Hacking Wii U wireless controller extender hack

[kimotori]

(10-15ft) about 3.048-4.572m for the rest of the world.

 

[Seroczynski]

I've never noticed this thread before, so thanks for the bump

This is an excellent hack, great work on it mate.

Thanks for the write-up, would have loved to see some more pictures.

 

[75mak]

Im about to go ahead and complete this but was wondering whether the length of the rpl sm connector cable made any difference?

Im also not sure whether i should go ahead and do both cable or just one.

Wouldnt mind a 2nd opinion


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Edit: i managed to get this done, had varying results so far. I've only swapped one of the antennas.... will be tryig two in the bear future. But i have found a lot depends on the 'aerial' used.

I'm going to continue to experiment but so far i have gained around 3-4 meters in distance, so its quite good. I'm hoping if i change the 2nd antenna I will gain a lottle more. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[jayjay123]

My next test will be with cloverleaf antennas such as the ones used for 5ghz FPV UAVs:
https://www.google.com/?client=firefox-b#q=fpv+cloverleaf&tbm=shop

I believe one should have 3 and one should have 4 elements (Tx, Rx). The thing with these is they cover all polarities well.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

My next test will be with cloverleaf antennas such as the ones used for 5ghz FPV UAVs:
https://www.google.com/?client=firefox-b#q=fpv+cloverleaf&tbm=shop

I believe one should have 3 and one should have 4 elements (Tx, Rx). The thing with these is they cover all polarities well.

What would be the benefit of that? Having an even broadcast in all directions?

 

[jayjay123]

What would be the benefit of that? Having an even broadcast in all directions?

Yes - the signal should improve. These are used for flying drones using FPV goggles - transmitting video over long distances using 5Ghz.

 

[75mak]

Well do keep us updated. As I will buy a pair as I've got both antennas out and can barely see improvement with my current setup. Have to say antennas used are probably poor.

So if these cloverleaf things are any good, will but a pair straight away.

 

[jayjay123]

The trick with this mod is to limit the length of any 'flyleads' and make ultra sure you don't short the center pin to ground or have a break in the circuit to the antenna - test with a multimeter if you have one to be sure. I'll shout as soon as I've been able to get hold of a few cloverleafs. I'm curious to see if it performs better with 4x cloverleaf antennas or 2x omni's and 2x cloverleaf... not yet sure...

 

[Neouni]

The trick with this mod is to limit the length of any 'flyleads' and make ultra sure you don't short the center pin to ground or have a break in the circuit to the antenna - test with a multimeter if you have one to be sure. I'll shout as soon as I've been able to get hold of a few cloverleafs. I'm curious to see if it performs better with 4x cloverleaf antennas or 2x omni's and 2x cloverleaf... not yet sure...

Cloverleaf are generally optimized for TX and RX, so where do the 2 omni come in at ?

 

[jayjay123]

Cloverleaf are generally optimized for TX and RX, so where do the 2 omni come in at ?

True... perhaps one omni on the controller and one on the Wii U and one cloverleaf on each. It'd be interesting to see the diffs. I'm thinking the Omni's are not ideal when you use the controller at various angles and pitches.

 

[jayjay123]

Cloverleaf are generally optimized for TX and RX, so where do the 2 omni come in at ?

True... perhaps one omni on the controller and one on the Wii U and one cloverleaf on each. It'd be interesting to see the diffs. I'm thinking the Omni's are not ideal when you use the controller at various angles and pitches.

 

[mmik]

I tried this and noticed no discernible difference. One thing is, in the OP, you say the grey and red wires are the gamepad antenna. Then you go on for the rest of the guide explaining how you replaced the black one. I ended up replacing both grey and black, however, and can't tell the difference. I lose signal in the exact same spots with the external antenna unscrewed.

 

[75mak]

I tried this and noticed no discernible difference. One thing is, in the OP, you say the grey and red wires are the gamepad antenna. Then you go on for the rest of the guide explaining how you replaced the black one. I ended up replacing both grey and black, however, and can't tell the difference. I lose signal in the exact same spots with the external antenna unscrewed.

I did get a bit of an increase, but i think a lot depends on the antennas used and the length of the wires too.


any update on the cloverleaf things

 

[mmik]

Perhaps I didn't get the right kind of antenna, but I was told by a random person that it should work. Here's a link to what I'm using. No guarentee I'll try a different one if I'm told it's no good, but I don't know why it would be the wrong one.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RO6RX4E/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[ShadowOne333]

You need more range, dude:

Spoiler

In all honesty though, really cool hardmod.
I usually don't use the Off-TV thing that often because the Gamepad loses connection when I go downstairs, but it's a nice thing that you even documented everything for those that want to achieve more range.

 

[mmik]

I get really good reception in the room directly above the wii, even without the antenna. but all the directions I can walk to lose reception, upstairs or down, are the same, with or without. :\

 

[henn64]

Has anyone tried adding an antenna directly to the gamepad yet? I mean, since it has so much empty space.

 

[xtreemsurf]

Personally, one thing I've noticed is that the distance seems to be better when the front of Wii U is facing the Gamepad. When I walk 10 feet to the left of the Wii U, toward the kitchen, I lose reception. When I go 25-30 feet straight in front of the Wii U, into the master bedroom, through a wall, I'm able to play games perfectly. Very strange. This is without an external antenna, but this external antenna idea sounds like a good one.

 

[DrDeath2099]

Personally, one thing I've noticed is that the distance seems to be better when the front of Wii U is facing the Gamepad. When I walk 10 feet to the left of the Wii U, toward the kitchen, I lose reception. When I go 25-30 feet straight in front of the Wii U, into the master bedroom, through a wall, I'm able to play games perfectly. Very strange. This is without an external antenna, but this external antenna idea sounds like a good one.

I experience the same thing. I had the system in my downstairs area, but I lose connection as I walk upstairs to the upper level. I get that there is a wall in the way and you lose x amount of range for whatever thickness the wall is, but you'd think they'd have some sort of booster to increase the range just a bit. I was surprised that some third party didn't step up and make something.

 

[Hyukishi]

Completed my own hard mod with the external antennas using the adapters rather than going to soldering route. I didn't notice great improvement in range either but I do like the cosmetic effect of the external antennas more oddly enough.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[SuperNintendo64]

Completed my own hard mod with the external antennas using the adapters rather than going to soldering route. I didn't notice great improvement in range either but I do like the cosmetic effect of the external antennas more oddly enough.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Im trying something like this right now. In fact i got basically the same set of cables/antennas as you.

My WiiU still open but i got to try the mod last night. I got absolutely nothing. My gamepad lost connection at the exact same spot as it did before the hack


Maybe i installed the antenna cables at the wrong chip?

I put it into that one chip with the red cable. Took both antenas out of this one and replaced with the pigtail cables/antennas

Was i right?

PS: i also dont know what to do with that black piece of plastic that is in the picture.