Hacking Gateway 3ds Vs. Sky3ds+

[Hayleia]

I went further on the tutorial and saw a9lh, which I think is basically a better EmuNAND

Really "basically" then, because not really actually

Before a9lh, we had exploits in the 3DS firmware that allowed us to run stuff (best sentence of all times). The problem is that Nintendo made updates and games that needed these latest updates and these updates patched said exploits. So what, we're going to keep our 3DS on an non-updated firmware and not play the new games or play the new games and forget about exploits? Well, f*ck all of this, we keep the 3DS's "internal" firmware on an exploitable version and we use these exploits to reboot on a secondary "external" firmware after applying patches. That's sysNAND and emuNAND. So your exploitable sysNAND guarantees that you can run stuff on your emuNAND even if you update it.

Then a9lh came, and since it runs before sysNAND loads, we can just forget about emuNAND.
But notice the "can", if you feel more comfortable with an emuNAND, you can still use one. Just notice the drawbacks: it takes up to 2GB on your SD card and doesn't play GBA VC games directly (you need to install them to both sysNAND and emuNAND (or at least install them to sysNAND and install a forwarder on emuNAND), while you'd need to install them to sysNAND only if you used sysNAND only).

IMHO I'd go with Sky3ds+ then. Sky3ds works on all firmwares and without any patches. You can lend it without any problems. Gateway is more hassle on setting up, especially on arm9loaderhax. Sky3ds works as soon as you set up the SD card for it, where gateway needs an entire emunand/cfw set up / not the newest a9lh / no protection ect. You need private headers for both.

Yes, it works on all firmwares and is arguably easier to use than Gateway ot any other CFW. But the amount of features is laughable. Like the need for private headers. It's not true you need any for Gateway since you can use cia files (except that OP doesn't want to, ok, but still, that's not a requirement on Gateway's side). Which means that with a Sky3DS, you actually pay games to pirate. Which doesn't make sense. And I'm only talking about piracy since it's Sky3DS's only feature. And by the way, how do you extract private headers? With Decrypt9 it's quite easy. Wait, you don't have access to Decrypt9 if you're on 11.0 using a Sky3DS...

 

[Temarile]

Yes, it works on all firmwares and is arguably easier to use than Gateway ot any other CFW. But the amount of features is laughable. Like the need for private headers. It's not true you need any for Gateway since you can use cia files (except that OP doesn't want to, ok, but still, that's not a requirement on Gateway's side). Which means that with a Sky3DS, you actually pay games to pirate. Which doesn't make sense. And I'm only talking about piracy since it's Sky3DS's only feature. And by the way, how do you extract private headers? With Decrypt9 it's quite easy. Wait, you don't have access to Decrypt9 if you're on 11.0 using a Sky3DS...

I was replying to OP's specific case. OP has access to all features available since s/he is planning on a9lh which means s/he's able to use decrypt9. I agree that decrypt9 doesn't work on 11.0 stock but this is not the case for OP. With this I'm also nodding to the private header issue. Yes, you don't need private headers if you use gateway Emunand (the more complex set up than the sky3ds) and cia files. However, OP isn't planning on using cia files (although IMHO s/he should) s/he still needs a private header for both Gateway and sky3ds. Private headers can also be extracted from PowerSaves although that's spending even more money

As I mentioned before, you can get private header from any game. You still need to buy at least one game, even if it is a 1$ game you'll never even play. Seeing as how OP mentioned s/he bought games before considering hacking, it is easy to get a private header. Especially on an a9lh 3ds.

 

[Deleted User]

1. Dont use either , use CIAs
2. CIAs dont have headers. So no problrms with bans.
3. Sky3ds is awesome! I have one and used it b4 starting with cias. Both gw and sky3ds have headers problems, Gw has cheats(which is currently its only benefit. Sky3ds (and sky3ds plus) are easy to use, but switching between more then 4 games will take about ~1 min. So if u wanna switch a lot it will bother u. gw on the other hand need to each time boot into emunand (a9lh isnt stable yet, according to them, still beta) so each time u need internet access or to set up menuhax. Anyways I recommend u sky over gw, cause gw has no native support on 11.x and sky needs no setup.
4. Cart VS Cias- with cart u need to serch web every time u wanna get new roms. With cias u install freeshop, and just search for wanted game and download and install with no delay. No need to flip sd, connect to pc, transfer, again into cart,(in sky3ds case reload 10~ seconds to find the new games,) then flop into cart into console back. Cias donst money, need no pc, no transfering, no searching the web in unreliable sites, just download from Nintys server and done. Also no need to switch between games, theyre all on main menu screen, no scrolling/button combos. So no point to buy cart. The only upside for gw is good n easy cheat engine and that blue card 4 nds games. Which u can buy for much much much.... cheaper alone.
4. No point to do a9lh if u dont want CIAs. Sky3ds works out of the box, on stock 3ds with no mods, and GW cart works same on a9lh-ed sysnand and GW emunand...

So choose-
Gateway- good- cheat engine, play 3ds roms and ds games in 2 carts from 1 pack.
Bad- long setup, need to downgrade (works only works with 10.7 and below), costs money and need emunand. Also bother with headers. Ah and finding roms online.
Sky3ds+ - good- no setup- drag n drop 3ds roms. Done. and can multirom with 2 buttons. No downgrade, no hard work. Work on last ver. And un-ban-able.
Bad - costs money, need to find roms online, scolling between roms is long sometimes.
Cia(a9lh) - good - easy, free, just download from freeshop and done. No pc needed for downloading new roms.
Bad- long one time (5hours) setup, somewhat risky(if u dont follow exactly the tutorial).

 

[Ronflex2.0]

Sky3ds+ is the amazing flashcard 3ds.

 

[Hyoretsu]

I'm not going for cias because I kinda don't like my games being in the home menu, and as hardmod is a little "tricky" to perform and is the only way to downgrade to 10.4, I decided to install a9lh (I'm going to use any features of it? Probably not, but why not to install? If someday I need it, I'll already have it, don't need to spend more time). I sorta don't care about Gateway Blue cartridge, cuz I already have R4i, and in Sky3ds you're not un-banable, if you try to go online without setting up a private header, you'll be banned, the same goes for Gateway. From what I saw, if I'm on a FW where both of them works, Gateway is better. Sure, sometime I'll buy N3DS and I'll need a way to downgrade for a9lh setup, but I'll think about it later on. And headers aren't a problem for me, since after I sell my games, I'll buy Gateway, the microSD and Freakyforms Deluxe (the cheapest game you'll find in Brazil, R$80), from which I'll extract the private header and keep the game.

 

[Quantumcat]

I'm not going for cias because I kinda don't like my games being in the home menu, and as hardmod is a little "tricky" to perform and is the only way to downgrade to 10.4, I decided to install a9lh (I'm going to use any features of it? Probably not, but why not to install? If someday I need it, I'll already have it, don't need to spend more time). I sorta don't care about Gateway Blue cartridge, cuz I already have R4i, and in Sky3ds you're not un-banable, if you try to go online without setting up a private header, you'll be banned, the same goes for Gateway. From what I saw, if I'm on a FW where both of them works, Gateway is better. Sure, sometime I'll buy N3DS and I'll need a way to downgrade for a9lh setup, but I'll think about it later on. And headers aren't a problem for me, since after I sell my games, I'll buy Gateway, the microSD and Freakyforms Deluxe (the cheapest game you'll find in Brazil, R$80), from which I'll extract the private header and keep the game.

This is what this sounds like:
"I'm going to buy a new Toyota, but I'm not going to drive it because I don't like the breeze so it's going to sit up in cinder blocks in my garage and be a cubby house for my children. Even though it will cost me $300,000 because my country doesn't like Toyota and charges ten times what another country would pay, and I could just buy a cubby house from the hardware store for $100. And even though I have to make expensive modifications to the Toyota so my kids can play in it, when a cubby house would come ready to play with no modifications, and my country charges ten times as much for the spare parts needed (needing a private header when CIAs don't use them). And I am totally surprised that people are telling me this is stupid, isn't this a completely normal way to use my own money? Doesn't everybody do it? It must be everybody else that is weird, and me normal."

 

[Hyoretsu]

This is what this sounds like:
"I'm going to buy a new Toyota, but I'm not going to drive it because I don't like the breeze so it's going to sit up in cinder blocks in my garage and be a cubby house for my children. Even though it will cost me $300,000 because my country doesn't like Toyota and charges ten times what another country would pay, and I could just buy a cubby house from the hardware store for $100. And even though I have to make expensive modifications to the Toyota so my kids can play in it, when a cubby house would come ready to play with no modifications, and my country charges ten times as much for the spare parts needed (needing a private header when CIAs don't use them). And I am totally surprised that people are telling me this is stupid, isn't this a completely normal way to use my own money? Doesn't everybody do it? It must be everybody else that is weird, and me normal."

Basically I have 6 games, which sums up to the price of a flashcard, which is "infinite" games, I want to be on a version that has the exploits and the newest features, and no, everybody else is normal, it's just that I like my games to be in a game card instead of my home menu. So, one point for me to not use cias and originally I wasn't going to downgrade, which was why I decided to buy a Flashcard, but then I decided to downgrade, but as I don't like games in the home menu and Gateway has more features than Sky3ds, I'm going to get Gateway instead of Sky3ds and a9lh. Also, currently the only thing I'm interested into is 3DS games.

 

[Quantumcat]

I have 6 games, which sums up to the price of a flashcard

Your games cost $80 each, ours cost $30, and you don't need any.

a flashcard, which is "infinite" games,

You can have 'infinite' games with no flashcard.

,I want to be on a version that has the exploits

Good.

the newest features

But you don't want to use any of them...?

I like my games to be in a game card instead of my home menu

You're willing to spend thousands on this peculiar preference? Why not try out installed games first before you buy anything, and if you truly don't like it, delete them, then spend the insane amounts of money?

 

[Hyoretsu]

Your games cost $80 each, ours cost $30, and you don't need any.

You can have 'infinite' games with no flashcard.

Good.

But you don't want to use any of them...?

You're willing to spend thousands on this peculiar preference? Why not try out installed games first before you buy anything, and if you truly don't like it, delete them, then spend the insane amounts of money?

I'm not going to use the a9lh features, but I'll use the features that come with the 3DS update. And I'm not going to spend insane amounts of money, I already spent, but I realized that I could spend them on something better, and besides this, I really don't have anything else that I want. I like the idea of a Flashcard even with cias being better, and because games here are $80 (Which is not true, this is only the cheapest game you can buy, the rest are at a standard $150) that I'm going to get a Flashcard.

 

[Quantumcat]

I'm not going to use the a9lh features, but I'll use the features that come with the 3DS update. And I'm not going to spend insane amounts of money, I already spent, but I realized that I could spend them on something better, and besides this, I really don't have anything else that I want. I like the idea of a Flashcard even with cias being better, and because games here are $80 (Which is not true, this is only the cheapest game you can buy, the rest are at a standard $150) that I'm going to get a Flashcard.

OMG some games are $150? Why don't you sell some??? If I had your sort of disposable income I could find better ways to spend/invest it -_- It feels like you're a character on TV lighting a cigar by burning multiple $100 bills - showing off how much money you have by throwing away enough to pay a month's mortgage on nothing. But anyway, I'll leave you alone now. It's your money and if you're determined to chuck it away that's your own business.
(By the way, how does Brazil stop people in Uruguay or Argentina etc coming in to visit with their personal 3DS games and selling them to make a bundle?)

 

[Clector]

Well there are people that like more physical game sinstead of digitals (I do so, even thought I didn"t use CFW or CIA"s that aren"t updates to Spoof anyways), well there @Hyoretsu are talking about a Flashcart but it"s his preference. Also @Hyoretsu if you have already 3DS games you can instead conserve one of them and get the private header from that game. I think you maybe should better buy Sky3DS since you can use it in any Firmware or CFW in a Firmware higher than 9.2 an aside from selector and cheats you don"t see any real difference and can use it in other console, but if like more the extra features Gateway have and want to buy one I think you are okay; but if you are going to get a Gateway cart don"t update from Gateway arm9loaderhax.bin or it will brick and unistall Arm9LoaderHax, update from other CFW instead when a new update is avalible and you need to use the Version 1 of Arm9LoaderHax so if you have Version 2 you should need to install Version 1 instead.

 

[Hayleia]

I was replying to OP's specific case. OP has access to all features available since s/he is planning on a9lh which means s/he's able to use decrypt9. I agree that decrypt9 doesn't work on 11.0 stock but this is not the case for OP. With this I'm also nodding to the private header issue. Yes, you don't need private headers if you use gateway Emunand (the more complex set up than the sky3ds) and cia files. However, OP isn't planning on using cia files (although IMHO s/he should) s/he still needs a private header for both Gateway and sky3ds. Private headers can also be extracted from PowerSaves although that's spending even more money

As I mentioned before, you can get private header from any game. You still need to buy at least one game, even if it is a 1$ game you'll never even play. Seeing as how OP mentioned s/he bought games before considering hacking, it is easy to get a private header. Especially on an a9lh 3ds.

I wanted to answer something about OP's specific case but now I don't get shit. Doesn't want to install a tricky hardmod which would be the only way to get to 10.4, wants to install a9lh instead (wtf already) then doesn't want to install a9lh features but use a flashcard instead. Ok then.

And for private headers, where do you get $1 games? By getting second hand ones? Who tells you their headers are not used by someone already?

 

[Deleted User]

If u REALLY dont wanna cias, then use sky3ds. U dont need to a9lh, just update ur system to latest, cause sky3ds works on all firmwares and wil (probably) never be blocked. Using gw over sky3ds is good only for CIAs (via emunand) and cheats. Since U wanna use ur r4i U probably wanna install a cia to run it, cause most of em are blocked on latest firmwares. So sky3ds is better 4 u and u dont really need to downgrade/a9lh/do anything to use it. I still believe that cia is better for u. Still , wanna remind u that u wont mention headers anymote cause u'll need them in any cart (gw,sky(+), any other which will come out in the future) so... also dump the headers from a offline game so no other person will use it at same time as u.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Ahh op? U know that to downgrade from 11.x u need hardmod or friend with hacked fw right? No game will help up u to down from 11.x...

 

[The Catboy]

I am going to be honest, save your money and don't buy either of them.
Gateway lags behind in updates, which often leaves the users weeks to even months behind on the latest and greatest software. Compared to CFW users who always end up with the newest software as soon as it's released. Gateway team is also still clinging to old ideas like emuNANDS and an older version of A9LH. Compared to CFW users, who not only can use the latest A9LH, but even have mini-CFW that they can install directly to their NAND.
Sky3DS is cool and really reminds me of older style DS flashcarts. But at the same time, it's really easy to get banned because of them and they really lack a lot in the software department.

CFW users may have to wait for CIA files to install, but in the long run it's worth the wait.
No Private headers
No bans
Latest software
Always up to date on the latest features
And so much more
http://gbatemp.net/threads/faq-what-cfw-is-best-for-me.428509/

 

[Deleted User]

I am going to be honest, save your money and don't buy either of them.
Gateway lags behind in updates, which often leaves the users weeks to even months behind on the latest and greatest software. Compared to CFW users who always end up with the newest software as soon as it's released. Gateway team is also still clinging to old ideas like emuNANDS and an older version of A9LH. Compared to CFW users, who not only can use the latest A9LH, but even have mini-CFW that they can install directly to their NAND.
Sky3DS is cool and really reminds me of older style DS flashcarts. But at the same time, it's really easy to get banned because of them and they really lack a lot in the software department.

CFW users may have to wait for CIA files to install, but in the long run it's worth the wait.
No Private headers
No bans
Latest software
Always up to date on the latest features
And so much more
http://gbatemp.net/threads/faq-what-cfw-is-best-for-me.428509/

So...1. Sky dont risk u with ban as long as u use headers. Gatewait is also the same. What its software lacks? Also playing offline games w/o headers wont risk any ban...
2. When u wait in cias? Its downloading pretty fast and directly installs them (in freeshop...). The time to download CIA is faster then 3DS, cause cias are little smaller (1.7 gb vs 2 in oras and 1.3 vs 2 in xy) and it needs no transfer time from pc to sd card. And ninty's servers are pretty fast.

 

[Hayleia]

The wait for cias is probably describing the fact that you can't use your 3DS while it installs. For a .3ds, yeah, it might take longer to download and whatever, but it downloads on your PC, you can still play something else on your 3DS.

 

[Madridi]

It's 10 am over and I still haven't slept yet so I might be not be understanding this properly especially since I just skimmed the thread, but..

What's the point of the entire discussion in the thread? He says:
- He's on 11.0 FW
- Wont be installing a hardmod (which is the only way to downgrade I believe)

So doesn't that make the answer clear? He can't install A9LH without a downgrade, and he can't use a gateway without a downgrade.

Wouldn't that automatically his only solution a sky3ds+?

 

[Hayleia]

It's 10 am over and I still haven't slept yet so I might be not be understanding this properly especially since I just skimmed the thread, but..

What's the point of the entire discussion in the thread? He says:
- He's on 11.0 FW
- Wont be installing a hardmod (which is the only way to downgrade I believe)

So doesn't that make the answer clear? He can't install A9LH without a downgrade, and he can't use a gateway without a downgrade.

Wouldn't that automatically his only solution a sky3ds+?

The thing is that he also says he is going to install a9lh. Even though as you said, he said he can't downgrade.
So at first, people chose the pieces of information they wanted and answered about the intrinsically best setup, but now at least I don't know what's going on.

 

[Madridi]

The thing is that he also says he is going to install a9lh. Even though as you said, he said he can't downgrade.
So at first, people chose the pieces of information they wanted and answered about the intrinsically best setup, but now at least I don't know what's going on.

Yeah exactly I understand the first couple of comments since not enough info was there. But now it's just a fanboy war between cfw and flashcarts (which is hilarious considering they can co-exist lol.. It's not like we are picking one over the other)

@op, given the requirements you have:
- You can't install a9lh without downgrading
- you can't downgrade without a harmod
- you can't use gateway without downgrading
Conclusion: your only option at this point is a sky3ds+

 

[Quantumcat]

The thing is that he also says he is going to install a9lh. Even though as you said, he said he can't downgrade.
So at first, people chose the pieces of information they wanted and answered about the intrinsically best setup, but now at least I don't know what's going on.

He didn't technically say he won't hardmod:

as hardmod is a little "tricky" to perform and is the only way to downgrade to 10.4, I decided to install a9lh

He just said it would be a little tricky.

But yeah I must admit it does SOUND like he won't hardmod. I hadn't thought about this comment before and just ASSUMED (when you hear things that are too outrageous to be true - your brain sort of changes them to be more acceptable, and you don't even notice).