Spoiler

This cart is an Acekard 2i clone that shares the same bootloader with the AK2i, even the physical connection issues are the exact same as the AK2i ones (faulty connection, wobbling cart). You can use the official Acekard bootloader updaters with it and they work just fine. I read it online a few months ago that this flashcart was actually made by the same people that made the Acekard 2i, and that the only reason AKAIO doesn't work on it is that @Normmatt implemented some code that checks if it's running on a clone. Even though AKAIO doesn't support clones, there is a leaked version that was made for this cart, which I believe is version 1.4.x, and there is also an official AKAIO release, 1.8.1a, made for this cart that could be found in the official website of the clone cart. To quote:

the r4 ultra was made by acekard and the original menu was coded by acekard. the r4 ultra is a rebranded ak2i. norm did indeed make akaio 1.8.1 work on it, by the request of team acekard. any reasons other than that are none of the business of the general public. its up to norm to give reasons. i'll just confirm that it is official.

-another world

It's more of a Clone made by The Acekard Team.
It uses pretty much uses very similar hardware.

However, if you tried to swap the AKAIO loaders with more recent ones, they wouldn't work.

So, today I was trying to make a loader for my flashcart so that I could run it on my old DSi, that is on firmware 1.4.5, using the newly released HaxxStation exploit. While I was using Decrypt9 to dump the flashcart, I noticed a menu called "NDS Flashcart Options". I messed around with the options, and when I tried to "Restore AK2i bootrom", the cart was not properly recognized anymore, even though I was restoring my own backup of the cart's flash.

Spoiler

Before giving up on the cart and throwing it away, I asked online for a dump of a legit Acekard 2i made using Decrypt9, to see if that could revive the cart. And to my surprise, the results were better than expected. Not only the cart was brought back to life, it was now being recognized as an official Acekard 2i, both by the official firmware and by AKAIO.

Spoiler

After years of trying to use more modern firmwares with this cart, I could finally convert it into the cart it is cloned from, by pure accident. Had I not bricked the cart I would have never find this out.

Download link for "ak2i_flash.bin":
https://mega.nz/#!EoBAwQJY!4ec5DO8bAeKLjAS1UIjue7NqfW7KseRhpLPgulAbEto

Keep in mind that this file is for carts that are detected as HW=81 in Decrypt9 or in Acekard's updater. If you have a legit Acekard 2i detected as HW=44, please post your flash file in the thread.

You just have to put this file in your 3DS's SD Card's root, and run Decrypt9 using A9LH or boot9strp to restore the legit Acekard 2i's flash into your clone. You can now use the latest AKAIO and treat it like a legit Acekard 2i.

Thanks to @YourLocalMudkip for providing the Acekard 2i flash file.

 

[AkumaNoYami]

can i use it for my gateway blue card too?

 

[some1ne]

can i use it for my gateway blue card too?

I don't know much about the blue gateway card and what card it is a clone from. If it is an Acekard 2i clone, you can TRY this method, but there is a chance it will brick and there is no going back, even using the "Restore ak2i" option using your backup, because that's what I tried first, and the only way I unbricked the cart was by flashing the legit Acekard 2i flash file.

 

[Patxinco]

Lol, i think i have one of this...
I've got to try it!!!

Edit: Dammit!!! I can't seem to find it...

 

[RustInPeace]

How about the R4i-SDHC card?

That is very interesting nevertheless.

 

[some1ne]

How about the R4i-SDHC card?

That is very interesting nevertheless.

That is a TTDS clone, I believe, so it wouldn't work with this method.

 

[DjoeN]

I have the same identical card, but it says HW: 44

Cart: 0c0FC2 HW: 44

 

[some1ne]

I have the same identical card, but it says HW: 44

Cart: 0c0FC2 HW: 44

You'll need to find someone with an Acekard with the HW: 44 ID to dump the flash for you. If you manage to find it, let us know so that I can put the file in the OP.

 

[xXDungeon_CrawlerXx]

I've one of these from a few years ago.

Spoiler: R4 Upgrade GOLD Pro (2013)

is it possible to "revive" this cartridge on my B9S (11.4) New3DS?

 

[DjoeN]

You'll need to find someone with an Acekard with the HW: 44 ID to dump the flash for you. If you manage to find it, let us know so that I can put the file in the OP.

Ok, so i ask in here to Anybody in here with an Acekardi HW:44 to dump this card with Decrypt9 and let us know

 

[yacepi15]

I don't know much about the blue gateway card and what card it is a clone from. If it is an Acekard 2i clone, you can TRY this method, but there is a chance it will brick and there is no going back, even using the "Restore ak2i" option using your backup, because that's what I tried first, and the only way I unbricked the cart was by flashing the legit Acekard 2i flash file.

I have one on my desk. There's any way to test if it would work without flashing?

 

[bakageta]

Well that's a nice find. I wonder if it works because decrypt9 doesn't check for clones and just blind flashes the ak2i bootrom, or if this is one of the few ak2i clones that was actually really close. I'd be interested in seeing if the ak2i ds-mode updaters would now work on your card, or if they'd complain.

Ok, so i ask in here to Anybody in here with an Acekardi HW:44 to dump this card with Decrypt9 and let us know

I don't know where my hw44 card is at, I'll take a look around tomorrow. Sadly the 44 is the older one with the smaller bootrom that doesn't have very many updates.

 

[DjoeN]

yeah i know, IF you manage to find it, see what version of AKAIO works on it (1.9.0 should be the latest)

 

[Patxinco]

Welp, too bad, i have a clone of a clone...

Good luck guys!!!!

Edit: Just tested Gateway Blue card "X-B" in the pins, and it doesn,'t even let you dump the firmware. M3i Zero also tested, same result.

 

[DjoeN]

Nevermind

When placing AKAIO 1.9.0 on the SD, it hangs on the loading screen on the top

 

[TVL]

I've one of these from a few years ago.

Spoiler: R4 Upgrade GOLD Pro (2013)

is it possible to "revive" this cartridge on my B9S (11.4) New3DS?

What do you mean revive? Should work just fine in your 3DS. If not whitelist.cia (I don't think that's needed anymore though).

 

[bakageta]

Edit: Just tested Gateway Blue card "X-B" in the pins, and it doesn,'t even let you dump the firmware. M3i Zero also tested, same result.

Yeah, the vast majority of carts aren't going to work with this. Many have no way of being updated, and the ones that do will be different enough from the ak2i that it would brick. The OP just happened to have an extremely similar clone.

 

[The Catboy]

Yeah, the vast majority of carts aren't going to work with this. Many have no way of being updated, and the ones that do will be different enough from the ak2i that it would brick. The OP just happened to have an extremely similar clone.

This actually isn't a case of a "similar clone." That cart was actually made by the Acekard team themselves. They literally used the same boards, but locked the firmware to a different kernel. The akAIO made for it was a request by the Acekard team to push more sales for the R4i Ultra.

 

[ov3rkill]

GodMode9 can also do this, right? I might try this later and see how it goes.

edit: Nevermind, GodMode9 doesn't create ak2i flash bin file. But you can browse the content of the cart. It should contain the nds file loader.

 

[bakageta]

Only decrypt9, it was only added for testing the old ntrcardhax and d0k3 mentioned there were no plans to include it in godmode9.