Avalon A851 software questions

Hey, I found some Avalon A851s for 50 bucks each. Is that a decent price? I know I need to grab a Raspberry Pi, auc3 converter, and some cables. But my main thing is about the software. I saw there's Avalon 8 out there and I'm curious how low the frequency can be set on these miners to save on power, or if I can run just one board instead of all of them. Can you actually turn it down that low? Does the software support that? What's the best software to use? Also, if I have two miners connected to one Pi, can I configure each to mine on different pools? Is there any software that lets you plug the auc3 straight into a motherboard, so I can skip using the Pi and converter? Lastly, do you think I should just stick with the S9s? I’ve heard good things about the A851s, but there's not much info out there. I'm planning to use these for solo mining SHA256 coins, and right now I'm running 2 S9s at 3.5 TH at 270 watts.

The old Avalons are very friendly to tweaking. For a start, refer to HaggsFIN setup/repair guide for them located here. Somewhere around there should also be the testing parameters I played around with for the 841's. The commands for all of the Avalon 8xx are the same. I'll try to find those posts for links. As for running on just 1 side, just connect the power to the 1 side of the miner and it will be happy. The controller sets the pool you use and all miners connected to a controller will use that pool. The controller cannot run miners on different pools at the same time. Technically, yes you *can* download and compile Canaans software to run on a PC BUT it is a royal PITA to do so. Far far easier to use Canaan's pre-built software loaded onto a Raspi 3B (not B+ which does not work).

The $50 is still a pretty good deal for this unit not profitable if you don't have a free power source but since your purpose is to solo mine then I think you can remove the other hashboard to reduce power and you can play with the ssh command or through API. If you are looking for commands for this unit you can find it here below - https://github.com/Canaan-Creative/avalon8-docs/wiki/AvalonMiner-8-development About running the miner without tools I can't seem to find someone successful running it without raspi and au3. Check the guide here if you need a guide https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5044027.0

Thank you so much for the help. The 851 is on its way. I am going to be using it in the shop to keep it above freezing temp this winter to. I already had a 3b+ good to know it won't work and get frustrated. The auc 3 converter runs around 30$ from US does that sound right? There are many on ebay from china but I get tired of expecting it to be here in 2 weeks and it takes 3 months or never shows. Any way again thank you for the help on my endeavor.

So all the links I have found so far to download the firmware is either dead or reverts back to the cannan site where its not listed. Is there an alternate place to download the firmware and software.?........ I think I found it to whoever this may help in the future. This looks like its for all the downloads. If someone knows where to pin this for someone else that would be great. Nothing came up for a search for me on the forum. https://download.canaan-creative.com/

Why not try to find someone near you who has raspi 3 and swap it with your 3b+? You can maybe find someone in your area(I'm just suggesting if you don't want to spend). $30 for AUC3 is pretty expensive Zeusbtc is selling this for around $6 but the problem is minimum order must be 10. However, you can try to contact them maybe they will give an exemption. Here's the link https://www.zeusbtc.com/ASIC-Miner-Repair/Parts-Tools-Details.asp?ID=303 No, you don't need to pin it because it's already on the Canaan support page under the firmware page.

For a direct PC-miner connection you need a crossover cable. If you connect through a switch or router then cable does not matter as the switch will handle which lines are for Tx and which are Rx.

The Raspberry pi or any somewhat recent laptop will auto sense the ethernet RX and TX lines, so it does not matter if you use a crossover cable or not (Auto-MDIX). The problem with a direct connection is more likely; who is assigning IP addresses? Look for some "internet sharing" type option on your laptop.

Sorry about that I accidently deleted my pre post while editing.  The straight through cable does work well. I was using the wrong card option on the laptop. switched pi dhcp and its good there. Only problem I have now is there is no cgminer tabs. Only the openwrt I have used the latest download from canaan only mistake i think i could have made was setting up the pi so i can ssh and then hooking it up to the miner. Kinda weird it's not there though. Additionally, there is not an avalon gui that pops up I had just assumed the latest firmware did not have it. I guess I have to load the mm into it trying to figure out how. UPDATE-- Got it I reloaded the sd card and booted it with it hooked up to the miner, I have the avalon gui now. Hashing now. Still hashing but it  flipped over to opnwrt gui. I will ll work on it.

As I recall In the lower-left corner of the GUI there is some text you click on to toggle back to the Avalon GUI.