BFG and Antminer U2

[MTPcgr]

I'm really having some trouble understanding what's going on here.  I've been running a single USB Block Erupter with BFGminer for several weeks and have seen ICA 0: with 337/332/355Mh/s.  I just upgraded to an AntMiner U2 and used this guide to configure it, and it seems to be running ok around 2Gh/s, but the third number is always much lower and my pool reports much much lower speeds than even with my USB Block Erupter.  

What am I doing wrong with the AntMiner to get slower speeds?  And what do those three sets of Gh/s values actually mean?


Block Erupter
bfgminer.exe -o stratum+tcp://stratum.btcguild.com:3333 -O xxxx_1 -S all --icarus-options 115200:1:1 --icarus-timing 3.0=100
https://i.imgur.com/PnHlCkx.jpg


AntMiner U2
bfgminer.exe -o stratum+tcp://stratum.btcguild.com:3333 -O xxxx_2 -S antminer:all --set-device antminer:clock=x0881
https://i.imgur.com/LVERcBG.jpg

[chup]

I'm really having some trouble understanding what's going on here.  I've been running a single USB Block Erupter with BFGminer for several weeks and have seen ICA 0: with 337/332/355Mh/s.  I just upgraded to an AntMiner U2 and used this guide to configure it, and it seems to be running ok around 2Gh/s, but the third number is always much lower and my pool reports much much lower speeds than even with my USB Block Erupter. 

What am I doing wrong with the AntMiner to get slower speeds?  And what do those three sets of Gh/s values actually mean?


Block Erupter
bfgminer.exe -o stratum+tcp://stratum.btcguild.com:3333 -O xxxx_1 -S all --icarus-options 115200:1:1 --icarus-timing 3.0=100


AntMiner U2
bfgminer.exe -o stratum+tcp://stratum.btcguild.com:3333 -O xxxx_2 -S antminer:all --set-device antminer:clock=x0881

My U1s are working OK with bfgminer --icarus-options 115200:2:2
If this doesn't help, try lowering speed with clock=x0681 just to check do you have weak USB power supply.

[MTPcgr]

If this doesn't help, try lowering speed with clock=x0681 just to check do you have weak USB power supply.

If the x0681 option works now, you said this will indicate if I have a weak USB power supply?  I'm plugging this device directly into the on-board USB ports.  What do you recommend instead?

[chup]

If the x0681 option works now, you said this will indicate if I have a weak USB power supply?  I'm plugging this device directly into the on-board USB ports.  What do you recommend instead?

Powered USB hub. Here is helpfull thread to make choice of:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=253749.0

[MTPcgr]

I just ordered one of the recommended three (Rosewill 10-Port RHB-500) and will see how it does on Monday.  Seems silly to need an external hub for a single usb miner, but I guess that makes sense if it can supply higher consistent voltage than the on-board USB ports.  Heck, if this works, I may just buy another Antminer or two for the fun of it.

[krodmandoon]

AntMiner U2
bfgminer.exe -o stratum+tcp://stratum.btcguild.com:3333 -O xxxx_2 -S antminer:all --set-device antminer:clock=x0881

clock=x0981

[MTPcgr]

clock=x0981

Anything higher than x0681 (consistently) or x0781 (occasionally) produce slow to no results.  x0881 gave slow, x0981 gave no, x0A81 gave no.  That's why some people think this is a power issue and why I'm trying the powered hub option.  We'll see.  If it still doesn't work, I guess it is back to the drawing board.

[hurricandave]

 I have seen plenty of people use the miner software the way you ar ebut you are having some issues. Just as a way to eliminate the possibility its a system issue, consider trying a little different approach.
  Unzip BFG Miner 3.10.0 to the C:\  drive. Not the Windows folder.
  Place a shortcut to Command Prompt on your desktop.
  Open the Command Prompt and Change the directory with          cd\bfgminer-3.10.0-win32 or 64 {press enter}
   C:\bfgminer-3.10.0-win32>_
   now launch with                bfgminer -S antminer:all -o http://stratum.btcguild.com:3333 -u XXXX_1 -p XXX {press enter}
   I have seen that sometimes using "Windows" folder can cause a conflict, usually not, but sometimes.
   Also go over your network cables and devices to make sure that you aren't having interference that is slowing something down, also check windows "system resources" for unexpected extra network activity in the graph.
 An unclocked Antminer U2 default setting should return between 1.44 Gh/s - 1.7 Gh/s as reported by BTC Guild about 660 Valid Shares per hour. With a decent, clean, internet connection and when plugged directly to the computers onboard USB port.

[MTPcgr]

I have seen plenty of people use the miner software the way you ar ebut you are having some issues. Just as a way to eliminate the possibility its a system issue, consider trying a little different approach.
  Unzip BFG Miner 3.10.0 to the C:\  drive. Not the Windows folder.
  Place a shortcut to Command Prompt on your desktop.
  Open the Command Prompt and Change the directory with          cd\bfgminer-3.10.0-win32 or 64 {press enter}
   C:\bfgminer-3.10.0-win32>_
   now launch with                bfgminer -S antminer:all -o http://stratum.btcguild.com:3333 -u XXXX_1 -p XXX {press enter}
   I have seen that sometimes using "Windows" folder can cause a conflict, usually not, but sometimes.
   Also go over your network cables and devices to make sure that you aren't having interference that is slowing something down, also check windows "system resources" for unexpected extra network activity in the graph.
 An unclocked Antminer U2 default setting should return between 1.44 Gh/s - 1.7 Gh/s as reported by BTC Guild about 660 Valid Shares per hour. With a decent, clean, internet connection and when plugged directly to the computers onboard USB port.

Thanks.  I'll try checking the cables and windows resources.  I had already had bfgminer installed at the root level, but I'll try the rest too.

[MTPcgr]

My biggest problem now is that although I *can* get good speed from the Antminer, it doesn't hold.  It'll run at 1.6Gh/s for a few hours and then drop down.  Then later randomly pick back up.  In the chart below, the blue line is a little USB Block Erupter staying steady, but the black line is my flakey Antminer.  (different computers)
 
What is the deal?  I'm really hoping this external powered USB hub helps this.

https://i.imgur.com/EsI3PJS.jpg

[hurricandave]

Mine flucuates too but not that extreme, maybe its unstable power issue but then again internet connection issues can be tricky culprits. My wireless broadband router gets unstable if I try to use a combination of different devices like Ant U2 and a GPU. the Ant will usually win out and the GPU will produce next to nothing. Are they both using the same connection?

[MTPcgr]

Mine flucuates too but not that extreme, maybe its unstable power issue but then again internet connection issues can be tricky culprits. My wireless broadband router gets unstable if I try to use a combination of different devices like Ant U2 and a GPU. the Ant will usually win out and the GPU will produce next to nothing. Are they both using the same connection?

Yes, they both share the same Internet connection.

[hurricandave]

I've seen mine slow way down if the computer tries to update something while mining. It can tie up the connection and slow down the update download for extended length of time. ie. automatic anti-virus updates. Till the download clears the miner gets erradic and the download can hang up. Also using certain websites with graphic heavy advertising and pictures like Amazon will get the connection wongo too.

[hardhouseinc]

Is this issue being most likely linked to bad internet connection?
I just hooked mine up running at the default hash rate and get the same low
hash rate sent to the pool.

Testing this out on a PC running ONLY the U2 antiminer with BFG 3.10.0
The program shows Im hashing at 2.0Gh/s but at the end shows only 1.2Gh/s - 1.5Gh/s
Is this because of a poor internet connection?

I havent even bothered trying to overlclock even though I have added an extra heatsink to the boards chip since
the pool isnt even seening my device full hash rate.

Any other ideas if this is the real issue here due to internet connection?

I checked my BTC dashboard and its showing this speed

XXX_1   1.50 GH/s   


bfgminer-3.10.0-win32\bfgminer.exe" -o http://eu-stratum.btcguild.com:3333 -u XXX_1 -p 123 -S antminer:all

Any ideas how to get the pool to see / accept your full hash speed?



 bfgminer version 3.10.0 - Started: [2014-03-17 09:44:25] - [  0 days 00:10:54]
 [M]anage devices [P]ool management ettings [D]isplay options  [H]elp [Q]uit
 Connected to eu-stratum-lb489kj.btcguild.com diff 2 with stratum as user XXX_1
 Block: ...2b51b28d #290928  Diff:4.25G (30.42Ph/s)  Started: [09:49:34]
 ST:2  F:0  NB:2  AS:0  BW:[ 52/ 25 B/s]  E:9.36  I: 7.47uBTC/hr  BS:3.61k
 1            |  1.95/ 1.95/ 1.46Gh/s | A:114 R:0+0(none) HW:0/none
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 AMU 0:       |  1.91/ 1.95/ 1.46Gh/s | A:115 R:0+0(none) HW:0/none
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 [2014-03-17 09:53:49] Stratum from pool 0 requested work update
 [2014-03-17 09:54:19] Stratum from pool 0 requested work update
 [2014-03-17 09:54:28] Accepted 6ac5e657 AMU 0  Diff 2/2
 [2014-03-17 09:54:28] Accepted 6ac5e657 AMU 0  Diff 2/2
 [2014-03-17 09:54:30] Accepted 30662156 AMU 0  Diff 5/2
 [2014-03-17 09:54:32] Accepted 46000346 AMU 0  Diff 3/2
 [2014-03-17 09:54:41] Accepted 1b407466 AMU 0  Diff 9/2
 [2014-03-17 09:54:46] Accepted 6e8eba18 AMU 0  Diff 2/2
 [2014-03-17 09:54:49] Stratum from pool 0 requested work update
 [2014-03-17 09:54:53] Accepted 27dd1530 AMU 0  Diff 6/2
 [2014-03-17 09:54:54] Accepted 5c2bea3b AMU 0  Diff 2/2
 [2014-03-17 09:54:55] Accepted 03896a7a AMU 0  Diff 72/2
 [2014-03-17 09:54:59] Accepted 048aa081 AMU 0  Diff 56/2
 [2014-03-17 09:55:04] Accepted 0e406b49 AMU 0  Diff 17/2

[hurricandave]

     1.5 Gh/s at the pool dashboard is right in line with the default value of the Antminer. You need to keep in mind that there will always be a bit of personal varience.  If the first two sets of numbers on the dashboard are showing 1.90-2.03/ 1.90-2.03 this is your right now hash speed. The third number will start out way off and zero in with time. At default expect this to be in the 1.48 - 1.62 Gh/s as this will reflect a better indicator of valid accepts. When you check the pool report the speed will usually swing up or down each time you refresh the page this is based on a comparison off difference in time since last accepted valid share. BTC Guild has a chart page and it will give your your average over one hour, for 24 hrs. This is the best indicator of Valid Results. It does no good to hash at umpteen Giga Has per second if you have a high number of rejects. If you start accumilating a lot of Hardware Errors, you have an internal issue for sure. My Ant U2 is currently at 2 days 19 hrs and change with Zero HW errors. Stales and duplicates are going to happen so watch your percentage,  right now I'm at (0.39%) for this same time period. When these stale and dupes get out of hand your definatley having communication issues. Sometimes the can be resolved by simply quiting the miner refreshing the OS by restart and launching again . As the new NET connection will likely take a different path with the hope that it is more stable than the one you had been on.

[hardhouseinc]

No hardware errors and the stale rejects are very low.
Im gonna run this on a faster network connection at home and see what happens.

 Block: ...465fa511 #290934  Diff:4.25G (30.42Ph/s)  Started: [10:28:33]
 ST:2  F:0  NB:8  AS:1  BW:[ 48/ 23 B/s]  E:10.03  I: 7.55uBTC/hr  BS:3.61k
 1            |  2.08/ 1.96/ 1.49Gh/s | A:529 R:4+0(.75%) HW:0/none
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 AMU 0:       |  1.94/ 1.96/ 1.49Gh/s | A:529 R:4+0(.75%) HW:0/none
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 [2014-03-17 10:32:45] Accepted 4b29ce85 AMU 0  Diff 3/2

[hurricandave]

   Don't expect BFG Miner numbers and BTC Guild numbers to always match. They use different methods to calculate speed. Keep track of your Valid Shares Average at your pool. Give the miner software time to stablize the numbers also. I've had BFG Miner show hash speeds at three times what they really were but I let it keep on running and even though they never corrected till my next restart, they were stable and the real time +- 0.0? difference / sec was still valid.
     Also BFG Miner tends to show speeds a little on the conservative side.

[hardhouseinc]

OK, went out on a limb here and set the manual hash rate out of curosity.

As soon as I bumped it manually, it started showing full hash all the way.
It even spiked up as high as 2.2Gh/s on the last of the 3.
Possibly a fix for this one, it seems better than before.

Ill let it run a couple days and see what the average shows.

Did a quick touch test on the heatsinks and they feel quite cool.
WAY cooler than my cheap 333mh/s asic miners.

--set-device antminer:clock=x0881

Block: ...f6787ab6 #290935  Diff:4.25G (30.42Ph/s)  Started: [10:48:48]
ST:2  F:0  NB:1  AS:0  BW:[ 49/ 27 B/s]  E:10.59  I: 8.47uBTC/hr  BS:61
1            |  2.12/ 1.99/ 1.94Gh/s | A:126 R:0+1(.79%) HW:0/none
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMU 0:       |  2.01/ 1.98/ 1.84Gh/s | A:127 R:0+1(.78%) HW:0/none
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[2014-03-17 10:58:10] Accepted 16775289 AMU 0  Diff 11/2


BTW, are there any U2 specific hardware manuals from BitMain yet?
Or posted anywhere?
Or are we just assuming the settings from the U1?
When I set the x0881 clock manually it actually gave an invalid hex setting but ran better
than without it.  Now I wonder if the manual x0881 did anything at all.  Ugh.

[hurricandave]

     I've haven't seen anything new published yet. Those numbers are going to bounce when you first launch the Miner. Check the speed at the pool Chart after a complete hour of work . See if the 2.0 + holds up.
     The new heat sink is flat out awsome. I got a $3 adapter- 4-pin molex to 3-pin case fan and used an old 80mm Dell rear case fan to blow on the heat sink and at default frequency the U2+ feels like its at room temp.

[hardhouseinc]

 
 [2014-03-17 11:55:01] AMU 0: Applying rule antminer:clock==x0881: invalid clock
: '=x0881' data must be prefixed with an x
 [2014-03-17 11:55:06] Accepted 58c9b293 AMU 0  Diff 2/2

Ok, figured out I copy pasted something bad when I was messing with clock speeds.

Now I fixed it, and its back to low rates of 1.5Gh/s or lower.

It seems hard to make them all show up with the same around 1.9Gh/s like if Im using a
333Mh/s block erupter and they all show around 335 in all three spots.

May be something to just sit and watch over 3 days and see if the speeds average out
to increase to 1.9Gh/s in all 3.