Wireless Guide: How to Install and Use an AntMiner S1 or AntMiner S3 Bitcoin Miner with Wifi

Updated 8/6/14 by Brian Webster (brianwebster@gmail.com)


This guide serves as a supplement to the Main S3 Tutorial. Please read that tutorial get comfortable with general AntMiner S3 setup.

1. Locate the sticker near the primary fan on your S3. It should say something like 192.168.1.99

2. Take special note of the second to last number. In this case, a "1"

3. Plug an Ethernet cable directly from a computer (such as your laptop) to the S3.

4. Before turning the S3 on, we need to set the network settings of your computer.

5. We need to configure your wired-network settings on your computer (not the S3). First, take a snapshot of your current settings, so you can reset to those values after your S3 is running.

A) Open the control panel, click View Network Status and Tasks:


B) Click "Change Adapter Settings" in the top left, then right-click Local Area Connection and go to Properties:

C) Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCIP/IPv4), then click Properties:

D) Enter the following settings, but make sure the second to last number of the IP address and gateway match the second-to-last number on the sticker on your S3. Furthermore, make sure the last number of the IP address that you select is not the same number as that on the S3. Normally, .254 will work.


E) Press "OK' until you are out of the network menus.

6. Start up the S3. Make sure the Ethernet cable is attached to both your computer and the S3.

7. After the S3 has been running for 10-15 seconds, navigate your computer's browser to the sticker IP address. In this case, 192.168.1.99

8. In your S3 configuration, go to the Network tab.

9. Then, click the Wireless sub-tab.

10. There will be a scan button. Hit Scan. If your desired network does not show up, consider adding a wireless antenna to your S3. That is what the thing above the primary fan is for. I have successfully used pipe-cleaners on a dozen S3's. It's not pretty, but it works in a pinch.

11. Select the correct wireless network, then hit submit.

12. You might think you're done! But you're not. Wait for the next page to load. It can take a bit. Eventually, a "Save and Apply" button will appear in the bottom right. Click that.

13. Go to the Network Interfaces tab. Hit edit on WWAN.

This is where you would select a static IP address if you wish to use one. This may or may not work well with your particular wireless router. In the appendix below, I go into how to set a static IP address. It can be very useful to set a static IP address so that you can put a sticker on your S3with the IP address. It can be very confusing if your wireless router switches IP addresses on your S3without you noticing! If you are using a dynamic IP address (default), it can be challenging to determine which IP address is being used and if your router reboots, you may end up with a completely different IP address!

14. If you do not wish to use a static IP address, go to the miner configuration tab and setup your pools and workers. See the main tutorial for details.

15. Reset the device. (System -> Reboot -> Reboot). Give the device up to 3 minutes to start mining. Startup takes more time with wireless. It may go faster if you unplug your Ethernet cable first.

16. You should be mining now.

If you encountered difficulties:
  • Double and triple check your network settings. It is easy to miss a digit or IP address
  • In the diagnostics tab, you can attempt to ping a domain. If the domain is not pingable, you know that your network connection either does not work, or perhaps it works but your DNS is set incorrectly. Usually, setting the DNS to the router's IP address will work.
  • If in doubt, reboot
  • Unplug the Ethernet cable and try a hard-reboot. Don't forget to wait for 3 minutes. It actually takes this long on some S3's.
  • Didn't use a static IP address, but want to configure your S3 without Ethernet? Go into your router settings and find the DHCP client list. Your S3 will be one of those IP addresses assigned by your router.


Appendix - Static IP Address

1. Go to the Network Interfaces tab in your S3 configuration site. Hit edit on WWAN

2. Enter a valid wireless IP address for your wireless network. This may vary per router.

3. Enter subnet: 255.255.255.0

4. Set the gateway to be the router's IP address. This is often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.2.1.

5. Set the DNS to the router's IP address.

6. Hit Save & Apply

7. Wait a bit, then try to connect to the static IP from another device (like your laptop) that is connected to the same wireless network. It should connect!

8. I recommend a reboot (System -> Reboot -> Reboot). Configure your pool settings, then you should be mining!