How do I setup a Bitaxe miner?

Setting up a Bitaxe involves connecting to WiFi, accessing the web interface, configuring your mining pool details, and starting the miner. Our complete Bitaxe setup guide walks you through each step with screenshots.

What is the best pool for solo mining?

The best solo mining pool depends on your hashrate and strategy. MineSolo Pools offers three options: Solo Lotto (0.5% fee), Capped 100 (1.0% fee), and Capped 10 (1.5% fee for small miners like Bitaxe). See our pool configuration guide for setup instructions.

Can I overclock my Bitaxe safely?

Yes, Bitaxe miners can be safely overclocked with proper cooling and monitoring. Our overclocking guide explains how to increase voltage and frequency while monitoring temperature and stability.

Is solo mining profitable?

Solo mining is generally not profitable in the traditional sense - it's more like a lottery. With small hashrates like a Bitaxe, your odds of finding a block are extremely low. However, if you do find a block, you receive the full reward. See our "Solo Mining Explained" guide for detailed odds calculations.

What are MineSolo Pools?

MineSolo Pools are Bitcoin solo mining pools with the industry's lowest fees (0.5%-1.5%). We offer three pool strategies: pure solo, capped pools for fairness, and a Bitaxe-specific pool. All pools feature anonymous mining and real-time statistics.

Solo Bitcoin Mining Guides & Tutorials - Free Learning Hub

📶 WiFi Connection Problems

The most common issue new users face. Here's how to diagnose and fix WiFi problems.

❌ Can't See Bitaxe_XXXX WiFi Network

Symptoms:

• Bitaxe is powered on but WiFi network doesn't appear
• Display shows "Bitaxe_XXXX" but phone can't find it

Solutions:

Checklist

0/7 completed

Wait 60 seconds after power on - WiFi takes time to initializeMake sure your phone/laptop WiFi is turned ONReset WiFi by holding BOOT button for 5+ secondsCheck the display for the exact network name (case sensitive)Move closer to the Bitaxe - initial setup WiFi has short rangeTurn off mobile data on your phone (might interfere)Restart your phone WiFi if other networks are stuck

🔥

Factory Reset

If nothing works, try a full factory reset: Hold the BOOT button for 10+ seconds until the display flashes, then release.

❌ Can't Connect to Home WiFi Network

Symptoms:

• Bitaxe connects to its own WiFi but won't join home network
• "Connection Failed" error in AxeOS
• Display doesn't show an IP address

Solutions:

Checklist

0/8 completed

VERIFY: Your network is 2.4GHz (Bitaxe CANNOT use 5GHz)Check WiFi password - it's case sensitive and special characters matterDisable "Smart Connect" or "Band Steering" on your routerCreate a separate 2.4GHz-only SSID if your router combines bandsMove Bitaxe closer to router (under 20 feet for setup)Check if router has "IoT Protection" or "AI Protection" - disable itTry using a phone hotspot as a test (must be 2.4GHz)Reboot your router and try again

⚠️

Router Security Settings

Some routers block new IoT devices by default. Check for settings like "Access Control", "Device Isolation", or "Guest Network Protection" and make sure your Bitaxe is allowed.

How to Check if Your Network is 2.4GHz:

• On Windows: Settings → Network & Internet → WiFi → Click your network → Look for "Band"
• On Mac: Hold Option key → Click WiFi icon → Look for "Channel" (1-11 = 2.4GHz, 36+ = 5GHz)
• On Phone: WiFi Analyzer app from Play Store/App Store

❌ Randomly Disconnects from WiFi

Symptoms:

• Bitaxe connects initially but drops connection after minutes/hours
• Display alternates between IP address and "Bitaxe_XXXX"
• Hashrate drops to zero periodically

Solutions:

Checklist

0/8 completed

Assign a static/reserved IP address in your router settingsIncrease router DHCP lease time (12-24 hours minimum)Disable router "Power Saving" or "Eco Mode" for 2.4GHzUpdate router firmware to latest versionChange WiFi channel - try channels 1, 6, or 11Reduce distance between Bitaxe and routerUpdate Bitaxe firmware to latest versionCheck for interference from microwaves, baby monitors, or Bluetooth devices

🔥

Static IP Setup

Setting a reserved IP in your router prevents DHCP conflicts. Log into your router, find "DHCP Reservations" or "Static IP", enter your Bitaxe's MAC address, and assign it a fixed IP like 192.168.1.100.

🌊 Pool Connection Failures

Your Bitaxe is online but won't connect to the mining pool.

❌ "Connection Refused" or "Pool Not Responding"

Common Mistakes:

❌ Including stratum+tcp:// in host field

Wrong: stratum+tcp://solo.ckpool.org

Correct: solo.ckpool.org

❌ Wrong port number

Solo CK Pool uses port 3333, not 80 or 443

Public-Pool uses 21496 for Bitcoin

❌ Invalid Bitcoin address

Address must start with bc1, 3, or 1

Lightning addresses (lnbc...) won't work

Correct Configuration Examples:

Solo CK Pool - Bitcointext

Stratum Host: solo.ckpool.org
Stratum Port: 3333
User: bc1qxy2kgdygjrsqtzq2n0yrf2493p83kkfjhx0wlh.worker1
Password: x

Public-Pool - Bitcointext

Stratum Host: public-pool.io
Stratum Port: 21496
User: bc1qxy2kgdygjrsqtzq2n0yrf2493p83kkfjhx0wlh.bitaxe
Password: x

Checklist

0/8 completed

Verify stratum host has NO "stratum+tcp://" prefixDouble-check port number matches your poolConfirm Bitcoin address is valid (use blockchain explorer to verify)Make sure password is just "x" (lowercase)Try removing worker name temporarily (just use address)Test connection with curl or telnet if you know howCheck if pool is online (visit pool website)Try alternate pool as backup test

⚡ No Hashrate Showing

Bitaxe appears to be working but hashrate stays at 0.00 TH/s.

Diagnosis Steps:

Checklist

0/8 completed

Wait 2-3 minutes after saving settings - initialization takes timeCheck AxeOS logs for errors (Settings → Logs tab)Verify fan is spinning (should hear it running)Check temperature is normal (50-70°C)Confirm pool configuration is saved correctlyTry restarting the device (Settings → Restart)Re-flash firmware if issue persistsCheck for physical damage or loose connections

🚨

Hardware Issues

If hashrate is still zero after trying everything, you may have a defective ASIC chip. Contact your seller for warranty support. Signs of hardware failure include: fan spinning but no heat generation, display working but no mining activity, or physical damage to the board.

🔥 Overheating Issues

Temperature readings above 75°C or thermal throttling warnings.

Normal vs Dangerous Temperatures:

Normal Range

50-70°C

Optimal performance

Warning Zone

70-85°C

Improve cooling

Danger Zone

85°C+

Will throttle/damage

Cooling Solutions:

Checklist

0/9 completed

Ensure 2-3 inches of clearance on all sides for airflowClean dust from heatsink and fan (use compressed air)Verify fan is spinning at full speedPlace in cooler room or near AC ventAdd external fan for additional airflowApply new thermal paste to ASIC chipLower frequency/voltage if overclockedUpgrade to larger heatsink if possibleRun during cooler hours (night) if needed

⚠️

Don't Overclock Without Cooling

If you're running stock settings and still overheating, DO NOT overclock. Fix your cooling first, then consider performance tuning.

📉 Lower Than Expected Hashrate

Your Bitaxe is hashing, but not at the advertised speed.

Expected Hashrates (Stock Settings):

Bitaxe Gamma (BM1366)1.1 - 1.2 TH/s

Bitaxe Supra (BM1368)550 - 650 GH/s

Bitaxe Ultra (BM1366)500 - 600 GH/s

Causes of Low Hashrate:

Checklist

0/8 completed

Thermal throttling due to high temperature (check temps)Insufficient power supply (need 6A for Gamma, 12V 3A for Supra)Voltage set too low in AxeOS settingsFrequency set too low (should be 490-525 MHz for Gamma)Unstable WiFi connection causing mining interruptionsPool having issues (check pool status)Old/buggy firmware (update to latest)Defective ASIC chip (rare but possible)

🔥

Quick Performance Check

In AxeOS, go to Settings and verify: Voltage = 1200mV, Frequency = 500-525 MHz for Gamma. If these are lower, your hashrate will suffer.

📱 Display Not Working

Screen is blank, garbled, or showing incorrect information.

Checklist

0/7 completed

Check if ribbon cable is properly seated in connectorVerify display orientation is correct (should face outward)Try reseating the display cable (power off first!)Update firmware - display drivers sometimes improveCheck for physical damage to display or ribbon cableTest without display - mining works even if screen is brokenContact seller for replacement if under warranty

💡

Display is Optional

Your Bitaxe will mine perfectly fine without a working display. You can monitor everything through the web interface at your Bitaxe's IP address. The display is just a nice-to-have feature.

🔄 Firmware Update Problems

Issues when trying to update AxeOS firmware.

Safe Firmware Update Process:

Checklist

0/7 completed

Download correct firmware file for your model (Gamma, Supra, Ultra)Verify file is NOT corrupted (check file size)Do NOT interrupt update or power off during flashWait 5+ minutes after upload completesDevice will restart automatically when doneIf stuck, perform manual restart via AxeOSIf bricked, use ESP32 flash tool to recover

🚨

Bricked Device Recovery

If your Bitaxe won't boot after a failed update, you'll need to manually flash firmware using ESP32 Flash Download Tool. This requires USB-C cable and ESP32 flash tool software. Check the Bitaxe GitHub for recovery instructions.

Where to Get Firmware:

Official AxeOS Releases:

github.com/skot/ESP-Miner/releases

🔬 Advanced Diagnostics

For users comfortable with technical tools and command-line debugging.

Diagnostic Tools:

1. Check AxeOS Logs

Navigate to Settings → Logs in AxeOS web interface

Look for errors like:
- "Failed to connect to pool"
- "Invalid nonce"
- "Temperature limit reached"
- "ASIC communication error"

2. Test Pool Connection via Telnet

telnet solo.ckpool.org 3333

If connection succeeds, pool is online. If it fails, pool might be down or firewall is blocking.

3. Ping Test to Router

ping 192.168.1.1

Tests if your network is stable. Packet loss above 5% indicates WiFi problems.

4. Check DHCP Leases in Router

Log into your router and check DHCP client list. Find your Bitaxe's MAC address and ensure it has an IP assigned.

📑 Table of Contents

🔧 Troubleshooting Common Issues

📶 WiFi Connection Problems

❌ Can't See Bitaxe_XXXX WiFi Network

Symptoms:

Solutions:

Checklist

❌ Can't Connect to Home WiFi Network

Symptoms:

Solutions:

Checklist

How to Check if Your Network is 2.4GHz:

❌ Randomly Disconnects from WiFi

Symptoms:

Solutions:

Checklist

🌊 Pool Connection Failures

❌ "Connection Refused" or "Pool Not Responding"

Common Mistakes:

Correct Configuration Examples:

Checklist

⚡ No Hashrate Showing

Diagnosis Steps:

Checklist

🔥 Overheating Issues

Normal vs Dangerous Temperatures:

Cooling Solutions:

Checklist

📉 Lower Than Expected Hashrate

Expected Hashrates (Stock Settings):

Causes of Low Hashrate:

Checklist

📱 Display Not Working

Checklist

🔄 Firmware Update Problems

Safe Firmware Update Process:

Checklist

Where to Get Firmware:

🔬 Advanced Diagnostics

Diagnostic Tools:

1. Check AxeOS Logs

2. Test Pool Connection via Telnet

3. Ping Test to Router

4. Check DHCP Leases in Router

Still Having Issues? 🆘

Join the Community

Contact Your Seller

Check GitHub Issues

📚 Related Guides

⚡ Bitaxe Setup Guide

🌊 Pool Configuration