Which USB hub to use with Block Erupters | NanoFury NF1 | BPMC Red Fury | Ant U1

[Nemo1024]

I've had 6 USB erupter miners running on an $11 Digital Innovations 7 port hub 24/7 for weeks.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151034583099

I am adding it as a 5-6 usable port hub to the table. It has 5V @ 2.5A adapter, which is really only good for max 5 ports. You might have been lucky with your hub.

@2jase: Added footnote link to your review.

@CanaryInTheMine: Added footnote link to your experience.

@KyrosKrane: Added you find to the table. It's cheaper at Amazon.

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[lano1106]

As much as I hate to repeat myself I posted a review of the Juiced 10-port hub in another thread( https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=263577.msg2824064#msg2824064) so I'll paste it here:
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I bought the Juiced 10-port from Amazon and suggest getting something else.  It'll run 8 erupters but when you plug in a 9th it starts to lose contact with one, then another, then another and the only way to fix that is either restart cgminer or unplug/replug the miner.  The Anker's extra amp makes a big difference.

Adding insult to injury my Raspberry Pi can't see this hub at all, so I think I'm going to order the Anker from Amazon and return this one.

I am having the exact phenomenon that you describe with the Anker. The problem goes bad to the point where cgminer core dumps. (currently investigating the core).

with 10 miner on an Anker made the problem very fast. Currently run with 9 and the problem happens anywhere from half an hour to a couple of hours.

I originally tried to plug 8 Erupters + an Artic Breeze fan and I was still seeing the problem. Should try 8 without the fan.
 
I'm maybe wrong but I believe the soft may have a part of responsibility in that or it could improve how it deals with it at least.

Which OS are you using? I do use Linux.

[miter_myles]

Has anyone tried an internal 3.5 bay hub at all (just curious) ?

Like the below:

http://www.weconnex.com/usb-3-0-4-ports-internal-3-5-bay-hub.html

or perhaps a PCI-E or PCI usb card?

http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00MjqtsZFEMpom/7-Ports-USB3-0-PCI-Express-Card-Internal-19pin-Header-PL-PCI-V03-01-.jpg

[WuLabsWuTecH]

So how exactly did whoever who tested the Plugable USB 3.0 hub get it to fit 7 erupters?

This pictures seems like it'll only fit 4 at max.

http://rdmsnippets.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/erupter2.png

[philipma1957]

So how exactly did whoever who tested the Plugable USB 3.0 hub get it to fit 7 erupters?

This pictures seems like it'll only fit 4 at max.

http://rdmsnippets.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/erupter2.png

 they most likely used extensions like these


http://www.amazon.com/Foot-USB-2-0-Extension-Cable/dp/B0011WCVPI/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1375201521&sr=1-1&keywords=usb+extension+cable

[2jase]

$4 is a decent price for short USB extenders but dx.com has 'em for $1.50:  http://dx.com/p/usb-2-0-extension-cable-20cm-28982

@dwdoc: All of the Amazon feedback on that hub is bad - have you noticed any high-pitched whine? And is it still behaving well?  The clearly confused product description (I'm guessing "2.5V AC adapter" means "2.5A AC adapter") doesn't inspire confidence either but if you still like yours I'll probably order one too.

@Nemo1024: Thanks!

@lano1106: I'm running Ubuntu on the PCs and I installed minepeon on the Pi last night since I have a 7-port D-Link powered hub coming today. 

@myter_miles: I'm sure a PCI card would work but I'd prefer the flexibility of a hub, plus you aren't taking up a PCI slot.  I wouldn't bet on an internal bay since they're usually powered by a single cable off the mobo.

I installed Minepeon on my PI last night and confirmed that my small powered hub will run more than 1 Erupter so when the D-Link shows up tonight I'll post if I have anything new to add.  If you haven't seen MinePeon I highly recommend it.  The devs did a really nice job in automating everything I've been doing by hand for a while.  And yes, I'm donating some of my mining to them - they've more than earned it.

[klondike_bar]

$4 is a decent price for short USB extenders but dx.com has 'em for $1.50:  http://dx.com/p/usb-2-0-extension-cable-20cm-28982

expect 3-6 week delivery time with dealextreme (or anything sent via chinapost)

[suprabitz]

anyone know if its possible to use one of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/5V-30A-150W-AC-DC-Universal-Regulated-Switching-Power-Supply-/110979089260?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d6de836c hooked to a couple of hubs in parallel? mainly speaking the underpowered hubs like the 10 port ones with 3a or 4a adapters so that u can get full 500ma to each port.

[WuLabsWuTecH]

There are a bunch of lots of 6 inch pigtail on ebay for about $2 a piece shipped.  I guess I could hang them in my case...

[xjack]

anyone know if its possible to use one of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/5V-30A-150W-AC-DC-Universal-Regulated-Switching-Power-Supply-/110979089260?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d6de836c hooked to a couple of hubs in parallel? mainly speaking the underpowered hubs like the 10 port ones with 3a or 4a adapters so that u can get full 500ma to each port.

Yes - earlier in this thread.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=253749.msg2794024#msg2794024

[miter_myles]

So - has anyone taken an old GPU rig setup and bought PCI and PCI-E USB cards?   Usually, 4-5 ports each.. loaded up maybe 4-5 slots with these in a case or outside.. then fired up some BEs?

[Trongersoll]

So - has anyone taken an old GPU rig setup and bought PCI and PCI-E USB cards?   Usually, 4-5 ports each.. loaded up maybe 4-5 slots with these in a case or outside.. then fired up some BEs?

and then plug hubs into them. with daisy chaining there are a number of ways to expand your operation. the things that are important are cost per port and the power consumed by the computer doing the mining. a Raspberry Pi can run 49 BEs A regular PC? who knows. the spec says 127 per USB controller. Each PCI/PCIe card would have at least one controller. How many ports do you need?

I think people like the HUB approach because it keeps everything together and makes added cooling easy to do.

[OtaconEmmerich]

I gotta agree, while USB PCI cards can be had for dirt cheap. it's much easier to cool a USB hub and relocate it. Also another factor is motherboards only have 1-2 PCI/PCIeX1 slots free.

[2jase]

I got the d-link 7-port hub tonight and it'll handle 6 BEs without a problem, though with 7 plugged in cgminer ends up idling one of them at a time.  Between that and a small 4-port I had lying around (with a 2.5A PS) I'm running 10 BEs off of my Raspi for a total draw of 35W measured at the wall by a kill-a-watt.  Time to return the Juiced hub.

@klondie_bar: good point - I should've mentioned that. DX delivery took about 5 weeks for my last order.  By the time it arrived I'd forgotten that I'd ordered a 5mw green laser pointer for $7 and man was I surprised at how well it works and how far away you can see the beam.  No, I'm not shining it any any airplanes (I like not being in jail.)

@pidge: nice setup and extra points for the custom duct work.  ;-)  I wonder if you could use a 5-10A wall wart to replace the underpowered ones that come with most of these hubs.  Sure, yours is much cleaner, but with kids, pets and a clueless in-laws around it would be safer (for them and the equipment) to go with something a bit more boring-looking and less exposed.  What do you think?

[Nemo1024]

Updated the list to show that D-Link definitely handles 6 ports, based on previous comments. Good to know. I am still waiting for my Erupters, but I already have 5 of these hubs ready to run them.

[TheXev]

Is there anyway that you could modify the master chart to add Raspberry Pi compatibility?  It'd be nice to simply look at a glance to see if a particular hub will work with Raspberry Pi.

As an off topic note, I think its time for a newer Raspberry Pi with USB3! lol

[Nemo1024]

I don't have more information, than what is stated in the paragraph above the chart: USB 3.0 hubs will not work with Pi, while all USB 2.0 hubs *should* work.

D-Link DUB-7 will definitely work according to several reports in the thread, not sure about the other hubs.

[bagnz0r]

I have a better idea... Not sure if anybody mentioned this before:
Take a cheap-o USB-hub, 5V power supply, grab a soldering iron, take the USB hub apart, disconnect power wires from the entering USB port, solder these to the power supply output, re-assemble -- bang! You've got yourself a <$10 powered USB hub.

This is precisely the approach I will be taking with my RPi... Except for the fact I have designed a custom board with li-ion battery and small solar panel.

EDIT: I also have 2 other boards worth testing. These puppies are fully compliant with USB 2.0 specs.
http://shover.us/6iLG0l

http://shover.us/9pIo8D

[Nemo1024]

I have a better idea... Not sure if anybody mentioned this before:
Take a cheap-o USB-hub, 5V power supply, grab a soldering iron, take the USB hub apart, disconnect power wires from the entering USB port, solder these to the power supply output, re-assemble -- bang! You've got yourself a <$10 powered USB hub.

I think the highlighted part, would be where most (including myself) start scratching their heads.

Using Solar power, if you have it in abundance is great - would truly make bitcoins "sent from above"

[bagnz0r]

I have a better idea... Not sure if anybody mentioned this before:
Take a cheap-o USB-hub, 5V power supply, grab a soldering iron, take the USB hub apart, disconnect power wires from the entering USB port, solder these to the power supply output, re-assemble -- bang! You've got yourself a <$10 powered USB hub.

I think the highlighted part, would be where most (including myself) start scratching their heads.

Using Solar power, if you have it in abundance is great - would truly make bitcoins "sent from above"

I can build raspberry pi/cubieboard or marsboard based rigs for anyone in Poland, providing that they pay for components and shipping.
...Apart from that, I'm gonna make a step-by-step video tutorial for people who are interested in modding a cheap USB hub to be powered.