Futurebit MOONLANDER 2 SCRYPT User manual

FUTUREBIT
MOONLANDER 2 SCRYPT
USB Stick Miner
Last updated: 31/10/2018
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MOONLANDER 2 USB Stick Miner User Guide

Contents
1. The First Glance . ....................................................................................... 3
2. Accessories & Connection . ....................................................................... 3
3. Setup (Wndows/Mac OS) . . . . . ............................................................... 4
4. Setup (Linux) . . . ..................................................................................... 6
5. Basic Troubleshooting . . . . . ..................................................................... 7
6. VCore VMemory and Frequency . . . . ........................................................ 9
7. Acknowledgements . . . ....................................................................... 10
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MOONLANDER 2 USB Stick Miner User Guide

1. The First Glance
Manufactured in the USA by Futurebit. The fastest Scrypt USB stickmin-
er available. The Moonlander 2 is over 4x the speed and over 5x the ef-
ficiency of the original Moonlander 1. With its own integrated cooling so-
lution, it includes a 25mm fan so need to come up with clumsy external
fan solutions to keep these cool. You can easily run this baby at 4mh
with only 5W (1 amp) on a powered USB hub.
2.Accessories &Connection
2.1 Accessories
You will need a powered USB hub that is capable of supplying at least 1.0
- 2.0 amps per port.
2.2 Connection
a) Connect your USB hub to your host computer. Make sure the power
adapter is plugged in as well.
b) Insert the MOONLANDER 2 Stick Miner into the USB hub via the
USB port. Please note:
Connection order must be “a)” first, and then “b)”. Order cannot be
reversed.
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MOONLANDER 2 USB Stick Miner User Guide

3. Setup (Windows/Mac OS)
Download bfgminer and Silicon Labs VPC drivers from the links below:
Modified bfgminer from here:
https://github.com/jstefanop/bfgminer/releases/tag/bfgminer-5.4.2-futurebit2-beta2
Silicon Labs (CP210x) VPC drivers:
https://www.silabs.com/products/development-tools/software/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers
1> Extract CP210x Universal driver to your chosen directory.
2>Install CP210xVCPInstaller.exe (x64 or x86 depending on your Windows
system architecture.
3> After successful install, you will see this screen:
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4> Extract Bfgminer zip to your chosen directory.
Located the Start_Moonlander2.bat file
5> Just edit that same file with a text editor to change pools, username, add
bfgminer options,and change frequency. You can also use the -c flag
and load it with your own config file.
6> Run bfgminer using the following commands below:
bfgminer.exe --scrypt
-o stratum+tcp://us.litecoinpool.org:3333
-u (your username here) -p (your password here),
d=128 -S MLD:all --set MLD:clock=600
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MOONLANDER 2 USB Stick Miner User Guide
6> If everything is setup and running correctly you should see something
similar to this:
If you are new to mining, the most important stats on this screen are what is in
between the dashed lines. These are your per device statistics, so if we follow
along from left to right for MLD 0, the first number (3.27 mh/s) is your 2 minute
average hashrate, second number is your overall average hashrate since miner
start (3.30 mh/s), and the last number (3.19) is the pool hashrate based on your
submitted shares. A:25 shows your number of shares accepted by the pool, R:
0 shows number of shares rejected (usually due to a stale share), and last
number HW:0 shows the number of hardware errors reported by the ASIC. This
is probably the most important value and will be explained in more detail in the
tuning section below.
Keep in mind that the first two numbers is the actual hashrate the device is
hashing at (it uses the low level nonce counters to keep track of hashrate and
is very accurate), so this number will always be higher than your pool hashrate,
because it does not take account of inefficiencies of lost shares due to stale
network shares or hardware errors. So your pool hashrate is your net effective
rate the device is hashing at.

4. Setup (Linux/Raspberry Pi)
1> Install neccesary library files using the following code:
sudo apt install libjansson-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev
mkdir miner
cd miner
2> Now you are in the new folder with the name “miner”. Download the
precompiled (ready to run) bfgminer from jstefanop:
wget https://github.com/jstefanop/bfgminer/releases/download/bfgminer-5.4.2-futurebit2/
bfgminer_5.4.2-futurebit2_linux_armv6.tar.gz
3> Unpack the tar.gz file:
tar xzfv bfgminer_5.4.2-futurebit2_linux_armv6.tar.gz
4> Now lets go into the new unpacked folder:
cd bfgminer_5.4.2-futurebit2_linux_armv6
5> Then edit the existing start script by using the editor of your choice.
6> Now you are ready to run bfgminer and start mining: ./
start_moonlander2.sh
Now bfgminer will start!
If you dont want to edit existing config you can as well try this:
echo ./bfgminer --scrypt -o stratum+tcp:// us.litecoinpool.org:3333 -u jstefanop.1-p
1,d=128-SALL --set MLD:clock=600 >startmoonlander.sh
in this line you change the pool - the username - the password option.
this will create a new file called “startmoonlander.sh” with your options -
which can be modified later.
This file cant be used right now because it is not executable. So lets
change that:
chmod +x startmoonlander.sh
and now you can try your new startup script:
./startmoonlander.sh
Code:
chmod +x startmoonlander.sh
and now you can try your new startup script!
Code:
./startmoonlander.sh
here is the complete bfgminer including ashort startup script from jstefanop.
now you can either edit the existing start script by using editor of your choice -iam using
nano.
Code:
nano start_moonlander2.sh
and change the pool, the username (after -u) the password (after -p) and save the file again
Code:
CTRL +o
or
Code:
STRG +o
depending on keyboard layout.
now thats its saved -quit the editor.
Code:
CTRL +X
or
Code:
STRG +x
you are ready to do atest run!
Code:
./start_moonlander2.sh
now bfgminer will start (hopefully).
if you dont want to edit existing config you can as well try this:
Code:
echo ./bfgminer --scrypt -o stratum+tcp://us.litecoinpool.org:3333 -u jstefanop.1 -p 1,d=128 -S
ALL --set MLD:clock=600 >startmoonlander.sh
in this line you change the pool -the username -the password option.
this will create anew file called “startmoonlander.sh” with your options -which can be
modified later.
this file cant be used right now cause it is not executable. lets change that!
Code:
chmod +x startmoonlander.sh
and now you can try your new startup script!
Code:
./startmoonlander.sh
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MOONLANDER 2 USB Stick Miner User Guide

5. Basic Troubleshooting (Q&A)
Q:My moonlander does not start up,or stops hashing after a while
While its normal for the ASIC to stop working randomly after extended periods of time, you
should have no issues running them for days. If you see that you have to restart them ever few
hours or sooner, or it does not start hashing at all on startup its most likely because of two main
reasons:
1) Your hub/USB port is not providing enough power for the given frequency/voltage. Try lower-
ing your frequency and core voltage so less power is drawn, or use aport/hub that can provide
at least 2A of continues current.
2) You have set your memory voltage too low. While lowering memory voltage can reduce pow-
er draw, it also can increase instability in the device which will cause it to need to be restarted
often. Trying increasing memory voltage to .9v for best reliability.
Q:Whydoes my X hub not work with my Moonlanders?
Most USB 2.0 and alot of 3.0 powered USB hubs will NOT work with these sticks. Powered
USB hubs need to meet two requirements to reliably support the high current these sticks draw.
First they need to have aclean high quality power supply that can output at least 1A PER port.
To run the sticks at full speed you need at least 2A per port. Second they need to comply with
USB standards which ALOT of cheap HUBs don’t...which causes alot of EMI issues and
disconnects. Unfortunately its trial and error to figure this out. From my testing the Superbpag 7
port hubs seems to be the best for this type of application and provides lots of power per port
and works under all three OSes. Eyeboot also makes great hubs for these.
Q:Bfgminer detects my moonlander but nothing happens when it connects to my pool
Don’t forget that even though this is avery powerful scrypt miner for its size, its still “slow” when
compared to other ASICS which most pools are optimized for these days. Some pools have a
scrypt difficulty default of 4k or higher, in which case it could take up to an hour for your moon-
lander to find and submit ashare. Even if you don’t see ashare submission, you’ll know your
stick is hashing correctly right away because the ASIC diff on device is set really low, so you
should be able to see ~2red LED flashes asecond. If you want afaster pool submission rate
(again slow shares DOES NOT effect profitability, since each share is just worth more), set your
diff to 1k or lower, contact your pool operator for what diffs they have set for each port.
OS it will be cu.SLAB_USBtoUARTx.
Q:How can I set frequency to a particular stick in a mutistick setup under
bfgminer?
If you want to specify frequencies for each individual miners you can point which frequency gets
set to which miner by changing the global --set MLD:clock=144
to --set MLD@/dev/ttyUSB0:clock=600 (note Ihaven’t really tested if you can keep the global
option and lets say just set one stick to adifferent frequency...if you do it this way you might
have to specify frequencies for each miner port individually even if some of them are the same,
since the global option might override individual frequencies).
So if you have two sticks and want two different frequencies your options might look like this:
Code:
./bfgminer --scrypt -o stratum+tcp://us.litecoinpool.org:3333 -u jstefanop.1 -p 1,d=256 -S MLD:/
dev/ttyUSB0 -S MLD:/dev/ttyUSB1 --set MLD@/dev/ttyUSB0:clock=600 --set MLD@/dev/
ttyUSB1:clock=648
Q:My Moonlander 2 is not working with Mac OS 10.13
New security features in Mac OS 10.13 prevent the sililabs UART driver from loading. Until they
provide afix, please use the following workaround:
The workaround is to disable the SIP, installed the driver then enable the SIP.
-Shut down the Mac, start with Cmd-R depressed to boot to the Recovery Partition that will
display the System Utilities.
-Open the Terminal and issue the command csrutil status and you will see SIP is enabled. To
disable the SIP issue the command csrutil disable and then restart the Mac.
-You can then download and install the latest driver from Silicon Labs, you have the new USB
to UART driver installed, and should work with the moonlander now
-Shut down and boot to the System Utilities and issue the command csrutil enable and restart.
-The csrutil disable and csrtil enable can only be issued from the Terminal while booted to
Recovery Partition. Yes, this is aPITA but it works.
Bfgminer by default operates with strict coinbase checks, which most
mutlipools don’t adhere too, to disable this check simply add #skipcbcheck
at the end of the pool URL like so:
stratum+tcp://prohashing.com:3333/#skipcbcheck
Q: Im using windows and nothing happens when i click the
start_moonlander.bat file
Your anti-virus software most likely deleted bfgminer.exe when you
extracted it. Make sure you setup a rule so it does not do this.
Q: What frequencies can I set my moonlander?
The moonlander 2 has a list of hard coded frequencies to ensure maximum
performance for a given frequency. Below is a list of valid frequencies you
can use currently:
Quote
384, 450, 480, 540, 576, 600, 612, 625, 636, 648, 660, 672, 684, 700, 720, 744,
756, 768, 796, 832, 852, 876, 900, 924, 954
You can change the frequency by editing the Start_Moonlander.bat under
windows or .sh file under Mac and editing the number after “--set
MLD:clock=”
Q: How can I run different sticks to different pools/coins?
If you want to mine one stick to one pool/coin and another stick to a different
pool/coin you will have to setup two separate bfgminer instances. You do
this by having separate startup scripts (the start_moonlander.bat/.sh file). In
each one specific the different pool, then modify the -S all options to point
to different sticks. For example if you have to sticks at COM0 and COM1,
change “-S all” to “-S \\.\COM0” in one file, and “-S \\.\COM1” in the second.
If you have more sticks, just keep adding “-S \\.\COMx” to specify the
number to sticks you want the specific bfgminer instance/pool to run. This
formate is for windows, for linux it will be /dev/ttyUSBx and Mac OS it will be
cu.SLAB_USBtoUARTx.
Q: How can I set frequency to a particular stick in a mutistick setup under
bfgminer?
If you want to specify frequencies for each individual miners you can point
which frequency gets set to which miner by changing the global --set
MLD:clock=144
to --set MLD@/dev/ttyUSB0:clock=600 (note I haven’t really tested if you can
keep the global option and lets say just set one stick to a different
frequency...if you do it this way you might have to specify frequencies for
each miner port individually even if some of them are the same, since the
global option might override individual frequencies).
So if you have two sticks and want two different frequencies your options
might look like this:
Code:
./bfgminer --scrypt -o stratum+tcp://us.litecoinpool.org:3333 -u jstefanop.1 -p
1,d=256 -S MLD:/dev/ttyUSB0 -S MLD:/dev/ttyUSB1 --set MLD@/dev/
ttyUSB0:clock=600 --set MLD@/dev/ttyUSB1:clock=648
Q: My Moonlander 2 is not working with Mac OS 10.13
New security features in Mac OS 10.13 prevent the sililabs UART driver from
loading. Until they provide a fix, please use the following workaround:
The workaround is to disable the SIP, installed the driver then enable the
SIP.
-Shut down the Mac, start with Cmd-R depressed to boot to the Recovery
Partition that will display the System Utilities.
-Open the Terminal and issue the command csrutil status and you will see
SIP is enabled. To disable the SIP issue the command csrutil disable and
then restart the Mac.
-You can then download and install the latest driver from Silicon Labs, you
have the new USB to UART driver installed, and should work with the
moonlander now
-Shut down and boot to the System Utilities and issue the command csrutil
enable and restart.
-The csrutil disable and csrtil enable can only be issued from the Terminal
while booted to Recovery Partition. Yes, this is a PITA but it works.
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MOONLANDER 2 USB Stick Miner User Guide

Q:When I connect to mypool bfgminer disables it with the following error:
Pool 0 misbehaving (coinbase check), disabling!
Bfgminer by default operates with strict coinbase checks, which most mutlipools don’t adhere too, to dis-
able this check simply add #skipcbcheck at the end of the pool URL like so: stratum+tcp://prohashing.com:
3333/#skipcbcheck
Q:I am using windows and nothing happens when i click the start_moonlander.bat file
Your anti-virus software most likely deleted bfgminer.exe when you extracted it. Make sure you setup a rule
so it does not do this.
Q:What frequencies can Iset mymoonlander?
The moonlander 2 has a list of hard coded frequencies to ensure maximum performance for a given
frequency. Below is a list of valid frequencies you can use currently:
384, 450, 480, 540, 576, 600, 612, 625, 636, 648, 660, 672, 684, 700, 720, 744, 756, 768, 796, 832, 852,
876, 900, 924, 954
You can change the frequency by editing the Start_Moonlander.bat under windows or .sh file under Mac
and editing the number after “--set MLD:clock=”
Q:My Moonlander2 is not working with Mac OS 10.13
New security features in Mac OS 10.13 prevent the sililabs UART driver from loading. Until they provide a fix,
please use the following workaround:
The workaround is to disable the SIP, installed the driver then enable the SIP.
-Shut down the Mac, start with Cmd-R depressed to boot to the Recovery Partition that will display the
System Utilities.
-Open the Terminal and issue the command csrutil status and you will see SIP is enabled. To disable the SIP
issue the command csrutil disable and then restart the Mac.
-You can then download and install the latest driver from Silicon Labs, you have the new USB to
UART driver installed, and should work with the moonlander now
-Shut down and boot to the System Utilities and issue the command csrutil enable and restart.
-The csrutil disable and csrtil enable can only be issued from the Terminal while booted to
Recovery Partition. Yes, this is a PITA but it works
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MOONLANDER 2 USB Stick Miner User Guide

6. Voltage and Frequency Adjustments(overclocking)
Even with a fan built in, you can still overheat your Moonlander at higher
frequencies. I do not recommend running these past 800mhz unless you can
closely monitor temps (if you have a IR temp gun check the top ASIC heatsink,
it should not be any hotter than 80C).
Below is a visual of the board for reference:
There are two pots that control the two main voltages feeding the ASIC. Top
pot controls the memory voltage (when looking at the board with USB port fac-
ing left), and bottom controls core voltage. You adjust the voltage by turning
the Pot clockwise or counterclockwise with a fine flat head or philips screw-
driver. The pots are VERY sensitive, the whole voltage range is within HALF a
turn in either direction from the stock position. You must do micro adjustments
if you want to do very fine tuning. For example going from .75 - .8 v might take
as little as a little torque pressure on the screwdriver even if you don’t feel it
actually twist.
Make sure you have place the stick horizontal and the USB end is facing LEFT
(ie you can read FutureBit Moonlander normally on the board).
To turn the voltage UP turn the pot CLOCKWISE, to turn it DOWN, COUN-
TERCLOCKWISE.
DO NOT turn the pots more than 180 degrees in either direction, they have no
stops and if you go past their lowest or highest setting you could damage them
To check the voltage use a multimeter and contact the ground wire to either of
the two ground terminals (circled and labeled ground in the picture), and the
positive wire to the outputs of the two inductors (circled and labeled VCORE,
and VMEMORY). Be extra careful not to short anything as a single short any-
where on the board while its powered will most likely fry it. If you don’t have a
multimeter, you can wing voltages by following the diagrams below for Pot po-
sitions. Use the flat edge of the pot screw as the pointing direction (DO NOT
OVERVOLT at the high end if you don’t have a multimeter to double check
what the voltage is).
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The sticks are shipped to you guys with the stock voltage settings of the pots
(which is the flat end of the Pot pointing down). The Core voltage is at around
.75v, which is good for up to around 800mhz stable, and ranges from ~.6 ->
~.95v . The memory voltage is set to ~.85v, and ranges from ~.625 -> ~1.05v
(more on memory voltage in tuning section below).
DO NOT go past .9v on the core voltage, you will most likely damage the
ASIC if you run at high voltages and high clocks for prolonged periods of
time.
Tuning
Tuning any switching transistor based processing unit revolves around supply-
ing enough current so the transistors on the chips actually switch on and off
correctly within their cycle times. The main voltage that will effect performance
and the tuning outlined below is the Core Voltage.
The higher the frequency or “switching time” the less time a transistor has to
“charge” so you need more current (ie turn up the voltage). If these require-
ments are not met the transistors don’t function properly and you have what
you know as a “Hardware Error”
Memory Voltage
I included a Pot for memory voltage mostly for efficiency gains by undervolting
memory. Adjusting memory voltage should be a one time thing, you set it at
the lowest setting it will start hashing. There is no benefit in increase memory
voltage at higher clocks, as this wont increase your hash rate or bring down
hardware errors (this is entirely dependent on core voltage). Either your device
will work at a certain memory voltage or it wont, so the goal is to bring the
voltage down to the lowest possible setting that the stick will still hash at.
The stock value for memory is supposed to be .9v, but my tests showed all
ASICs operate fine at .85v which is what they ship at. Most ASICs will work
fine down to ~.76 v.

8. Acknowledgements
This setup guide could not have been put together without the help and
contribution of many people. Big thanks to the following people on
bitcointalk.org forum:
jstefanop
Astrali
klintay
Following bitcointalk.org threads;
Moonlander 2 Stickminer Official Support Thread
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2420357
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