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Home Mining Guides

Everything you need to set up a quiet, apartment‑friendly miner: from picking a device to networking, pool setup, electricity cost, noise/heat control, and troubleshooting.

Start Here (Beginner Path)

Step 1 — Choose your algorithm & device

SHA‑256 (BTC/BCH): Quiet “mini‑heater” style like Avalon Nano 3S or low‑power learning with Bitaxe Gamma. Browse all SHA‑256 reviews.
Scrypt (LTC + DOGE, merged): Apartment‑friendly Goldshell Mini‑DOGE II; see Scrypt reviews.
Etchash/Ethash (ETC): Quiet Jasminer X16‑Q or entry‑level iPollo V1 Mini Classic; see Etchash reviews.
ZK (Aleo): Goldshell AE Box II; see ZK miners.

Not sure? Start with our Reviews hub and pick a quiet device for your space.

Step 2 — Prepare your space

A hard, open surface; rear exhaust unobstructed.
Power outlet capacity (see Power & Cost below).
Network plan: Ethernet preferred; Wi‑Fi bridge if cabling is hard.

Step 3 — Configure & verify

Set pool URL, wallet, and worker; let the miner warm up 5–10 min.
Check Rejected/Stale < 2–3% and confirm temps/fan RPM.

Setup Basics (Universal Checklist)

Unbox & inspect: verify contents (miner, PSU if included, cables).
Placement: keep intake/front clear; short, straight exhaust path.
Power on: use a surge‑protected outlet; avoid overloaded strips.
Find IP: check router clients list; open miner’s web UI.
Update basics: set admin password, timezone, and pool page bookmark.
Switch modes (if available): e.g., Performance / Balance / Efficiency — see the device’s review page for examples.

Helpful links:
AVL Nano 3S · BMM‑101 · Mini‑DOGE II · X16‑Q

Networking: Wi‑Fi vs Ethernet

Ethernet (RJ45) = most stable, lowest latency → fewer stale shares.
Wi‑Fi is fine for light‑duty devices if signal is strong; otherwise use a Wi‑Fi→Ethernet bridge.
Place the router/AP away from dense walls or metal shelves; keep the miner’s antenna (if present) unobstructed.

Learn more (external, params‑free):
Mining pool · Ethernet

Pools & Wallets

SHA‑256 (BTC) example

Pool URL format: stratum+tcp://pool.example.com:3333
Username: your BTC address or pool account; Password: x (unless specified).
Solo/minipool option for hobbyists: CKPool (external).

Scrypt (LTC + DOGE)

Pooled mining recommended for steady payouts. Reputable options include litecoinpool and Prohashing — see each review for exact strings.

Etchash (ETC)

Examples on 2Miners or Flexpool (external).
Some pools offer ETC + ZIL cycles; follow the pool’s guide.

Always check pool fees, minimum payout, and regional servers.

Noise & Heat (Quick Wins)

Noise (dB): Under ~40 dB ≈ quiet office; 70+ dB = loud/server‑like. See decibel.
Tone matters: “whoosh” (broadband) is easier than “whine” (high‑pitch). Hard surfaces reduce resonance.
Heat (BTU/h): 1 W ≈ 3.412 BTU/h. Example: 140 W ≈ 478 BTU/h (pleasant warmth).
Placement tips: avoid cabinets; keep exhaust clear; don’t choke airflow with foam boxes.

Typical home‑class profiles (mobile‑friendly)

Class	Example device	Noise • Heat (est.)
Ultra‑low power	Bitaxe Gamma	~20–35 W • whisper‑quiet
Quiet mini‑heater	Avalon Nano 3S	~33–40 dB • ~478 BTU/h
Quiet ETC	Jasminer X16‑Q	~40 dB • ~2,115 BTU/h
Scrypt apartment	Mini‑DOGE II	≤35 dB • 887–1,365 BTU/h

Power & Cost

- kWh/day = (Watts ÷ 1000) × 24
  Example: 140 W → 3.36 kWh/day; 620 W → 14.88 kWh/day. See kilowatt‑hour.

- Monthly estimate ≈ kWh/day × 30 × your €/kWh.

- In winter, some power becomes useful heat (slight heating offset).

Check each review’s Power & Cost section:
Avalon Nano 3S · X16‑Q · Mini‑DOGE II

Safety & Placement

Use quality PSUs and grounded outlets.
Don’t daisy‑chain high‑draw devices on a single strip.
Keep devices dust‑free; clean intake grills periodically.
If unsure about circuit limits (especially >1 kW miners), consult an electrician.

Troubleshooting

High stales/invalids: switch to a closer server, prefer Ethernet, shorten cable runs.
Overheating/thermal throttling: clear exhaust, lower ambient temp, ensure fan curves are default.
Low hashrate: wait full warm‑up, check pool stats vs device dashboard, verify power mode.
No web UI: find IP via router, try another browser, or factory‑reset per device manual.
Noisy resonance: place the miner on a solid surface, avoid hollow furniture.

Glossary

Hashrate (TH/s • GH/s • MH/s): how many hashes per second a miner computes.
Efficiency (J/TH • J/MH): lower is better; less energy per unit of work.
Stratum: the common protocol miners use to talk to pools; see Mining pool.
Merged mining: mine two coins at once on compatible algorithms (e.g., LTC + DOGE for Scrypt).
BTU/h: heat output; 1 W ≈ 3.412 BTU/h.