Hacking Conflicted about what to do... (firmware issues)

[Pablo Giambelluca]

Hi... maybe you can help me make a decision... right now I have a 3DSXL on firmware 7.0.0... I never updated because I play DS games with an r4 SDHC cart and can't buy 3DS games in my country due to extremely high prices (south america).

The thing is I really enjoy playing the old DS games but obviously would love to play with a Gateway... Gateway said 9.0.2 is required and we should update to it... but I'm afraid that if I update my firmware I won't be able to play old DS games anymore until I get a Gateway (could be months)... but at the same time I think there is no other way to go to firmware 9.0-9.2 without updating now?... and if I stay in 7.0.0 until I get the updated Gateway, will it have a way to play ds games or auto-update my 3DS to the needed firmware?

TLDR: If I update to 9.x do I lose my ability to play old ds games with my cart? If I stay on 7.0.0 now do I lose my ability to upgrade to 9.x later?

UPDATE: I updated to 9.2.0 and my R4 works ... thank you all for your insight and experience. I'll join the Gateway club eventually, now I just have to save some money and plan for a february/march buy once everything settles and I guess Gateway price returns to normal! I'm guessing price will raise a bit after this incredible update

UPDATE 2: For those who have the same questions and doubts about if their flashcard will work on 9.2 all I can say is that a friend of mine brought a R4 SDHC LITE with a red 2013 on the upper right corner and it didn't work on my updated 3ds... but my r4 sdhc that says wifi from r4i-sdhc.com worked flawlessly.

 

[xantoz]

You could always get a DS flash card that supports newer firmwares or an old used DS or DSi, whichever's cheaper.

 

[mitroux]

if you get a gateway , the blue card works with the latest firmware(same as the normal r4 for ds)
if you are skilled with soldering , you can do a nand backup , and then update your 3ds

 

[gamesquest1]

the blue card doesnt work on the latest FW(it only works upto 6.2 as it was only ever intend for installing the exploit on 4.x so there wasnt any reason for them to include a more up to date model)....but afaik....all cards that work on 7.x will work 100% fine on 9.x....so just update and get a gateway when your ready

 

[Abcdfv]

if you get a gateway , the blue card works with the latest firmware(same as the normal r4 for ds)
if you are skilled with soldering , you can do a nand backup , and then update your 3ds

Gateway blue card only works up to 6.3, they blocked it after that.

 

[filfat]

Hi... maybe you can help me make a decision... right now I have a 3DSXL on firmware 7.0.0... I never updated because I play DS games with an r4 SDHC cart and can't buy 3DS games in my country due to extremely high prices (south america).

The thing is I really enjoy playing the old DS games but obviously would love to play with a Gateway... Gateway said 9.0.2 is required and we should update to it... but I'm afraid that if I update my firmware I won't be able to play old DS games anymore until I get a Gateway (could be months)... but at the same time I think there is no other way to go to firmware 9.0-9.2 without updating now?... and if I stay in 7.0.0 until I get the updated Gateway, will it have a way to play ds games or auto-update my 3DS to the needed firmware?

TLDR: If I update to 9.x do I lose my ability to play old ds games with my cart? If I stay on 7.0.0 now do I lose my ability to upgrade to 9.x later?

"High Prices" say what? I know they are a tad higher compared to the average salary but sbb for example can't possible cost more than a 80$ which isn't that expensive...

 

[thorasgar]

My r4 works fine on 9.2 3DS.

 

[ore9ore]

The problem here is... SO MANY R4's
You have a R4i-SDHC 3DS RTS?
If you have that, then you can update it to work with 9.2.0

If your card has a 5.0 mark on it, it suposely works only up to 6.1. according to the website.

http://www.r4i-sdhc.com/aboute.asp

Check what product you have, and what capabilities offers.

If your card has no 9.2.0 support , I recomend you a Supercard DSTwoo, best card for DS games.

 

[Pablo Giambelluca]

"High Prices" say what? I know they are a tad higher compared to the average salary but sbb for example can't possible cost more than a 80$ which isn't that expensive...

They do... and they are... I don't want to sound rude but if you're ignorant to what the situation is in other countries don't try to push your opinion to call me cheap. What you may see or hear from the outside a lot of times doesn't correlate with what the people living day to day and with an honest work get. As it is a 3DS game costs me 1/5th of my monthly wage (which is the standard salary around here), the 3DSXL itself was a gift.

To everyone else thanks for your help... what I gather from this is: if my r4 is working currently in 7.0.0, will it still work in 9.2 if I upgrade now?... from the comments I gather that I'm safe if I'm post 6.1 (7.0) and working it should have no problems? Sorry for the inconvenience and my english.

 

[sarkwalvein]

"High Prices" say what? I know they are a tad higher compared to the average salary but sbb for example can't possible cost more than a 80$ which isn't that expensive...

It is not quite simple, prices fluctuate, the value of USD fluctuates a lot.
But anyway, I just checked for you, and as for today in the eBay equivalent for Argentina, SSB sells for 105 USD.
I find that expensive, but still reachable.
Anyway, and I don't know how it plays in Buenos Aires as I lived in a small city, but there is a big problem related to -availability-, not only price.
And before you even mention importing games, in Argentina importation is a big no-no.

 

[tony_2018]

Is it possible to downgrade a 3ds xl using nand?

 

[Nathan Drake]

The cart may still work, but if there is a lot of concern, there is a relatively inexpensive R4i Gold card that I believe can be bought for less than $10 USD off the average Chinese seller.

The card: http://www.realhotstuff.com/R4i-Gold-3DS-RTS_p_86.html

That's just for reference so you know the product from the fakes. It can certainly be found for cheaper than $19 off one of the reliable Chinese sites.

 

[ore9ore]

Is it possible to downgrade a 3ds xl using nand?

Assuming that you havent your nand saved, no, it's not posible.
Nand are unique to each console.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I'd recommend updating now, and getting a R4i Gold (r4ids.cn model) so you can still play your DS games.
Here's a good price on the R4i Gold http://www.zhuzhuchina.com/store/pr...e.html?search_string=r4i&search_category_id=0
With that cart you also get some neat things like official Wood R4 support with RTS and reasonably fast updates when it's blocked by a 3DS update, the team is pretty good at supporting their cart overall although the DSTWO has the best support no doubt (but comes at a much higher cost)

The site is reliable and they take PayPal. Shipping will take at least couple weeks though.

 

[Pablo Giambelluca]

Thank you very much for all the options, explanations and your time.

 

[filfat]

They do... and they are... I don't want to sound rude but if you're ignorant to what the situation is in other countries don't try to push your opinion to call me cheap. What you may see or hear from the outside a lot of times doesn't correlate with what the people living day to day and with an honest work get. As it is a 3DS game costs me 1/5th of my monthly wage (which is the standard salary around here), the 3DSXL itself was a gift.

To everyone else thanks for your help... what I gather from this is: if my r4 is working currently in 7.0.0, will it still work in 9.2 if I upgrade now?... from the comments I gather that I'm safe if I'm post 6.1 (7.0) and working it should have no problems? Sorry for the inconvenience and my english.

i didn't call you cheap, i tried to get the hang of the price situation

 

[tony_2018]

Assuming that you havent your nand saved, no, it's not posible.
Nand are unique to each console.

It was a thought. Thanks for the reply though.

 

[Deleted-355425]

im torn between firmware 9.0 or 9.2 .... decisions decisions.

 

[gothicall]

Here in Colombia I bought my R4iGold Wood (Cheap card with good compatibility) in less than 10 usd. Maybe if you update your 3DS, and it don't work, you'll find it either.

 

[ore9ore]

mech
I'm also in 9.0, and I don't know if update or not. I read that there is no mayor update from 9.0 to 9.2, so... Also, great signature, very "educative".

On topic:
@Pablo Giambelluca you always can update your r4 with last firmware available in the webpage, and then try it on a 9.2 3DS, a friend's console for example. I don't think that it brick the card (someone please confirm this fact)
And if not, gamble it, and update your 3DS and your R4 and try it yourself.

Worst thing that can happend is that it doesn't work and must buy a new compatible DS Flashcard, but if you want DS gaming, and Gateway, you are going buy it anyways...