I still don't understand testnet difficulty

[konradp]

Hi,

Since a few hours testnet difficulty==1.

Using this calculation: http://tpbitcalc.appspot.com/?difficulty=1&hashrate=1&exchangerate=557.73&bitcoinsperblock=25.00&rigcost=1000.00&powerconsumption=80.00&powercost=0.10&investmentperiod=355
It looks like I should solve a block in about an hour. But after 5 hours cpuminer didn't do it.


I know it's statistically possible, but maybe I'm missing something?

edit: well, it's high again (110221) but for 5 hours it was 1, I'm completely lost, why didn't the miner find a solution?

[bitsta]

Hi,

Since a few hours testnet difficulty==1.

Using this calculation: http://tpbitcalc.appspot.com/?difficulty=1&hashrate=1&exchangerate=557.73&bitcoinsperblock=25.00&rigcost=1000.00&powerconsumption=80.00&powercost=0.10&investmentperiod=355
It looks like I should solve a block in about an hour. But after 5 hours cpuminer didn't do it.


I know it's statistically possible, but maybe I'm missing something?

edit: well, it's high again (110221) but for 5 hours it was 1, I'm completely lost, why didn't the miner find a solution?

i haven't checked the testnetdiff/nethashratepersecond but i guess there are others in the testnet3 with far more hashingpower
than you. Just check the testnet hashrate.

If you want to mine testnet BTC just create your own private testnet-instance.

regards,
bitsta

[oldbute]

The current difficulty is actually 442k.  On testnet if a block is not found in 20 minutes the difficulty drops to 1. After a block is submitted it goes back up to whatever it was at, currently 442k.  Just need to be quick on the draw when it drops to 1

I've been mining on testnet for about a week with 8Gh/s and I get about one block every 2 days, never at difficulty 1

[deepceleron]

If you have your clock set incorrectly, it can also show difficulty 1. You don't have to be quick. This is also too high of a difficulty for testnet, some miners are making it hard to do testing.

I've posted some testnet coins here if you need some (besides thousands I've dumped into the faucet previously): https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=415732.msg4595907#msg4595907