WiiKey Mod

[diehllane]

So I am thinking about buying a Wii here soon and, of course, modding it.

I was looking at the WiiKey which is just a PCB board with solderable points, rather than a chip with wires.

Anyone out there have a modded Wii that would like to share their method of modding? I know you can make your own mod chip if you have a Pic Programmer. I could have a friend do it for me if I wanted, but I figured going mainstream might be the best way to go about it. I feel like I'd be more likely to get updates going with a big name chip rather than open source code.

Thanks

[executioner]

Why go to the trouble if they are so cheap, that's what I think. Wiikey or cyclowiz seems the way to go and I've watched some pics and video tutorials and it seems the mod is easy as a saturn modchip installation which doesn't require that much skill. Have to order one in the next weeks and can tell you my results next month when the chip arrives. A friend of mine is running wiikey with the latest update and playing mario galaxy just fine but he had his professionally installed but I'm a do it myself type.

Be sure to read up on the new chip versions on the Wii itself because you will need extra steps on the mod. You can check this site with the serial so you can know which version it could be.

http://nintendo-scene.com/wiitracker/search.php

[pixelbender]

I have a Wiikey (well, a cheap $11 clone anyways!). I never had a GC, so I was looking into GC homebrew (although admittedly, I have been soo busy I haven't even updated the Wiikey I put in there yet).

To do the install is like doing the D0 on an Xbox only 6 times over. While I have not modded a PS2, I can easily say that the Wii is MUCH harder than the original Xbox due to the fact that you're soldering 5-6 30awg wires. I soldered the wires to the DVD drive first and trimmed them a little bit. Then I put solder on the pads of the wiikey, then joined them together.

The most difficult part was that when heating up the solder on the Wiikey pads, the heat transfered to the wires and to the solder points on the DVD player. I acidentally took 1 wire off this way, but was able to be re-applied.

If you have not soldered before, I personally would not attempt this. My soldering backround isn't much, 4 regular Xboxs (one where I had to take out the solder on the MOBO) and other general large-wire soldering on a car. YMMV.

[kinn]

With the Wiikey you can just use the solder points and not use any wires. But everyone says that its best to use wires.

Its also quite hard especially considering how small the chip and its points are.

[pixelbender]

With the Wiikey you can just use the solder points and not use any wires. But everyone says that its best to use wires.

Its also quite hard especially considering how small the chip and its points are.

Yeah, I looked at doing the solder points method, but the height of the Wiikey PCB is so great that it is easier to do the wire method.

[diehllane]

Okay thanks.

I'll be sure to use wires if I go ahead and do this. I can do the wires onto the Wii before doing them to the chip. That way the chip won't be in my way. 5 wires isn't a lot. I know it'll take me more time just to open up the damn Wii probably. There's a lot you have to do to disassemble them I see.

[kinn]

Okay thanks.

I'll be sure to use wires if I go ahead and do this. I can do the wires onto the Wii before doing them to the chip. That way the chip won't be in my way. 5 wires isn't a lot. I know it'll take me more time just to open up the damn Wii probably. There's a lot you have to do to disassemble them I see.

So....many....screws Just try and keep tabs on which screws go where.

[nightwalker]

Just got my Wiikey yesterday. And all I have to say....
Its freakin hard to soldier that thing!!!!!!!! Its about the size of a nickel!!!!!!. It took me 4 hours to get it done. Dont get scared about opening the Wii its easy I took it apart in 5 minutes its simple just follow a decent guide you can find one here
http://modyawii.psx-scene.com/ (If linking this site is prohibited moz or racket take it away) it doesn't sell anything its just a guide to taking your wii apart.
The hard part is soldering that little fellow and when I say little its little. But don't worry I don't have any experience soldering whatsoever and did it hehe. The best part its easy to upgrade the firmware just burn a dvd with the update and voila. Ive been playing mario galaxy for 5 hours and I have to say awesome game.

Edit
Oh I forgot I didn't used the wires I did the quicksolder pattern the wire method I found it difficult for me being so little the chip

[diehllane]

I ordered my D2C Key today.

I'll have to buy a new iron for this. The one I have has a fairly large tip.

I hope it goes well.

I don't like the whole 30+ wires idea... so I am going to have a friend do it for me. He has more experience soldering than I do.

[nightwalker]

Just be extremely careful with that one!! If your friends has a pair of magnifier glasses i recommend he uses one of those and first off to measure the wires where your chip is gonna be. I did one of those also for a friend of mine and yes it does works but it was a pain to solder all those points.