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Windows

Instructions to onboard your DIY miner using Windows

Prerequisites​

  • Python
  • 2.4GHz WiFi connection
  • Android or IOS phone

MAKE SURE YOUR USB CABLE IS A DATA CABLE. MANY USB CABLES ARE POWER ONLY CABLES AND WILL NOT WORK FOR PROGRAMMING OR MONITORING!!!​

Guide​

Step 1: Ready the device​

  • Open a command window

    • Type cmd in the search bar and press Enter

  • Install the ESP bootloader utility

    pip install esptool

  • Connect your ESP32 or ESP32-S3

    • You may have multiple connection ports on the device; the correct one is likely labeled USB

  • Find the port where the board is connected

    • List all connections before and after plugging in the device 
      mode
      • Look for something like COM*
    • You will likely need to install a driver to allow the board to communicate with your computer
      • Instructions are here

Step 2: Flash firmware​

  • Download your firmware binary YOUR_FIRMWARE.bin

    • For security reasons, every binary is unique to a credential

  • Change your working directory to the location of the firmware binary YOUR_FIRMWARE.bin

  • Clear the board of any previous software if necessary

    esptool.py --chip esp32* --port COM* erase_flash
    • You may need to drop .py and just use esptool
    • esp32* is esp32 or esp32s3, depending on your board

  • Flash the firmware

    esptool.py --chip esp32* --port COM* --baud 115200 write_flash --flash_mode dio 0x0 YOUR_FIRMWARE.bin

  • To monitor the device, install and run PuTTY

    • Under Session select the Serial radio button
    • Enter your device port COM* under Serial line
    • Set Speed to the baud rate 115200
    • Click Open

Step 3: Connect to WiFi [ESP32 boards only support the 2.4GHz band]​

  • Download an ESP WiFi config app from your app store

  • Connect your phone to your WiFi access point

  • Open the app and share the password with the device

Step 4: Set it and forget it​

  • Monitor the device over PuTTY for as long as you like

  • Disconnect and plug the device to a 5V power source

    • Any USB adapter should work
    • Average current draw will be about 20mA, spiking to about 0.5A when connecting to WiFi, i.e., the power consumption is about 0.1W