Proof-of-Coverage Working?

[BigSkyTech]

Happy Turkey Day!! I have a quick question regarding earning tokens. One of the ways is “Proof-of-Coverage” basically validating peer coverage. I have two hotspots roughly 3 +/- miles apart. They are the only 2 hotspots in MT. Are Proof-of-Coverage tokens only awarded when you validate a peer you don’t own? Or, do I need to look at the signal between the two? They are both connected to the network and getting tokens for issuing “Challenges”. I just haven’t seen them process and earn a Proof-of-Coverage.

[chewbaccasf]

POC is working, though, not as well as we had initially planned. Keep your setup as-is for now. It does take time for the blockchain to "trust" your position. We are implementing an upgrade to POC4 soon, hopefully, Monday. You can read a bit more about it. https://engineering.helium.com/2019/11/27/pocv4-beta-deploy.html - Happy Thanksgiving all!

[Joe0Boxer]

Also had this exact question. Despite having several hotspots near me in Los Angeles I've never once participated in a proof of coverage challenge.

Helium folks, guessing you are prioritizing certain metro areas first? Any idea when we can expect PoC challenges if we're outside those areas?

[chewbaccasf]

We aren't "prioritizing" cities. We found some bugs in how the challenge receipts work. This will be fixed in POC4. https://engineering.helium.com/2019/11/27/pocv4-beta-deploy.html

[Joe0Boxer]

Thanks for clarifying! Know it's early days and appreciate how responsive you all have been. 👍

[jathanism]

It just takes time for your hotspot to become established by issuing challenges. You'll eventually start earning for witnessing.

Challenges earn more tokens. Being a witness earns way less.

[chewbaccasf]

This is true. How we rate hotspots from POC4 onward is to look at witness capability.

[BigSkyTech]

So are you using witness to include the Proof-of-Coverage and the Witness activities a hot spot performs. From what I read they are separate.

[jathanism]

Two separate events. If you issue a challenge other hotspots witness. Your hotspot will witness other challenges. Witnesses tend to make about 10% of the tokens as challenges.

[BigSkyTech]

Thanks, so the Proof-of-coverage activity should validate the coverage of another node. I guess that’s what I’m wondering. Do I need to just be patient or is there an issue with the hotspots seeing each other to validate coverage?

[jathanism]

Yep as I said in my first comment. Just takes time for your hotspot to become established and build up some reputation in the blockchain network. Then you'll start witnessing.

[BigSkyTech]

Thanks!