Announcing the FutureBit Apollo BTC - A Full Node/Mining Platform for the Home!

[dwood443]

If we only ordered the Standard package and use a Raspberri Pi can we still run a full node?

[jstefanop]

If we only ordered the Standard package and use a Raspberri Pi can we still run a full node?

Of course, you can run anything you want on your pi...You would just be downloading the miner binary and running that to control the hashboard, its not like you will need to flash your pi with a custom image or anything. The miner software itself takes up very little resources/processing power.

[Max1965]

Looks like the price for the full package is up to $625 is that the price for batch 2?

Yes were adjusting prices based on component costs. Things are insane right now. Our MCU cost for the full package went up ~15 USD alone from our Batch 1 order.

Looks like inflation is hitting upstream already.

Listed at $649 for batch 2 on the website now.

Yep, SSD, wifi module, and DRAM prices are all skyrocketing on weekly basis. Major supply issue in the SBC space. Standard units we have been able to secure enough chipsets that won't effect the price until Batch 3. We are eating some of the costs right now, but there probably will be a 20-25% increase in prices across the board into the later half of the year.

We might not even be able to manufacture the Full Node unit after we sell out Batch 2, trying to come up with a temporary solution using an external less powerful controller unit.

Does it mean for Batch 1 who ordered full node would not be able to get it in May?

[jstefanop]

Looks like the price for the full package is up to $625 is that the price for batch 2?

Yes were adjusting prices based on component costs. Things are insane right now. Our MCU cost for the full package went up ~15 USD alone from our Batch 1 order.

Looks like inflation is hitting upstream already.

Listed at $649 for batch 2 on the website now.

Yep, SSD, wifi module, and DRAM prices are all skyrocketing on weekly basis. Major supply issue in the SBC space. Standard units we have been able to secure enough chipsets that won't effect the price until Batch 3. We are eating some of the costs right now, but there probably will be a 20-25% increase in prices across the board into the later half of the year.

We might not even be able to manufacture the Full Node unit after we sell out Batch 2, trying to come up with a temporary solution using an external less powerful controller unit.

Does it mean for Batch 1 who ordered full node would not be able to get it in May?

No, this is just for future Batches, everyone in Batch 1 is getting their units in May.

[philipma1957]

May delivery sounds good. 👌

Looking forward to playing with it.

[jstefanop]

Batch 2 goes live tomorrow at 6PM EST FYI for whoever missed Batch 1. This batch will ship in July.

[slurfius]

Batch 2 sold out in less than an hour

[Biffa]

There were two left at bitshopper.de (Without PSU)

Now there is one

[jstefanop]

Wow, congrats guys!

Thanks! Looks like well need to start scaling earlier than planned!

[kano]

Listing a second batch without even delivering any of the first ... unimpressed.
So you haven't scaled even though you sold the first batch, and everyone's gonna have to wait even longer?

[philipma1957]

Looking forward to my 1st batch gear in May.

I purchased 1 full set.

600 choppers.

So 3th = 3 x .37 or 1.11 a  day.  I will mine it and Hodl the coin.

Next diff jump will be very good for mining  a negative 20% last I looked

So mining with this will be getting a 20% boost.

https://diff.cryptothis.com/
Latest Block:   679614  (13 minutes ago)

Current Pace:   71.6351%  (223 / 311.30 expected, 88.3 behind)
Previous Difficulty:   23137439666472.05                            
Current Difficulty:   23581981443663.85                            
Next Difficulty:   between 16902293290020 and 21782860938634

Next Difficulty Change:   between -28.3254% and -7.6292%

Previous Retarget:   last Thursday at 3:40 PM  (+1.9213%)
Next Retarget (earliest):   April 30, 2021 at 7:28 PM  (in 12d 23h 55m 19s)
Next Retarget (latest):   May 5, 2021 at 4:42 AM  (in 17d 9h 9m 38s)
Projected Epoch Length:   between 15d 3h 48m 19s and 19d 13h 2m 38s

 
These are rare numbers.


Back to the gear:
I have a question about the full kit I ordered.  it comes with a 512gb NVMe SSD   Can I clone that and swap in a larger ssd?

What is the physical location of the nvme SSD . and is it full length size or shorter.

[heslo]

Looking forward to my 1st batch gear in May.

I purchased 1 full set.

600 choppers.

So 3th = 3 x .37 or 1.11 a  day.  I will mine it and Hodl the coin.

Next diff jump will be very good for mining  a negative 20% last I looked

So mining with this will be getting a 20% boost.

https://diff.cryptothis.com/
Latest Block:   679614  (13 minutes ago)

Current Pace:   71.6351%  (223 / 311.30 expected, 88.3 behind)
Previous Difficulty:   23137439666472.05                            
Current Difficulty:   23581981443663.85                            
Next Difficulty:   between 16902293290020 and 21782860938634

Next Difficulty Change:   between -28.3254% and -7.6292%

Previous Retarget:   last Thursday at 3:40 PM  (+1.9213%)
Next Retarget (earliest):   April 30, 2021 at 7:28 PM  (in 12d 23h 55m 19s)
Next Retarget (latest):   May 5, 2021 at 4:42 AM  (in 17d 9h 9m 38s)
Projected Epoch Length:   between 15d 3h 48m 19s and 19d 13h 2m 38s

 
These are rare numbers.


Back to the gear:
I have a question about the full kit I ordered.  it comes with a 512gb NVMe SSD   Can I clone that and swap in a larger ssd?

What is the physical location of the nvme SSD . and is it full length size or shorter.

I think the swappable nature is part of the plan. From what I've seen I think access to it is underneath and it seems to be a full size NVME

[jstefanop]

Looking forward to my 1st batch gear in May.

I purchased 1 full set.

600 choppers.

So 3th = 3 x .37 or 1.11 a  day.  I will mine it and Hodl the coin.

Next diff jump will be very good for mining  a negative 20% last I looked

So mining with this will be getting a 20% boost.

https://diff.cryptothis.com/
Latest Block:   679614  (13 minutes ago)

Current Pace:   71.6351%  (223 / 311.30 expected, 88.3 behind)
Previous Difficulty:   23137439666472.05                            
Current Difficulty:   23581981443663.85                            
Next Difficulty:   between 16902293290020 and 21782860938634

Next Difficulty Change:   between -28.3254% and -7.6292%

Previous Retarget:   last Thursday at 3:40 PM  (+1.9213%)
Next Retarget (earliest):   April 30, 2021 at 7:28 PM  (in 12d 23h 55m 19s)
Next Retarget (latest):   May 5, 2021 at 4:42 AM  (in 17d 9h 9m 38s)
Projected Epoch Length:   between 15d 3h 48m 19s and 19d 13h 2m 38s

 
These are rare numbers.


Back to the gear:
I have a question about the full kit I ordered.  it comes with a 512gb NVMe SSD   Can I clone that and swap in a larger ssd?

What is the physical location of the nvme SSD . and is it full length size or shorter.

I think the swappable nature is part of the plan. From what I've seen I think access to it is underneath and it seems to be a full size NVME

Yea its easy to swap out, nothing to open. Just turn it over and there is one screw holding it down. Its a standard 2280, it can also take the smaller 2230s.

[philipma1957]

Looking forward to my 1st batch gear in May.

I purchased 1 full set.

600 choppers.

So 3th = 3 x .37 or 1.11 a  day.  I will mine it and Hodl the coin.

Next diff jump will be very good for mining  a negative 20% last I looked

So mining with this will be getting a 20% boost.

https://diff.cryptothis.com/
Latest Block:   679614  (13 minutes ago)

Current Pace:   71.6351%  (223 / 311.30 expected, 88.3 behind)
Previous Difficulty:   23137439666472.05                            
Current Difficulty:   23581981443663.85                            
Next Difficulty:   between 16902293290020 and 21782860938634

Next Difficulty Change:   between -28.3254% and -7.6292%

Previous Retarget:   last Thursday at 3:40 PM  (+1.9213%)
Next Retarget (earliest):   April 30, 2021 at 7:28 PM  (in 12d 23h 55m 19s)
Next Retarget (latest):   May 5, 2021 at 4:42 AM  (in 17d 9h 9m 38s)
Projected Epoch Length:   between 15d 3h 48m 19s and 19d 13h 2m 38s

 
These are rare numbers.


Back to the gear:
I have a question about the full kit I ordered.  it comes with a 512gb NVMe SSD   Can I clone that and swap in a larger ssd?

What is the physical location of the nvme SSD . and is it full length size or shorter.

I think the swappable nature is part of the plan. From what I've seen I think access to it is underneath and it seems to be a full size NVME

Yea its easy to swap out, nothing to open. Just turn it over and there is one screw holding it down. Its a standard 2280, it can also take the smaller 2230s.

nice Easy to upgrade it to 1tb.

[amishmanish]

This is such a great idea and product. Very desirable for the community and overall BTC health too. As it is getting sold out, you could open up a waitlist to gauge future needs. The increasing cost and demand may well make this an easy target for copycats.

I am eager for reviews from the EU/US customers who will be the first ones to get their hands on this. I have a suggestion regarding accessibility of the Apollo node in countries having ambiguous custom rules regarding mining hardware. I understand this maybe a low priority for now but could this be "branded" as simply a Desktop computer with no outwardly discernible connection to "Bitcoin" or "Mining"?

This could be very helpful for people living in certain jurisdictions where custom officials often tend to only go by the branding on the product.

[philipma1957]

This is such a great idea and product. Very desirable for the community and overall BTC health too. As it is getting sold out, you could open up a waitlist to gauge future needs. The increasing cost and demand may well make this an easy target for copycats.

I am eager for reviews from the EU/US customers who will be the first ones to get their hands on this. I have a suggestion regarding accessibility of the Apollo node in countries having ambiguous custom rules regarding mining hardware. I understand this maybe a low priority for now but could this be "branded" as simply a Desktop computer with no outwardly discernible connection to "Bitcoin" or "Mining"?

This could be very helpful for people living in certain jurisdictions where custom officials often tend to only go by the branding on the product.

I will review mine when I get it. I was one of the first to order it so I am hoping to get it sooner rather than later.

[gt_addict]

What are the shipping arrangements? Ship to distributors first or direct to customers? (I’m in the UK)

[jstefanop]

What are the shipping arrangements? Ship to distributors first or direct to customers? (I’m in the UK)

Shipping out first customer pre-orders in the order they were received(does not matter where you ordered from), then sending out bitshopper euro orders, and finishing with the tail end of the pre-orders.

We made up some lost time with our thermal assembly, and that should be at our factory by next week. So barring any delays with ramping up end assembly I think we can get the first orders out the first week of may, and dont see all Batch 1 orders not being in customer hands by end of May.

[prpoub]

Hello jstefanop

Do you have already the manual/notice of apollo ? for setup, for newbies .. ?

Waiting my first batch and would like to learn about config

Thanks 

[jstefanop]

Hello jstefanop

Do you have already the manual/notice of apollo ? for setup, for newbies .. ?

Waiting my first batch and would like to learn about config

Thanks 

Will open a support thread here next week, and post the getting started guide by end of next week.