Hacking A better way (in my opinion) to connect an 8-pin modchip externally

fizix · May 15, 2008

I did this a while ago but hadn't really had time to post about it until now:

I was looking at mounting my 8-pin (YOASM) chip externally and saw that a few people had used a 9-pin serial port connector on the back of their Wiis. I liked this approach but chose to use an RJ45 (ethernet) connector to connect my modchip externally instead. Here are my reasons:

Color-coded wires
Smaller connector
Quick disconnection (for swapping or detection avoidance)
Ease of changing the pinout
Availability and price of parts (already had them)

Here are a couple pictures:

You can see that I put it right below the power port

I don't currently have any pictures taken of the chip side but I basically picked up a pack of 8-pin sockets from Radio Hack, snipped the end off a Cat5 cable (that I'd already sacrificed part of for the internal wires), and soldered the socket to the wires sticking out of the connector. It was fairly painless and allows me to take my chip out of the socket for reflashing. I guess if I got really crazy I could solder up another and swap chips in the blink of an eye, but right now I'm only using one.

Let me know what you think!

Marios_shadow · May 15, 2008

That's pretty cool, man!

TheStump · May 15, 2008

great idea, i was trying to think of a good way to externally have my modchip on the wii. More hi-rez pics would be great.

Scorpei · May 15, 2008

It's been done/suggested before and it isn't a bad idea. It's just changing the connection type (to a smaller one). A matter of preference I suppose:

* Color-coded wires -- Can be done on a 9-pin serial too

* Smaller connector -- True, but could pose a problem putting some current over it.
* Quick disconnection (for swapping or detection avoidance) -- Same as the color coding, not much different with a 9pin.
* Ease of changing the pinout -- Same

* Availability and price of parts (already had them) -- Well that is of course depending on where you live/what kind of work you do. Never had a problem getting hold of cheap 9 pin serial connections

. In your case your connection is easier as you already had your parts ^^.

I would put the connector underneath the USB ports though, I think there is more room there to sink in the entire connector instead of having it stick out.

fizix · May 15, 2008

Scorpei said:
* Color-coded wires -- Can be done on a 9-pin serial too

You're right, depending on what wire you choose. However, CAT5 is already color-coded so you don't have to buy 8 different colors of wire.

Scorpei said:

* Smaller connector -- True, but could pose a problem putting some current over it.
I don't ever see this being a problem considering POE (power over ethernet) uses 36–57 V DC and currents of 10–400 mA. See here: POE Wiki

Scorpei said:

* Quick disconnection (for swapping or detection avoidance) -- Same as the color coding, not much different with a 9pin.
Not MUCH different but if you use the screws on the serial connector it takes longer to disconnect the dongle and if you don't, you risk it getting knocked off. RJ45 gives you the best of both worlds (no screws, no risk of being knocked off).
QUOTE(Scorpei @ May 15 2008, 09:31 AM) * Ease of changing the pinout -- Same

Click to expand...

Wouldn't you have to re-solder the connector to change the pinout?
QUOTE(Scorpei @ May 15 2008, 09:31 AM)

Click to expand...

* Availability and price of parts (already had them) -- Well that is of course depending on where you live/what kind of work you do. Never had a problem getting hold of cheap 9 pin serial connections

. In your case your connection is easier as you already had your parts ^^.

Right, depends where you live and what you do. If you have to buy the parts, I think it's usually easier to find ethernet equipment than serial connectors.

Hacking A better way (in my opinion) to connect an 8-pin modchip externally

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