ANTMINER S4 Discussion and Support Thread

[MissouriMiner]

How many people have upgraded the S4 firmware to: initramfs.bin.SD-20141016.tar.gz from the bitmain website?

I only ask because mine is still running on the factory firmware no problem with difficulty manually set, so I'm kind of wondering if I should bother with the upgrade.

I don't think you'll be able to get an accurate number of people

Even if you don't currently have any problems you might have issues if you ever want to switch pools. I had trouble with some rentals - for some reason even December delivery S4s came with old firmware - upgraded to the 1016 version and haven't seen any problems since.

I really only asked because I've been seeing people have more problems after upgrading the firmware (not necessarily with the S4, but with S3's for sure), and I've kind of been taking the "If it isn't broke don't fix it" position with my miners.

I hear you. I haven't touched my S3s since July-August. The latest S3 upgrade (November something) seems to be borked. The 1016 S4 upgrade is fine and highly recommended because of the issues with low starting difficulties.

Okay so I finally got around to trying to upgrade the firmware on my S4. I've downloaded the initramfs.bin.SD-20141016.tar.gz file, and hit flash. I see that it uploads to 100%, but then after that, my connection times out and the miner does a factory reset.

I re-downloaded the file and tried numerous times, same result every time. Anyone else have this issue, or have any suggestions?

I would try a different Micro SD memory card.  First, you will have to put the base image on the new card.

Thanks. Is putting the base image on the new card difficult to do? Getting into bitcoin mining sure has given me a crash course in a bunch of stuff I never knew I'd be learning about. 

It's not hard.  Just have to find the steps.  They are around here somewhere.  First download "Win32 Disk Imager", assuming you have a Windows PC to use.  http://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/  And then find the image file.  Search the forum for that.  The image file is not the same as the firmware upgrade files.

Also, if you haven't ejected the memory card and put it back in, try that first.  I haven't read the whole thread to see if you've done that.

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[neo9436]

How many people have upgraded the S4 firmware to: initramfs.bin.SD-20141016.tar.gz from the bitmain website?

I only ask because mine is still running on the factory firmware no problem with difficulty manually set, so I'm kind of wondering if I should bother with the upgrade.

I don't think you'll be able to get an accurate number of people

Even if you don't currently have any problems you might have issues if you ever want to switch pools. I had trouble with some rentals - for some reason even December delivery S4s came with old firmware - upgraded to the 1016 version and haven't seen any problems since.

I really only asked because I've been seeing people have more problems after upgrading the firmware (not necessarily with the S4, but with S3's for sure), and I've kind of been taking the "If it isn't broke don't fix it" position with my miners.

I hear you. I haven't touched my S3s since July-August. The latest S3 upgrade (November something) seems to be borked. The 1016 S4 upgrade is fine and highly recommended because of the issues with low starting difficulties.

Okay so I finally got around to trying to upgrade the firmware on my S4. I've downloaded the initramfs.bin.SD-20141016.tar.gz file, and hit flash. I see that it uploads to 100%, but then after that, my connection times out and the miner does a factory reset.

I re-downloaded the file and tried numerous times, same result every time. Anyone else have this issue, or have any suggestions?

I would try a different Micro SD memory card.  First, you will have to put the base image on the new card.

Thanks. Is putting the base image on the new card difficult to do? Getting into bitcoin mining sure has given me a crash course in a bunch of stuff I never knew I'd be learning about. 

It's not hard.  Just have to find the steps.  They are around here somewhere.  First download "Win32 Disk Imager", assuming you have a Windows PC to use.  http://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/  And then find the image file.  Search the forum for that.  The image file is not the same as the firmware upgrade files.

Also, if you haven't ejected the memory card and put it back in, try that first.  I haven't read the whole thread to see if you've done that.

I think what I'll do is get a new card and get the base image on it first, then I'll try ejecting the current card and putting it back in. That way if something goes wrong I won't have a lot of downtime.

Thanks again for the help, I do remember talk with someone else about this earlier in the thread. I'll have to do some digging.

[dogie]

Each miner goes though rigorous quality control by QA staffs multiple times.  Sometimes the air turbulence during the air freight may cause damages to the miner as we use International Express via Air to deliver miners to the end customers.

Please PM here or contact +1-844-248-6246 Option 2 to request the replacement parts sent to you.  Please prepare the original order confirmation page to submit to the techs on the phone or in PM.

PS: some are beyond our control, however, we do not point finger at UPS and say, UPS's problem deal with them, but, rather, when we are notified, we will handle the DOA RMA process as fast as we can.

@techgeeks
If you have a blank LCD screen during the bootup, then more than likely the loose contact MicroSD card, or currupted MicroSD card or damaged MicroSD card.  Please try to reseat the microSD card, if that doesn't work, please try to reimage the MicroSD card from the image available at http://www.bitmaintech.com

Thank you

Although I had no problems with my equipment, other than having to eject and re-insert a MicroSD card in one of my S4's and one bad PSIe port in 1 of 18 S3's, I have been pleased personally with BITMAIN rigs.

If you imagine the vibration / impacts needed to dislodge an SD card from its slot, it gives you an idea what happens during shipping. And that no Bitmain made components get damaged, only very rarely a 3rd party PSU.

[dmwardjr]

If you imagine the vibration / impacts needed to dislodge an SD card from its slot, it gives you an idea what happens during shipping. And that no Bitmain made components get damaged, only very rarely a 3rd party PSU.

I would agree.  Especially if high wind turbulence were met along the way in the air.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIpwuN3cDXY


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UO-wYpNN0s

[mdude77]

I got my S4s today.

I was dismayed to find they showed 127.0.0.1 on the displays and did not respond to the address they were "Supposed" to be at, 192.168.1.99.

Fortunately I found they probably have DHCP on, and I was able to configure them way. 

BTW Dogie, your "how to" guide for S4s says S3 at least once.

M

[wpgdeez]

humans can make mistakes 

[sEpuLchEr]

humans can make mistakes 

But he's not human... though I have to speak up for him. He has been very helpful to me.

[dogie]

humans can make mistakes 

But he's not human... though I have to speak up for him. He has been very helpful to me.

TIL

[taweesak]

i'm order 1 s4 antminer on dec,17th and go to bank to transfer money(swift) on dec,18th , now is dec,20th my order on the web show status: expire. if bitmain receive the  payment. will it ok for me?

[Sandhog]

How many people have upgraded the S4 firmware to: initramfs.bin.SD-20141016.tar.gz from the bitmain website?

I only ask because mine is still running on the factory firmware no problem with difficulty manually set, so I'm kind of wondering if I should bother with the upgrade.

I upgraded all of my S4's to this firmware and gained at least 5% hashing speed on the pool. I also set difficulty to 2048. 225 Mhz 0725 volts . They are all hashing at least 2200 and are stable meaning I don't have to hard reboot them every day for crashed chips or reduced hashing speeds.

After I reset to factory setting and set difficulty to 2048. 225 Mhz 0725 volts, I too am hashing at least 2200. It's very stable so far for past 24 hours. Thanks for the info. 

[Sandhog]

i'm order 1 s4 antminer on dec,17th and go to bank to transfer money(swift) on dec,18th , now is dec,20th my order on the web show status: expire. if bitmain receive the  payment. will it ok for me?

It's fast to pay with BTC. It's show paid after an hour if you have paid with BTC. If you don't have any BTC, you should buy it at the exchange and make all transaction in BTC.

[padrino]

i'm order 1 s4 antminer on dec,17th and go to bank to transfer money(swift) on dec,18th , now is dec,20th my order on the web show status: expire. if bitmain receive the  payment. will it ok for me?

I have purchased a number of units from them with swift transfers, they have always been good about it.... Suggest you email them with the swift details and your order number so they can match them.

[taweesak]

i'm order 1 s4 antminer on dec,17th and go to bank to transfer money(swift) on dec,18th , now is dec,20th my order on the web show status: expire. if bitmain receive the  payment. will it ok for me?

It's fast to pay with BTC. It's show paid after an hour if you have paid with BTC. If you don't have any BTC, you should buy it at the exchange and make all transaction in BTC.

i think about this method after i use swift   the next miner i will pay with btc ,i promise

[taweesak]

i'm order 1 s4 antminer on dec,17th and go to bank to transfer money(swift) on dec,18th , now is dec,20th my order on the web show status: expire. if bitmain receive the  payment. will it ok for me?

I have purchased a number of units from them with swift transfers, they have always been good about it.... Suggest you email them with the swift details and your order number so they can match them.

i have only the form and the receipt from the bank , i think it's no ref number put in email. may be monday the payment will complete and my order will start delivery process.

[dogie]

i'm order 1 s4 antminer on dec,17th and go to bank to transfer money(swift) on dec,18th , now is dec,20th my order on the web show status: expire. if bitmain receive the  payment. will it ok for me?

I have purchased a number of units from them with swift transfers, they have always been good about it.... Suggest you email them with the swift details and your order number so they can match them.

i have only the form and the receipt from the bank , i think it's no ref number put in email. may be monday the payment will complete and my order will start delivery process.

Yes, don't worry about it.

[Sandhog]

i'm order 1 s4 antminer on dec,17th and go to bank to transfer money(swift) on dec,18th , now is dec,20th my order on the web show status: expire. if bitmain receive the  payment. will it ok for me?

It's fast to pay with BTC. It's show paid after an hour if you have paid with BTC. If you don't have any BTC, you should buy it at the exchange and make all transaction in BTC.

i think about this method after i use swift   the next miner i will pay with btc ,i promise

Doesn't swift carry heavy fee? I remembered when I paid my first miner, it was lots of money to wire transfer internationally. With BTC, I only paid fraction of cost to convert fiat to BTC. Anyhow, I find Bitmain to be very honorable company so you shouldn't worry as long as transfer went through. Unlike other manufacturing companies, they are refunding L1 orders with 5 to 10 percent extra for not delivering the pre-order. It's rare for mining machine manufacturer. I really had very good experience with them unlike Butterfly Lab and Cointerra.

[Sandhog]

i'm order 1 s4 antminer on dec,17th and go to bank to transfer money(swift) on dec,18th , now is dec,20th my order on the web show status: expire. if bitmain receive the  payment. will it ok for me?

I have purchased a number of units from them with swift transfers, they have always been good about it.... Suggest you email them with the swift details and your order number so they can match them.

i have only the form and the receipt from the bank , i think it's no ref number put in email. may be monday the payment will complete and my order will start delivery process.

I have some unused Bitmain coupons that if you want I will donate to you with no strings attached.

[MyRig]

Bank Wire Transaction Time....

Some bank you send the payment from may clear and shows up in Bitmain's Account the same day, some the following day, or the next business day or 2-4 business days. 

It is all depends on if the wire was sent on the same business day cut off time, if the bank you sent the payment from has any intermediary bank before reaching to Bitmain's Bank Account, mis-spelled "Bitmain Technologies Limited" in the wire instruction.

If you can, please add what you are paying for in the note and OrderID or your e-mail address associated with Bitmaintech.com account or Bitmaintech.com website username.

If you din't put anything in the note, please don't worry, please take a few pictures of the wire receipt and e-mail it to info@bitmaintech.com and someone will be in contact with you.

 

[MyRig]

@mdude77

Antminer S4 now ships with DHCP Activated as the default network setting. 

First, please access to your Router's Control Panel and go to the DHCP Table (IP Assignment) page.

Connect your S4 into your Router, then power it on.

In 2-4 minutes, please take a look at the LCD panel and use the IP address displayed on the screen on your web browser to access the web interface of the Antminer.

If your router is not activated to handle DHCP, the screen will show the IP address of 127.0.0.1

Please find a router that has DHCP enabled, or please activate the DHCP on the router and connect.

[mdude77]

@mdude77

Antminer S4 now ships with DHCP Activated as the default network setting. 

First, please access to your Router's Control Panel and go to the DHCP Table (IP Assignment) page.

Connect your S4 into your Router, then power it on.

In 2-4 minutes, please take a look at the LCD panel and use the IP address displayed on the screen on your web browser to access the web interface of the Antminer.

If your router is not activated to handle DHCP, the screen will show the IP address of 127.0.0.1

Please find a router that has DHCP enabled, or please activate the DHCP on the router and connect.

Thanks.  But, um, I believe I already stated that I figured it out and got it working.  Also, Dogie needs to update his how to page to reflect such.

M