Bitaxe Setup Guide: Complete Solo Mining Tutorial

What You'll Need

Before you begin setting up your Bitaxe, make sure you have:

• Your Bitaxe device - Gamma, Supra, Ultra, or other model
• The included 5V power supply - Always use the provided power supply
• A 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network - Bitaxe does not support 5GHz networks
• A Bitcoin wallet address - An on-chain address to receive any block rewards
• A phone, tablet, or computer - To access the device settings

Safety Guidelines

Please read these safety guidelines carefully before proceeding:

Power Supply Safety

• Always use the provided power supply. Third-party power supplies may damage the device or cause hazards.
• CRITICAL: Never use a 12V power supply on a 5V Bitaxe. This will destroy your device and poses a fire risk.
• Avoid overloading outlets by connecting multiple high-power devices to a single outlet.

Heat Management

• Place your Bitaxe in a well-ventilated area. Avoid enclosed spaces.
• ASIC chips operate at high temperatures (60-70°C / 140-158°F). This is normal.
• The device has thermal protection that activates if it overheats.

General Precautions

• Keep the device away from moisture and liquids.
• Handle the device carefully - avoid dropping or physical shock.
• Don't open the casing or modify internals - this voids the warranty.
• If you smell smoke or burning, unplug immediately and contact support.

Step 1: Initial Power-On

Connect your Bitaxe to the provided power supply. After powering on:

1. The screen should illuminate and display information
2. Press the RESET button once
3. The device will broadcast its own Wi-Fi signal (SSID)
4. The screen will display the SSID name (e.g., "Bitaxe_0469")

Troubleshooting: Screen Not Working

If your screen doesn't power on, the display connector may have come loose during shipping:

1. Unplug the power supply
2. Gently pull the right side of the screen to remove it
3. Bend the two outermost pins slightly outward
4. Reinsert the screen firmly
5. Reconnect power and check if the screen works

Step 2: Connect to the Bitaxe Wi-Fi

Your Bitaxe creates its own Wi-Fi hotspot for initial configuration:

1. On your phone or computer, open Wi-Fi settings
2. Look for a network named "Bitaxe_XXXX" (matching your device screen)
3. Connect to this network
4. Important: Do NOT select "Connect Automatically" - this can cause issues later

Step 3: Access the Setup Interface

Once connected to the Bitaxe Wi-Fi:

1. A setup window should automatically appear on your device
2. If it doesn't appear, open a web browser and go to: 192.168.4.1
3. You should see the AxeOS configuration interface

Step 4: Configure Your Home Wi-Fi

Now connect your Bitaxe to your home network:

1. In AxeOS, click the magnifying glass icon to scan for networks
2. Select your home Wi-Fi network from the list
3. Enter your Wi-Fi password exactly as it appears (case-sensitive)
4. Click Save to store the credentials
5. Click Restart to reboot the device

Wi-Fi Connection Tips

• Use 2.4GHz only - Bitaxe cannot connect to 5GHz networks
• Check for spaces before or after your Wi-Fi name
• Verify uppercase/lowercase letters are correct
• Ensure special characters and numbers are accurate
• If connection fails, you'll see "No AP Found" - double-check credentials

Step 5: Access AxeOS on Your Network

After the device restarts and connects to your home Wi-Fi:

1. The Bitaxe screen will display a new IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.XXX)
2. Make sure your phone/computer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network
3. Open a web browser and enter the IP address shown on the Bitaxe screen
4. You should see the full AxeOS dashboard

Step 6: Configure Mining Pool Settings

Now configure where your Bitaxe will mine:

1. In AxeOS, navigate to the Pool Settings tab
2. Enter the following settings for solo mining:

Recommended Pool: Public-Pool (Solo Mining)

Stratum Host	public-pool.io
Stratum Port	21496
Stratum User	Your Bitcoin wallet address
Fallback Stratum User	Your Bitcoin wallet address (same)

Alternative Pool: Solo CKPool

Stratum Host	solo.ckpool.org
Stratum Port	3333

3. Enter your on-chain Bitcoin wallet address in the "Stratum User" field
4. Enter the same address in "Fallback Stratum User"
5. Click Save and then Restart

Step 7: Verify Mining Operation

Your Bitaxe should now be mining! To verify:

1. Go to the Dashboard tab in AxeOS
2. Check that Hashrate is showing (should be ~1.2 TH/s for Gamma)
3. Verify Shares Accepted is incrementing
4. Monitor the Temperature (60-70°C is normal)

Understanding the Dashboard

• Hashrate: Your mining speed in TH/s (terahashes per second)
• Shares: Valid work units submitted to the pool
• Best Difficulty: The hardest share you've found (bragging rights!)
• Temperature: Chip temperature - stay under 80°C
• Uptime: How long since last restart

Optional: Worker Naming

You can add a worker name after your wallet address for identification:

bc1qyour...address.Bitaxe1

This helps you identify multiple devices if you run several Bitaxes. The ".Bitaxe1" suffix is just a label and doesn't affect mining.

Recommended Bitcoin Wallets

You need a wallet that provides on-chain Bitcoin addresses. Recommended options:

• Hardware Wallets: Ledger, Trezor, Coldcard (most secure)
• Mobile Wallets: BlueWallet, Muun, Exodus
• Desktop Wallets: Sparrow, Electrum
• Exchange Addresses: Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini (less ideal but works)

Monitoring Your Mining

To track your mining progress on Public-Pool:

1. Visit web.public-pool.io
2. Enter your Bitcoin wallet address
3. View your hashrate, shares, and estimated time to find a block

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Bitaxe Won't Connect to Wi-Fi

1. Verify you're using a 2.4GHz network (not 5GHz)
2. Double-check password capitalization and special characters
3. Make sure there are no spaces before/after the Wi-Fi name
4. Try moving the Bitaxe closer to your router
5. Disable "AI Protection" if using an ASUS router

Mining Won't Start

1. Verify pool settings are correct (host, port, wallet address)
2. Ensure you're using an on-chain Bitcoin address (not Lightning)
3. Check that your router isn't blocking the connection
4. Try an alternative pool to rule out pool issues

Fan Not Spinning

1. Unplug the device
2. Check the fan connector for damage
3. Reseat the fan connector firmly
4. Inspect fan wires for cuts or damage
5. Contact support if problem persists

Device Overheating

1. Move to a better-ventilated area
2. Ensure the fan is spinning properly
3. Lower ambient room temperature
4. Check for dust buildup on heatsink

Self-Test Failed Error

This usually indicates a hardware or configuration issue:

1. Verify correct power supply voltage (5V, not 12V)
2. Check all connections are secure
3. Try a firmware reflash if available
4. Contact support for further assistance

Firmware Updates

To update your Bitaxe firmware:

1. Check the current version in AxeOS Settings
2. Download latest firmware from the official GitHub repository
3. In AxeOS, go to Settings > OTA Update
4. Upload the new firmware file
5. Wait for the update to complete (don't unplug during update!)

What Are Your Odds?

With a Bitaxe Gamma running at ~1.2 TH/s:

• Per-block odds: ~1 in 500 million
• Daily odds (144 blocks): ~1 in 3.5 million
• Average time to hit: ~9,500 years
• Power cost: ~18W = ~$1.50/month

The odds are long, but someone wins every 10 minutes. At $1.50/month, it's a perpetual lottery ticket that supports Bitcoin decentralization.

Need Help?

If you purchased your Bitaxe from Pickaxe and need assistance:

• Visit our Contact Page to submit a support request
• Check our Knowledge Base for more articles
• Review the Lottery Mining Explained article for strategy tips