Linxdot Hotspot Helium Miner Test: Set up in no time & earn HNT

Helium miners from China

In addition to well-known names like

Bobcat 300

or

Sensecap M1

the Linxdot Hotspot (in the EU868 version for the local market) is also one of the recommended helium miners. We bought and set up a Linxdot hotspot and have been receiving payment for its operation for a few days in the form of the cryptocurrency Helium HNT.

Tip:

If you are not yet familiar with the helium network and its cryptocurrency HNT, first read our comprehensive guide to helium miners & cryptocurrency HNT: How to make money without work.

Antenna for urban use

For the test we ordered the standard configuration with a 3dBi antenna. This should be optimal for use in a large city. It is important that you buy the EU868 variant for Europe. The purchase price includes the fee for the first location acquisition. If you later want to set up the helium hotspot at a different location, you will have to pay a fee for this.

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The connections, including the antenna, are all on one side.

Saving tip:

For a device bought directly from the manufacturer, you have to reckon with prices of around 450 euros including customs. The Linxdot is also offered on Ebay classifieds, for example. There already at prices from 250 euros. Make sure that the device is not yet registered. The Linxdot is not available on Amazon.de, but you can get these three helium miners there, for example:

Buy Browan MerryIoT Hotspot Helium HNT Miner EU868 MHz

Buy Bobcat 300 Miner Helium HNT UK/European 868MHz

Buy Sensecap M1 Gateway Helium HNT Miner EU868 LoRaWAN Indoor CE

Long wait but always well informed

We had already ordered the Linxdot at the end of 2021, our credit card was charged in January 2022 and the delivery took place in July 2022. The manufacturer from China informed us in regular emails about the status of our order and when we could expect delivery. The delivery took more than half a year, but we were always informed until the helium hotspot finally arrived. Packed neatly and undamaged.

First impression: chic design, but no LAN cable

The Linxdot (185 x 185 x 43 mm) has a visually appealing dark case. Several red and green LEDs on the surface provide information about its operational readiness. Commissioning is indeed impressively simple: Unpack, connect to the router at home using a LAN cable (the port supports a maximum of 1 Gbit/s Ethernet), connect to the power supply – and then wait a day, because the manufacturer expressly recommends this , so that any existing updates are automatically installed on the Helium-Miner. The only small drawback: the Linxdot helium hotspot does not come with a LAN cable, so you have to have one yourself. In use, the Linxdot is said to generate between 20 and 40 GB of traffic per month.

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The colored LEDs on the top are easy to see.

Two apps are necessary

The next day we install the associated Linxdot hotspot app according to the supplied printed quick start guide:

Download Linxdot Hotspot App for Android

Download Linxdot Hotspot App for iOS

…and additionally the app Helium HNT Wallet for Android or iOS.

Download Helium HNT Wallet for Android

Download Helium HNT Wallet for iOS

We need the latter to manage the cryptocurrency Helium HNT and we use the Linxdot hotspot app to manage and control our miner. When setting up the Linxdot app, our miner is also given a cryptic-sounding name, as is usual for the Helium network. Important: When creating your wallet in which the HNT is stored, you must remember/write down 24 English words. You should not lose this list of words and their order, because they regulate access to the wallet.

You manage the Linxdot completely via app. A web front end is also available in the browser. You can always see the operating status of the miner and whether it is connected to the Internet via LAN or WLAN.

Hassle-free setup: great

The entire installation process described above, including connecting to our WiFi network, runs without any problem. LEDs on the top inform us about the status of the miner, but the so-called LAN LED does not work consistently: It lights up from time to time even though the miner is only connected to the WLAN. The miner does not have a separate indicator light for WLAN connectivity.

The Linxdot also supports Bluetooth 4.0 BLE. Further information on the Linxdot Hotspot Helium Miner can be found with the manufacturer and its FAQ and in its forum.

Operation: Optimal location with free radio range

Once the miner has been set up, you can also unplug the LAN cable if a WLAN connection (802.11 b/g/n/ac) seems more suitable for the final installation site (however, the manufacturer recommends LAN operation). The miner continues to work with the WiFi without any problems after we unplugged the LAN cable. It is just as unproblematic if we briefly interrupt the power supply: the Linxdot is ready for use again after a few seconds as soon as it is connected to a socket again. The Linxdot does not have a battery.

A good location is important so that the miner has the widest possible radio range. With us, it stands at a height of just over six meters in a conservatory. So far there are no problems in operation and we have already achieved the first HNT shares. Mining for the cryptocurrency and crediting the HNT to our wallet began shortly after the two apps were set up.

power consumption

According to the manufacturer, the Linxdot can consume up to 12 watts, but we only measured 1 to 1.3 watts during operation. At an electricity price of EUR 0.50 per kWh, the Linxdot would cause annual electricity costs of around EUR 4.40 to around EUR 5.70. You can read more about calculating electricity costs here: Devices in standby are so expensive – how to avoid unnecessary electricity costs.

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