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What is a
Helium Hotspot?

All you need to know about Helium
  • Where to buy Helium Miners
  • Antennas and Setups
  • Cryptocurrency (HNT)
  • Maps to View Hotspots
  • Earnings Information

What does a Helium Miner do?

Basically a helium miner will give out a signal via the antennae to triangulate the position of a dog tag, luggage, electric scooter, and many other low frequency transmitters. The owner of a miner will receive a payment in cryptocurrency called Helium (HNT).

How do I get paid?

You get paid in a crypto currency called Helium (HNT) directly to an online account. you can transfer and trade this cryptocurrency in many places. As it becomes more popular you will see it appear on many more exchanges.

wHy would i want to do this?

To make it easier to build connected devices and have a connected world using sensors and create a peer-to-peer blockchain technology for the future. Oh and one other reason...Money!

How Do I earn HELIUM?

Yes! You get paid in a crypto currency called Helium (HNT) directly to an online account. you can transfer and trade this cryptocurrency in many places. as it becomes more popular you will see it appear on many more exchanges.

What types are there?

Currently there are a few different types of miners available. They will cost upwards of £250 but you can earn that back in a few months, if you are in the correct area. Reading and learning about the different antenna's and setups is part of the helium fun!

How easy is it to set up?

Set up is just plug and play, but of course there are always ways to enhance you helium hobby. getting better aerials and understanding the network and becoming part of the helium community.

what is the helium Network?

Helium, Inc (or simply Helium) was founded in 2013 by Amir Haleem, Sean Carey, and Shawn Fanningto build the world’s first peer-to-peer wireless network,
One of the uses of the Helium network is that it allow users to easily locate lost items up to 10 miles away from one of its hotspots, eliminating the need for Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Participants earn HNT by mining and building coverage for The People’s Network using compatible Hotspots. Hotspots from different countries transmit their signal on different microwave frequencies depending your location.
What exactly is Helium again?

You earn (Helium) by tracking devices and receiving data.

Using a small mini computer connected to the internet with an antenna for receiving radio signals.

Devices like electric scooters, heart monitors, agriculture, emit data. you capture that information and send it on. You also track location, like GPS, through the traingluation of monitors (hotspots).

You need to buy a Hotspot for about £400. (5 month wait).
Depending on your location and other factors you earn every time someone connects to the box and transmits some data to the internet through your Hotspot.

You get paid for receiving signals and sending back through the internet.

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Helium Broadcasting Frequencies around the globe: -

  • 470mhz - China
  • 868mhz - Europe
  • 915mhz - US/Canada
  • 923/868mhz - Asia
Each Helium hotspot is powered by open-source blockchain technology that can creates a blanket of connectivity when connected with other nearby hotspots, via radio waves.

Each hotspot can cover up to 10 square miles, so the more people who invest in hosting hotspots, the bigger the network becomes. The more connections the higher the earning of Helium which was worth around £2.20 in Feb 2021, but as of May 2021 its around 6 times that at £14.00

What is HNT?

  • HNT is a new cryptocurrency that Helium Hotspots receive for offering and validating wireless coverage when they link devices on the network to the Internet. This what we know as Helium. Helium’s currency is called HNT (symbol).
  • The Helium Token is the native cryptocurrency and protocol token of the Helium blockchain.
  • The first HNT was produced on July 29th, 2019 at 09:43PM UTC as part of the genesis block that was mined with the Helium Network launch.
  • Since the Helium genesis block, the Network has mined a target of 5,000,000 HNT per month.
  • Helium has a maximum supply of 223,000,000 HNT.
  • HNT halving happens every two years. The next is August 1, 2021
HNT uses the burn-and-mint equilibrium system. 5M HNT is mined each month. There are two tokens: HNT, and Data Credits. Devices (like scooters) use DC to pay for sending data on the network. To create DC you have to convert, or burn, HNT out of circulation.

DC has a fixed USD cost of $0.00001. The network uses an oracle (the oracle queries a trusted API) to get the USD market price of HNT in order to perform the conversion. If the oracle price was $1, then burning 1 HNT would create 100,000 DC. Each DC allows a device to transmit 24 bytes wirelessly.

WHAT TYPES OF HELIUM MINER ARE THERE?

There are 5 main types of Helium Miner available at the moment (May 2021).
The Helium Hotspot, is no longer sold.
1. RAK V2. – CalChip Connect, headquartered in Warminster Pennsylvania USA​, is a distributor of Raks, but they are manufactured in China.
2. Nebra Indoor Miner, built by a UK based company from Tunbridge Wells in East Sussex.
3. Nebra Outdoor Miner
3. Bobcat – Made in China.
3. Syncrob.it, are from Shepherdsville in Kentucky USA
helium miner hotspot

Helium Hotspot
No longer sold

helium miner hotspot rak

RAK V2
£300(inc vat)

helium miner hotspot nebra

NEBRA
£300(inc vat)

linxdot

Linxdot
£460 Get 3% off with Coupon Code "codehaven73"

nebra outdoor miner

NEBRA OUTDOOR
£420 (inc vat)

Helium miner syncrobit

SyncroB.it

bobcat miner case

Bobcat
£320 - $429

Controllino Hotspot

Controllino Hotspot
£428 Get 3% (£12.84) OFF
by clicking the image

HOW DO I EARN HELIUM?

You earn Helium by mining and listening to a frequency with specialist equipment that is connected to the internet. This could be literally anywhere. The RAK Hotspot Miner v2 earns HNT when devices connect, and for validating wireless coverage delivered by peers. Using a system called Proof-of-Coverage, RAK Hotspot Miners earn more HNT when they’re in range of other RAK Hotspot Miners, but need to be at least 300 meters apart.

Range depends on the environment, for rural areas up to 10 miles or more, but for more dense areas up to a mile. Single RAK Hotspot Miners earn less as they can only issue Challenges over the internet, and can’t participate in Proof-of-Coverage.

The way you earn HNT is by the following:

  • When a device sends information over the network using your hotspot

  • By initiating PoC Challenges over the internet

  • By participating in a PoC Challenge

  • By acting as a Witness to a PoC Challenge between nearby hotspots

  • Being a part of a Consensus Group

You can also stake HNT

1 Helium is worth

How Do I get paid?

You get paid Helium into an online storage area like a bank account that holds your cryptocurrency for you. This is called a wallet. This is contained within the Helium App. It will give you all the information about how, when, and why, and what you earned in HNT. There are many types of wallet, Each hold a certain denominations. You must have the right wallet for that currency.

Where do I store my Helium (HNT)?

Your HNT or Helium is stored safely in the wallet that is accessed with your mobile phone through an app you install. Other wallets are provided by a variety of companies, each with different factors that make them different, from the design of the app, or ease of use they have, and of course the fees they apply.

Coinbase

Personally I would give this a miss, the lack of customer support is evident. without being able to rectify customer queries is a straight ‘No’ from me. Having your funds frozen for an excessive period of time is not something I enjoy.
I waited now for four months for Coinbase to let me send any money. Although it states that I am fully verified? After 18 support emails and two complaint emails, they always end in a ‘Case Closed’ emails. Therefore I cannot recommend CoinBase, unless you like wasting your time! They do not seem to have any customer support!

Binance

The Binance app has an awful design and is extremely small even on a 6 inch phone. Nice large clear numbers could only make this app better. When someone is dealing with numbers, and they matter, design is so important. Clarity wins.

There is a lot to offer within this app and transfers of HNT are available. They also have staking which is at 7.65% for 90 days locked in. The fees are far better than Coinbase and crypto.com. This is the most popular crypto app and the biggest player out there. You will need to carry out KYC(Know your Customer) checks and supply your details as you need to do on most apps.
Sign up with my link – https://www.binance.com/en/register?ref=76599641
binance

Crypto.com

After four other exchanges including KuCoins I can say that Crypto.com is my favourite. Just wish it had crypto lending like Kucoins, but it has other things that keep you entertained. all exchanges are like a complexified gambling machine that offers different ways of saving. Daily check-ins, syndicates, staking and many games you enter. You can see they will probably introduce lottery games within the apps soon, maybe they have?
Use my referral link https://crypto.com/app/vm5knd4de9

to sign up for Crypto.com and receive about £18 GBP ($25) in CRO.
I have witnessed a signup in under 3 minutes. (Take note CoinBase!).

You can even add this code after you have signed up.
Look in the settings and add the code vm5knd4de9

Can I convert Helium to other Cryptocurrencies?

Yes you can!

As of May 2021 you can now trade Helium on Crypto.com
The App and the Website are different things so don’t make the mistake of trying top send to one wallet and expect it to show in the app or vice versa. If you use your phone send it to the Apps address, not the website called ‘exchange’ which is different.

Exchange does show in the app in a different section, but the money is not accessible from the App. It is not shared, as far as I know. Exchange

crypto.com

wHy would i want to buy a Helium Miner?

There are many reasons, some like the mining aspect of HNT (Helium) For some it’s the decentralised network made up of hotspots the people own. Not just the big corporations.

For some it’s configuring the antennas and getting the best signal that’s the fun. More of a hobby!

For most, it’s the money. In the background, we all secretly hope it’s the next Bitcoin!
How easy is the Bobcat Miner to set up?
Set up is very easy!
You just plug it in and then complete the setup on your phone.
A video of the Bobcat Miner setup is only 29 seconds long!
See my Bobcat installation.
Play Video

Can I upgrade my Helium antenna?

Usually it would be that the better the antenna, better the receiving signal, and in this case the more reward there will be, but consider your surroundings. If you have many hotspots around you then the standard 2.8dbi antenna will do just fine. but if you are trying to reach a distant hotspot then you will need a 5.8dbi to 8.5dbi, as the signal will not travel that far.

Test to see if your antenna will reach other hotspots in your locality between two points on a map.
Learn how to measure Elevation Levels with Free Online Helium Mapping tools.

There are many different antennas to choose from as shown below.

Helium Antennas - 6.5 dbi

6.5dbi antenna

High Gain Antenna
Mcgill Microwave
(868-960MHz - 6.0 dBi)

All Antennas shown can be used on all types of Helium Miner. Country frequency codes are important.

mikrotik 6.5 antenna

MikroTik Omni Antenna with SMA Connector (824-960MHz 6.5dBi)

Helium Antennas - 5.8 dbi

Helium antenna connected things
RAK Outdoor LoRaWAN Antenna
(860 - 930MHz - 5.8 dBi)
Helium antenna connex

Wall-Mount Omni Antenna RP-SMA (868/915 MHz- 5.8 dBi)

Helium antenna 5.8

Fiber Glass Antenna Kit - rakwireless
(860-930MHz - 5.8dBi)

Improving the Antenna receiving distance

The higher the DBi value the longer range it will be. Most of these antenna are about 80cm – 120cm. The higher the dBI the more focused your listening will be, but you may miss nearby hotspots.
omni antenna
The illustration above, shows what differences the DBi in antennas can achieve. This is from the side view NOT a plan view.
dbi graph
A higher DBi antenna will get let you receive transmissions that are further away but reduce the receiving area above and below. It just concentrates the area.

DOES IT COST ME?

5 watts of electricity!
The Helium Miner is plugged in to the power socket in the wall. Hotspots only use 5W of energy. (RAKV2). Don’t forget the Miner you need to buy which costs from around £315 including delivery and taxes to the UK. Which if you earn enough helium you might pay it back in a few months (depending on a few factors!).

Helium Set up Cost (Free)
When setting up any Helium Hotspot Miner there is a £29 activation fee and a £7.25 fee when setting the hotspot’s location. As part of your purchase price we cover the £29 activation fee and the first location assert fee of £29 (worth £36.25 in total). However every time you move your hotspot to a new location you will need to pay the £7.25 location assert fee again.

How much Internet does it use?

Helium Data Usage & Port Unblocking

The hotspot sends data that it has received from the wireless device to wherever it needs to. this is only a small part of your data usage. i would not use a connection over LTE, but using wifi or an ethernet connection, you will not notice a thing. Using your hotspot and connecting it to your internet is a simple straight forward task. There are a few things that are important that you should remember when setting up.
  1. NEVER turn your hotspot on without having an antenna attached. This I have heard can cause some of the internals chips to overheat as it has no aerial.
  2. if possible unblock port 44158. The Helium Hotspot only requires one port open in both directions (TCP Port 44158), so all other inbound ports can be secured behind a firewall per your personal security needs. if you cannot unblock this port it will still work, just a small percentage of challenges or other connections may fail. Login to your router and do this if you can.
    More about Port Forwarding for Hotspots
helium data usage
helium internet usage

So how much have people have earned?

Interesting Fact!

Someone bought 80 Helium hotspots in Wales.
Currently earning £4,123 per Day between all the Hotspots.
That’s £122,000 per Month.
1.5 million each Year!

They would pay back the original £28,000 for the miners now in 7 days!
It cost £28,000, and now to date is worth £320,000 !!!

*This would mean the price of Helium was today’s price, since launch, (Which it was’nt!)

See live stats of a ‘very busy’ Hotspot

Helium Groups to join

Ask your Helium Questions on the following Channels : -

So who uses Helium?

Devices like electric scooters, heart monitors, agriculture, emit data. you capture that information and send it on. You also track location, like GPS, through the traingluation of monitors (hotspots).

The ways Helium is used is so varied. Bobcat has published this informative image.

Sensor Applications

bobcat helium uses

Tracking Applications

why use helium uses

Internet Of Things

why use helium

HELIUM APPS & WEBSITE

Firstly you should download the Helium app if you want to start. this enables you to: –

  1. Send & Recieve Helium Network Tokens (HNT)
  2. Monitor Hotspot Earnings
  3. View Pending Transactions
helium app android
Read everything you can on the official Helium Website
helium app
https://www.helium.com/mine

BOBCAT MINER 300

Bobcat Miner 300 is a high-efficiency miner hotspot for HNT. It is compatible with Helium LongFi, an architecture that combines the leading wireless LoRaWAN protocol, and the Helium Blockchain technology. The Bobcat Miner 300 is also compatible with all LoRaWAN devices.The Bobcat Miner 300 runs on ultra-low power consumption (5W) and its signal range can cover up to 10+ miles, providing connectivity to tens of thousands of LoRaWAN end nodes detected within its range.

In previous tests, 100 deployed Bobcat Miner 300 have proven sufficient to cover a city area of 10km x 10km, broadcasting the helium network. In return for being a network operator, owners of Bobcat Miner 300 earn HNT for providing this network coverage.
bobcat miner
bobcat miner
bobcat miner specs

WHERE DO I BUY a Helium Miner?

Buy a LINXDOT Miner
Get 3% off with Coupon Code “codehaven73”
linxdot
Buy a RAK Miner
Technical Fact Sheet – Rak V2 Helium Miner
helium miner hotspot rak
Buy a BOBCAT
bobcat miner case
Buy a NEBRA INDOOR
helium miner hotspot nebra
Buy a NEBRA OUTDOOR
nebra outdoor miner
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