk monitor compaq evo n800v laptops is it as simple as

1) install with apt-get command wherever the hell the file is

and

2) use the command on the post above (after plugging it into my dual usb to 1 port cable with a gekko miner ..we will worry about 10 port hubs later)


bfgminer.exe -o stratum+tcp://mint.bitminter.com:3333 -O username --set compac:clock=150


and viola ..supposedly it works? (or talking linux I'm in dream land?)

anyway help appreciated ..what is frustrating is I got this to work 2 months ago on a test machine with cgminer (in this thread) and have had no luck since so just gonna give up on cgminer and move to bfgminer .someone said drivers are in this build for the gekko sticks?.....assuming SOMEONE on here is running such with the 'linux' flavor of whatever

again whole point is to use the machines (free) that are too old to upgrade past xp and run unbuntu 12.04 just fine (still upgrades 12.04 does not an issue yet as too old...but as high as they seem to goon unbuntu anyway is 12.04..graphics card wise)
 
so anyway ....some help is appreciated...I will post my results here and in a thread for other lost souls should i get it to work (fat lot of good that did me with cgminer but hey got have faith ..monkey with keyboard that I am with such stuff ...only have run knc stuff ever....plug and play...befuddled I am with all this stuff for the gekko sticks anyway again ..got it to
work 1x on my equiv same compaq evo n800v test laptop at work and never got it to work again and cgminer ..but gotta punt after 2 months off an on..an't gonna fly ..thus my any bfgminer help would be golden

anyway ...good to have a 'quest' i guess...keeps me home and frustrated not spending money on this 'get a life' people keep talking about

thanks for the help

[aarons6]

hey i've been banging my head on a wall off and on for 2 months trying to get these gekko miners on an old compaq evo n800v miner with unbuntu 12.04

does anyone have a link for the bfgminer...i go to the page and hit the apt-get install bfgminer and zippo...got squat and as a 'newbie tool' I know not how

to get it off github an install etc (using unbuntu 12.04 up to this point just with putty to monitor my 2 knc titan scrypt miners...so below newbie status on such stuff)

http://bfgminer.org/


So my question is ..as an IDIOT how idiot proof is this to get running? Assuming I can get a version that works with unbuntu 12.04 on my ...(too old ro  run xp nor
any version of unbuntu beyond 12.04...ie free laptops they are) junk monitor compaq evo n800v laptops is it as simple as

1) install with apt-get command wherever the hell the file is

and

2) use the command on the post above (after plugging it into my dual usb to 1 port cable with a gekko miner ..we will worry about 10 port hubs later)


bfgminer.exe -o stratum+tcp://mint.bitminter.com:3333 -O username --set compac:clock=150


and viola ..supposedly it works? (or talking linux I'm in dream land?)

anyway help appreciated ..what is frustrating is I got this to work 2 months ago on a test machine with cgminer (in this thread) and have had no luck since so just gonna give up on cgminer and move to bfgminer .someone said drivers are in this build for the gekko sticks?.....assuming SOMEONE on here is running such with the 'linux' flavor of whatever

again whole point is to use the machines (free) that are too old to upgrade past xp and run unbuntu 12.04 just fine (still upgrades 12.04 does not an issue yet as too old...but as high as they seem to goon unbuntu anyway is 12.04..graphics card wise)
 
so anyway ....some help is appreciated...I will post my results here and in a thread for other lost souls should i get it to work (fat lot of good that did me with cgminer but hey got have faith ..monkey with keyboard that I am with such stuff ...only have run knc stuff ever....plug and play...befuddled I am with all this stuff for the gekko sticks anyway again ..got it to
work 1x on my equiv same compaq evo n800v test laptop at work and never got it to work again and cgminer ..but gotta punt after 2 months off an on..an't gonna fly ..thus my any bfgminer help would be golden

anyway ...good to have a 'quest' i guess...keeps me home and frustrated not spending money on this 'get a life' people keep talking about

thanks for the help

the apt-get of bfgminer is hella old..

to get from git you first install git.
sudo apt-get install git

then its

git clone http://github.com/luke-jr/bfgminer


this will make a folder called bfgminer
cd bfgminer
then
sudo apt-get install build-essential autoconf automake libtool pkg-config libcurl4-gnutls-dev libjansson-dev uthash-dev libncursesw5-dev libudev-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev libevent-dev libmicrohttpd-dev hidapi

run ./autogen.sh  ./configure and make.

[zOU]

Here's a work in progress photo:



Both fans are controlled with a temp sensor that I will attach to 1 heatsink.

There's a plastic sheet to orient airflow, but that will probably change to a full tunnel between the 2 fans.

USB doctors + Sticks will rest on the black and white bars with the heatsink located between the fans.

I'm still searching for a USB hub capable of running 6 sticks, as the superbpag can't be shipped to EU due to some missing certifications...

In the meantime they run off 2 hubs...

[ChEd1980]

Novak's cgminer now has bitshopper Compac support built right in. My bitshopper stick is still running alongside a gekko Compac and a U2 without any complaints, been going since the 22nd.

150MHz should get you 8.25GH average. Since your stick is recognized as something other than a Compac, it's probably defaulting to 225MHz so you see 12.25GH.

The white light not flashing during hashing is a hardware problem with the LED trigger circuit. The bitshopper and gekko Compacs were based off not just the same design, but the same design files - excepting a few cosmetic differences in color and silkscreen (and one tiny error in the volt-setting circuit which was found in gekko sticks and fixed for bitshopper), the two PCBs are identical. Since your host is receiving shares, you know it's not a problem with the signal line; this signal line drives a small trigger with an RC delay to give a long-enough pulse on the white LED for it to actually be visible to humans. The meat of this is the two transistors, the diode, the resistor and the capacitor in a column immediately to the left of the LED. If the bottom transistor is not connected properly, or the diode is not connected properly, you will not see a flash. Check those two parts for dry joints and you'll likely have the answer.

Thanks Sidehack I'll check the solder joints when I get back from work today, it was definitely hashing fine so the flashes I saw may have related to when the PCB warmed up a bit whilst it was hashing as the joint probably expanded a tiny bit.

I'll download novaks cgminer again and give it another go as I have the earlier version without the bitshopper stick support I think.

[jstncheney]

Hey guys. So I'm back with a little issue. So, after getting my 3 miners in, ingot them all running on a 125hertz frequency. Well after toying with it, I slowly ramped up the frequency to 150. But for some reason I'll get 2 of them running, but the 3rd one never mines. Soni t ll pick up the stick in cgminer, but sit at 0. It just gives me an USB_SUCCESS error code. It'll retry it, and then it'll zombie out. But the miners power light is on, just not the process light. Could it be having too much coming out of the power outlet I'm using? I have 2 computers, 2 monitors, and the powered usb hub coming out of it.

[sidehack]

I'm assuming you already looked at the troubleshooting advice from the very first post of this thread.

[zOU]

Could it be having too much coming out of the power outlet I'm using? I have 2 computers, 2 monitors, and the powered usb hub coming out of it.

your wall outlet has nothing to do with it.

a USB2 ports will run it at default freq, a USB3 port slightly higher (500mA / 900mA).

ideally you should use a powered USB hub, or USB Y cables to get power from 2 ports.

[zOU]

Some crappy photos:

[philipma1957]

Some crappy photos:

I like the cooling setup a lot.

[sidehack]

Dude. Sex.

[cavaliersrus]

really like that cooling idea

i have a idea for cooling on these but i do not want to hack the stick cause i like them to much maybe next time im at hacks shop i will talk to him about the cooling idea i have

[zOU]

Thank you guys

I'm touched

I still have to optimize it as most of the airflow is wasted due to the heatsinks being small.

So I will probably make a sort of funnel to orient the flow closer to the sticks.

Or add another row of bars to have 2 levels, each with 3 sticks...

I have to think about it :p

They're running perfectly at 300Mhs, although quite hot....



I thought the input fan would be green too, but only the output fan has the LED.

[cavaliersrus]

zou look for a old dell computer they have a funnel your thinking of and i think it would be a good start to cool it then have another on exhaust and then plexi inbetween to make kinda like a wind tunnel

the thing im talking about is a green piece of plastic

[cavaliersrus]

i have a bunch of them and i think the fans that connect to them as well

[zOU]

zou look for a old dell computer they have a funnel your thinking of and i think it would be a good start to cool it then have another on exhaust and then plexi inbetween to make kinda like a wind tunnel

the thing im talking about is a green piece of plastic

I have the same thing exactly, I collect junk :p

Mine is sized for a 120mm fan, and I use 80mm.

My uncle is a metalworker, I will probably use his services :p

[cavaliersrus]

the ones that i have are 80MM i beleave when i get a chance i will measure them and let you know

[toptek]

 This is what BFG is doing with one stick, the new one and picks up the old one with NP. I have a USB 3 hub due to me tomorrow to see if that's why it is no good in BFG and both work in CGminer with my hub now .
 
I'm not even sure what that the version request is it keeps asking for one stick  it's not finding and sense it does work with CG miner it might just be my HUb. I'll know around 2 pM est tomorrow afternoon.

 

[2015-12-31 02:40:05] Started bfgminer 5.4.1
 [2015-12-31 02:40:05] Loaded configuration file /var/www/minera/conf/miner_conf.json
 [2015-12-31 02:40:05] Found CBM 0 at /dev/ttyUSB1
 [2015-12-31 02:40:26] ModMiner detect: no response to version request from /dev/ttyUSB0
 [2015-12-31 02:40:48] ModMiner detect: no response to version request from /dev/ttyUSB0
 [2015-12-31 02:40:49] Probing for an alive pool
 [2015-12-31 02:40:49] Testing pool stratum+tcp://stratum.mining.eligius.st:3334
 [2015-12-31 02:40:50] Stratum authorisation success for pool 0
 [2015-12-31 02:40:50] Pool 0 stratum+tcp://stratum.mining.eligius.st:3334 alive
 [2015-12-31 02:40:50] Network difficulty changed to 93.5G (668.9P)
 [2015-12-31 02:40:50] New block: ...34e3bdc7df2b0b04 diff 93.5G (668.9P)
 [2015-12-31 02:40:50] Stratum from pool 0 detected new block
 [2015-12-31 02:40:50] Pool 0 is hiding block contents from us
 [2015-12-31 02:40:50] CBM 0: Opened /dev/ttyUSB1
 [2015-12-31 02:40:50] API running in IP access mode on port 4028
 [2015-12-31 02:40:51] New best share: 1
 [2015-12-31 02:40:53] New best share: 1
 [2015-12-31 02:40:53] New best share: 9
 [2015-12-31 02:40:57] New best share: 10
 [2015-12-31 02:41:00] New best share: 16
 [2015-12-31 02:41:07] New best share: 428
 [2015-12-31 02:41:10] 20s: 0.98 avg: 2.54 u: 9.22 Gh/s | A:0 R:0+0(none) HW:0/none
 [2015-12-31 02:41:11] ModMiner detect: no response to version request from /dev/ttyUSB0
 [2015-12-31 02:41:30] 20s: 1.86 avg: 2.89 u:11.58 Gh/s | A:0 R:0+0(none) HW:0/none
 [2015-12-31 02:41:33] ModMiner detect: no response to version request from /dev/ttyUSB0
 

[notlist3d]

Some crappy photos:

I like the cooling setup a lot.

I agree it's been a bit since I said wow on a compac setup.  I really like the setup thanks for sharing.  The usb power adapters on each one is unique and a cool thing to do.

Thanks for sharing!

[drew_ii]

Long, rambling, sorry.  TL;DR - logistics assistance requested to initiate 4xCompac mining on a cheaply powered CPU without incurring too much more in the way of additional expenditures.  See below for what has already been purchased and where the bottleneck is (hint - UK cheap computer for $5)

I hope this hits the right thread. (fingers crossed)

NOOB here to mining, Gekko Compacs, and PI..  Yes there will be no ROI, not looking to make a profit, but looking to sink as little as possible into it even tho its fun.

So I found the thread, and while I can't afford an S7, I found the Compac here in the states for my son for Christmas.  And getting it running was a hoot, drove her up to 17.85GH/s and have made a whopping 12 cents in my 48+ hours of mining lol.  So, I got bit by the bug, and dropped for three more, two USB fans to cool them with, and an Anker 60w 7port USB 3.0 powered hub with an extra three charging ports.  YAY!  But of course I have to have the computer on 24x7 to keep her mining, which decreases what meager profit there might be, etc etc etc

Then I found the PI 0.  $5 NBD right?  Got the HDMI and USB adapters for another 8, bought a nice wood case with heatsink for another 8, bought a 128gb SD for 65 for the blockchain, money's flying out the window at this point.  I think I'm approaching the cost of the XB1 my son got for Christmas because *I* have been bitten by the bug.  Anker works fine on the laptop, not so much with the Pi 0.

Yes, have searched, googled, bing'd (I feel dirty, but at least it wasn't yahoo) and searched this thread.  And all over the 'net RPIs are notoriously poor when it comes to 3.0 support, but 3.0 power 900ma is what I Need to overclock!  Oh I can spend $75 from China on a monster 2.5a/port x 20 ports that will take a month and and then some to arrive, just to run 4 Compacs?  I can't find an inline 10 port USB 2.0 that will go > 500ma in specs (whether it will allow you to do 1000ma every other port or not in reality I haven't found), and since I have the RPI 0, daisy chaining 3 -> 2 -> PI doesn't work, whether or not the 2 is powered.  I can GET the Compac recognized in the 2 while powered, haven't tried running (was going 310mhz @ approx 740mv I think - but she was stable, hot but stable) - but even if she does work the layout wont allow for 4 sticks + 2 fans + a power line for the RPI 0.  I can get the nic/mouse/kbd daisy-chained to an unpowered 2.0 hub off the powered 2.0 hub, but i just can't see how I'm going to get it all to work together.

So, I can return the Anker (btw I love Anker products, its the RPI 0 that I have issue with), but the only inline properly oriented USB 2.0 10 port hubs on Amazon all specifically say NOT FOR ASIC MINING and warn max output is 500ma (which I don't even think is enough to power the RPI 0 which I believe takes 700ma).

Even with 10 ports and Y bridges on 2.0 you're looking at having to daisy chain two of them together which is... drumroll.... about $70 (at least its in the USA and can be shipped from Amazon - but I haven't sourced the bridges/y-adapters yet)

I could B+ maybe, some in this thread have gotten it to work, but nothing on the poor 0.  I haven't opened the 128gb SD yet so I can still take that back, the fans are amazon so I could return them, for a fee that makes them might as well keepers, and the sticks are already en route from Canada, so no refunds there.

I'm at a loss...  Ideas?  Anyone?  Bueller?