GekkoScience 2Pac/Compac BM1384 Stickminer Official Support Thread

[ppetrovic68]

Not all 2Pac were built the same. Same voltage, but one throws many HW errors, another does a few HW errors, and the last one throws 0 HW errors. This is why I asked if I could run each device with their own frequency (Mhz). Rather than device number, the serial number seems like a better unique identifier and maybe use the GSx hardware model if necessary. Maybe something for cgminer-gekko 4.11

I don´t know if it´s common here, but I use the deb package screen to login to a session via SSH. With screen you can keep the session running even if you log off. When reconnecting you can resume the session with the command screen -r. I don´t know if cgminer is able to run two instances in two different sessions. If it is you could start two instances with two frequencies.
Otherwise I would git clone cgminer in a second folder, maybe cgminer2, and compile it there. Then maybe you could start two cgminers in two sessions using screen.

Just run the same cgminer in second session with different parameters - you don't need two copies, and even if you did need two copies, why would you clone/make again when you can just copy the one that's already built...

[sunk818]

Are the last few comments actual solutions directed at multi 2Pac owners, or are they plausible solutions but untested? I have a macOs and opened a second terminal window to run a second instance of cgminer from the same directory. I also tried duplicating cgminer-gekko directory and ran a different process of cgminer from the duplicated directory. Since all ASICs are recognized in all instances, how do you propose binding a specific ASIC to a specific process of cgminer?

[sidehack]

Consider using the search function. I'm not sure if it's possible to do exactly what you want, but you can limit the number of devices a particular instance will enumerate. I think how to do that has been explained in the last week or so, and also with relative frequency over the life of this thread.

[der_wasi]

Since all ASICs are recognized in all instances, how do you propose binding a specific ASIC to a specific process of cgminer?

My reply was a suggestion. I didn´t try it.
Did you try to disable the first USB device in the first instance and the second device in the other? Maybe that works.

[stealthshadow]

@vh hello, i have broken the potentiometer adjust voltage. (screw voltage adjustement).
is there a solution
thanks

[johannesfritz]

Hello, newbie here,
I was told that my Q was answered in this thread numerous times, but I can't really find it using the search function. Please excuse in your leniency and consider pointing me to the right posts, that would be nice. So, here comes my issue:
Got the 2Pac stickminer and tried to set it up. I use the special cgminer build by VH. I learned how to enter the correct stratum/pool address and I installed WinUSB with Zadiq, which works correctly. The device is not listed as a COM device, but as a USB device. I run the .exe as an administrator. My batch file is in a folder called cgmine and that's where the .exe is located, too. The batch file is called "start mining.bat and it contains the following: "Start /D "C:\cgmine" cgminer.exe -o stratum+tcp://stratum.slushpool.com:3333 -u sohnes.worker1 -p anything" . The device is listed in cgminer, but not accessible, I always get "failed usb_init".
My OS is win7 and plugging the device either directly into the PC or a power hub does not make a difference.
Thanks in advance.

[sunk818]

try restarting your windows machine.

also try USB asic with a lower frequency... use parameter --gekko-2pac-freq 50 ... the default is 100 mhz but this will reduce the power load. see if that helps.

do you have usb 2.0 or usb 3.0? i'm able to run 100mhz on my windows pc, but can't go higher unless i use a powered external hub. i can usually go up 5V 1.5A on the usb external powered hub.

[sunk818]

another instance of cgminer @ 150 Mhz.

Now I have one cgminer running 2Pac@275, 2 Compacs @250 and second cgminer running one 2Pac@150 - so far so good...

How does run multiple instances of cgminer and set different frequencies? All my USB ASICs detect on all the instances. If I disable ASIC on the first instance, the second instance I fire up also shows the ASIC as disabled too. So, I'm not sure how you configured your setup to run different frequencies. Can you help me and provide some details?

[sunk818]

A stick that doesn't overclock as well

Since Intel has different price points based on "overclockability", did you ever consider marketing different models based on how well they overclock?

[johannesfritz]

try restarting your windows machine.

also try USB asic with a lower frequency... use parameter --gekko-2pac-freq 50 ... the default is 100 mhz but this will reduce the power load. see if that helps.

do you have usb 2.0 or usb 3.0? i'm able to run 100mhz on my windows pc, but can't go higher unless i use a powered external hub. i can usually go up 5V 1.5A on the usb external powered hub.

Okay, I tweaked my start.mining.bat and it now reads: Start /D "C:\cgmine" cgminer.exe -o stratum+tcp://stratum.slushpool.com:3333 -u sohnes.worker1 -p anything -gekko-2pac-freq 50
Ist this okay?
I rebooted and tried both plugging it directly into the PC and using a power hub, still resulting in failed usb_init. Should be USB 2.0.

[sunk818]

When you plug and unplug the USB do you hear the USB sound? Try inserting USB several times. I got the same error and returned one for refund.

[johannesfritz]

Yes it makes the sound. The LED is shining green, too.

[sidehack]

A stick that doesn't overclock as well

Since Intel has different price points based on "overclockability", did you ever consider marketing different models based on how well they overclock?

No, because then I'd have to spend a couple days testing each one to see how well it works all the way up, and that's nonsensical for a $33 stick. And I don't really care, all I guarantee is 100MHz stable and overclocking is at your own risk. It's always been like that.

still resulting in failed usb_init

Check in device manager when you plug in the stick. What's it read as? Make sure the voltage isn't cranked way up. Turn the pot so the flat side is at about 2 o'clock position. Unless you have a way to measure it, that would be best; set it to 1.26V.

[johannesfritz]

The flat side of the pod is at 2 o'clock. Device lists as a USB device: "2Pac BM1384 Bitcoin Miner by Cygnal Integrated Products, Inc at Port_#0001.Hub_#0004. "Category unknown", though.

[sidehack]

Okay well it's recognizing it then. Do you have a means of gauging how much power it draws from the USB port when it's plugged in? Should pull 1.8W to start; if it's only drawing ~30mA there's an issue with the main regulator, and ~50mA it's probably a string reset issue - which has a variety of potential causes.

The only time I see "failed usb_init" is before I put the product string and serial number on the CP2102, or if a stick is plugged in at the wrong time in the detection cycle (but it's then properly detected on the next one).

[sunk818]

Consider using the search function. I'm not sure if it's possible to do exactly what you want, but you can limit the number of devices a particular instance will enumerate. I think how to do that has been explained in the last week or so, and also with relative frequency over the life of this thread.

I looked from Oct 1 and on and I couldn't any such thread. Maybe you're confusing a different forum or thread. I've been following this thread since my first 2Pac arrived.

[ppetrovic68]

another instance of cgminer @ 150 Mhz.

Now I have one cgminer running 2Pac@275, 2 Compacs @250 and second cgminer running one 2Pac@150 - so far so good...

How does run multiple instances of cgminer and set different frequencies? All my USB ASICs detect on all the instances. If I disable ASIC on the first instance, the second instance I fire up also shows the ASIC as disabled too. So, I'm not sure how you configured your setup to run different frequencies. Can you help me and provide some details?

1. Unplug all stick
2. run cgminer
3. plug in all the stick you want to run on that cgminer
4. disable hotplug (set it to 0)
5. if you have more sticks goto 2.

[sidehack]

In the README for cgminer it mentions the "--usb" flag.

[sunk818]

In the README for cgminer it mentions the "--usb" flag.

thanks. that wasn't so hard was it? there's mention of the flag in post 1and post 187.

not much on details or examples, but I did find this blurb on another forum. i'll give that a go and see if I can set different frequencies. if that doesn't work, i have ppetrovic68's suggestion

https://enforum.bitmain.com/bbs/topics/2215
Run cgminer.exe -n to find your settings.  In my case I run multiple miners on a single computer that are on usb  bus3 and the devices are numbered 1 through 4.  The --usb 3:* parameter runs all four miners attached to bus 3 within one instance of cgminer.  I could also run four instances of cgminer using --usb 3:1, --usb 3:2, --usb 3:3 and --usb 3:4 (use only one unique --usb setting in each bat file).

[sidehack]

No it wasn't hard, but I could have sworn I saw someone discussing that earlier this month. I didn't find it when I went looking, in both this and the Compac thread, so either the post got deleted, or I dreamed the whole thing, or there's somehow another thread folks talk about how to use these sticks? Someone was asking about exactly what you're asking about and was advised to use the --usb flag to limit the number of sticks per instance so he could divide them up into high and low spec sticks. Within the last couple weeks.

Although I do like that it's mentioned in the first post. The answer to at least half of people's questions is "read the first post".