Tutorial  Updated

Internal modchip - SAMD21 (Trinket M0, Gemma M0, ItsyBitsy M0 Express) Guide, Files & Support

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Please please accept my apologies if I haven`t replied to tags etc... I have no idea what is happening. I`m subscribed to this thread but I am not receiving notifications. Please inbox me if possible. Or tag me in another thread.

Its amazing that people are still checking all of this out. I thank you for all of the help and support I have received in this thread over this year.

Cheers. Matty.


A video showing a modchip in action. Thank you once again to @metaljay for providing this. This is what you can achieve by fitting a chip!



Section 1. Gather your software.

Get your chip software from THIS THREAD.
Follow the flashing instructions there...




Section 2. Removing USB port and unneeded LEDs. (Adafruit chips only)
  • Next, we need to remove the USB port from the modchip. I recommend a heatgun or a rework station. Heat up until the USB port just lifts off the modchip.
  • Do the same for the LED just to the right of the USB port.
See picture:
20181031_110415.jpg


You are now ready to fit your device. Proceed to Fitting section.





Section 3. Fitting modchip to your Switch.
New Universal Method. All SAMD-based internal chips. If your chip is not supported and you cannot work it out, PM me.

Trinket M0.
Solder as laid out in the following picture

trinketfinal.jpg

==================================================
Rebug SwitchME M0. Use Trinket files.
Solder as laid out in the following picture

rebugfinal.jpg

==================================================
RCMX86 - Internal modchip version.
Solder as laid out in the following picture

RCMX86-Internal-Final.jpg


==================================================
Gemma M0. Use Gemma files.
Solder as laid out in the following picture


gemma final.jpg

==================================================
ItsyBitsy M0 Express. Use ItsyBitsy files.
Solder as laid out in the following picture

itsybitsyfinal.jpg




==================================================
Feather M0 Express. Use Feather files.
Solder as laid out in the following picture

feather_final.jpg




BUILD YOUR OWN FROM A QFP ATSAMD21E18. Trinket equivalent pins.
Flash Trinket bootloader using OpenOCD via serial pins SWDIO / SWDCLK. Fit a reset switch somewhere... Or going to power / wake (aka method 2). If building for external use, it is good practice to fit a third capacitor between 3V & GND. This is deliberately vague and ambigious, as this needs research and you need to know what you are doing.

Link for setting the Pi up with OpenOCD: HERE
Raspberry Pi OpenOCD image in downloads section or HERE
SAMD pi connection.png



Alternative Solder Points

Credit to @consolex for original pic. I`ve added alternative points to solder to:
Alternatepoints.jpg


Credit to @pyorin for this much tidier version showing the same info as the above one!
Alternatepoints2.jpg

s-l1600.jpg

alternative3v.jpg




Replacement Parts List

Ok... So you have damaged your switch soldering your chip in. Not to worry.

First things first, DO NOT BRIDGE THE CONTACTS HOPING TO REVIVE YOUR SWITCH. With resistors, you may possibly get away with this, but with the capacitors listed below, if you jump these points, you will make a nice short-circuit to the PMIC and / or the M92T36, killing them instantly. Don`t do it.

OK... I`ll list these parts with METHOD 2 & 3 TRINKET PIN NUMBERS and the values of the components they solder to.

TRINKET 3V (POWER SUPPLY) - 2.2uF 0402 size MLCC capacitor. Voltage unimportant as long as it is over 6.3v
TRINKET PIN 2 (POWER ON RESET - goes to pin 5 on M92T36)- 4.7uF 0402 size MLCC capacitor. Voltage unimportant as long as it is over 6.3v
TRINKET PIN 0 (VOL+) - 150R (150 ohms) 0201 Thick Film resistor. 50mW
TRINKET RESET (SWITCH POWER BUTTON) - 150R (150 ohms) 0201 Thick Film resistor. 50mW


I recommend RS components.

FAQ

Q - How do I boot the switch into APX (RCM) mode?

A - You need to short out pin 10 on the right joycon rail to GND with a jig or modded joycon or paperclip (not recommended... Buy a jig you cheap-ass gyppo). Once shorted out, hold down vol+ and power. The switch screen should be off... Plug into your PC and it should recognise a APX device. Well done. You are in RCM.

Q - What glue should I use?
A - Only glue if necessary! Ideally if your soldering is of sufficient quality and your wire is thin enough, you don`t need glue. I use a bit because I am OCD. Anyway, use Epoxy. It`s what I use. Gives you some working time, is solid. Superglue makes a mess DO NOT USE SUPERGLUE. The only thing super about it is how it melts things. Epoxy won`t stick to the shield long-term, so bear that in mind. Pure Acetone will remove epoxy. Acetone tends to remove / melt anything to be warned. CHECK YOUR GLUE WON`T GO CONDUCTIVE OVER TIME - LOOKING AT YOU SCAMSUNG! The combination of heat cycles and absorbing of moisture can turn adhesive into a high-impedance connection!

Q - What size wire should I use?
A - I use AWG40 magnet wire or AWG30 Kynar. AWG40 goes onto components easier... And if you snap it, chances are the wire will snap and not the trace / component.
A2 - You can also use AWG30. I recommend Kynar wrapping wire but any will do. Looks nice, good resistance to elements, tidy. Nothing thicker than AWG30. You are just causing yourself more headaches. Trust me.

Q - Is AWG40 thick enough?
A - Yes. AWG40 is good for around 90mA.

Q - which methods do you recommend?
A - Connect all the straps...

Q - how do you recommend to set it up?
A - Fusee Suite. Search for Fusee Suite or go to link at top of this OP.

Q - My switch is flat and won't turn on.
A - Have you got the charger connected? Disconnect it or your switch won't boot! Boot to a payload (SX loader/Hekate), reconnect charger and leave on the payload menu and charge. Leave for 15 minutes and switch will start normally. It will continue charging one booted.

Disclaimer:
You have only yourself to blame. This voids warranty. This may or may not get you banned from online services. If it does, you got yourself banned. I`m not responsible if you kill your switch / your first-born with any of this in this post. I`m not infalliable. I`m partly senile. Do your own research. Kids, get bill payers permission before you attempt even using a screwdriver.
NUTSHELL: Don`t come having a go at me because you fooked your £300 console up. I`ll do my best to help you though if you do, Just don`t blame me.

Credits to Quantum-Cross, Atlas44, @Ninoh-FOX , @jcrorxp , @tecfreak, @mooglazer, @subcon959, @64Dp128k, @mikeleuskaldunak, @M-O-B, CTCaer, @evilsperm, @consolex and everyone else for valuable input.


IF YOU REQUIRE SUPPORT, IF YOUR CONSOLE ISN`T WORKING CORRECTLY... PLEASE POST A HIGH RESOLUTION PICTURE OF YOUR INSTALL. You might think it isn`t your soldering, but in all cases with the new methods, it is bad soldering. So, please post a picture.


A BRIEF WARNING - PLEASE READ
THIS MOD IS NOT FOR THE FEINT OF HEART. WE ARE SOLDERING TO TRACES AND COMPONENTS ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE BOARD TO SAVE HAVING TO REMOVE THE BOARD AND SOLDER TO TESTPOINTS. IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING, OR THINK YOU ARE GOING TO STRUGGLE, PLEASE PLEASE SOLDER TO THE TEST POINTS NOTED IN THIS AND OTHER THREADS (YOU WILL NEED TO REMOVE THE MOTHERBOARD). DOUBLE - TRIPLE CHECK EVERYTHING. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!
Good soldering skills are needed!
A magnifying glass is needed!
Good soldering iron needed - ideally with a 0.3 conical tip. No more than 30w!
SECURE YOUR WIRES PRIOR TO SOLDERING. Stick them down with double-sided tape.
Only use glue if you need to and glue wires after soldering. Don`t glue the solder to the component!
Put the tiniest amount of glue on the PCB mask only. Never on components. Use a cocktail stick for more glue control!!!
Take a look at alternative solder points to get you out of the sh*t if you do rip something off the board
If you aren`t the best at soldering, then think very carefully about connecting to pin 6 capacitor (the one in these new methods). If you rip this pad, you WILL NEED TO REMOVE YOUR BOARD and run from a testpoint.
 

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Canna

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Hi guys,
I tried to prepare trinket m0 for installation. However, i ended up with the picture attached while trying to solder the data pins, do you think i still can fix it or is it broken?

Weres your flux ??

And use some solder wick to remove the solder on there ... should be ok long as you not lifted the pads
 

Sandmann

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Hi,
I use the legacy method 3

SX OS: works
hekate: works
ReiX: not working
rajNX: not working

Trinket M0 stays off and does not respond to Power + vol +

Please look over it
Thank you! @mattytrog
 
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mattytrog

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@Sandmann

Everybody else too.
Had busy hour. Updated all legacy method 3 files
Added device disable files.

Everything moved to Github now.

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

Hi guys,
I tried to prepare trinket m0 for installation. However, i ended up with the picture attached while trying to solder the data pins, do you think i still can fix it or is it broken?

The pins look intact on that pic. Maybe bridged or covered in flux... But if it is knackered pads, you can go straight off the SAMD with some AWG40 and solder that way :)
 

mattytrog

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@Canna Don`t know if you still doing your dongle project. Have a look at OP now files have been updated. May be something that may help you

:)
 

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Hi guys,
I tried to prepare trinket m0 for installation. However, i ended up with the picture attached while trying to solder the data pins, do you think i still can fix it or is it broken?

If you damaged the data pins under the micro USB connector, you can still repair it. You'll need to solder to pins 23 and 24 (iirc) on the SAMD21.

5c824eb1d4c78c047ea8800dd80c281f.jpg
 

BenLM

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In the datasheet apparently pin 23 and 24 can be replaced by pin 1 and 2 if I am not mistaken (24 = 1 23 =2)
If anyone can confirm

upload_2018-9-6_22-26-29.png


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

upload_2018-9-6_22-28-50.png
 

mattytrog

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on the G18, 1 & 2 are for a crystal it seems. Even though the colours are wrong on the datasheet.
 

ciariello

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hi mattytrog I did the console upgrade from fw 4.1.0 to 5.1.0 to enable exFAT support with ChoiDujourNX with autoRCM enabled.

Before I did a total dump of the nand (raw + boot0 + boot1) of version 4.1.0

I used Trinket M0 method 1 (4 wires) with ReiNX

Everything good but....

But now when I put the Switch on the dock totally OFF the LED blink and the Switch does not turn on automatically and does not start automatically even if you plug the power supply directly into the USB-C port

I removed the installation, i disabled the autoRCM with Brikmii v2, formatted the console but the problem remains.

I tried with another dock same problem. I tried another Switch on the dock this dock without issue.
Any suggestions ?

Thanks in advance
 
Last edited by ciariello,

mattytrog

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hi mattytrog I did the console upgrade from fw 4.1.0 to 5.1.0 to enable exFAT support with ChoiDujourNX with autoRCM enabled.

Before I did a total dump of the nand (raw + boot0 + boot1) of version 4.1.0

I used Trinket M0 method 1 (4 wires) with ReiNX

Everything good but....

But now when I put the Switch on the dock totally OFF the LED blink and the Switch does not turn on automatically and does not start automatically even if you plug the power supply directly into the USB-C port

I removed the installation, i disabled the autoRCM with Brikmii v2, formatted the console but the problem remains.

I tried with another dock same problem. I tried another Switch on the dock this dock without issue.
Any suggestions ?

Thanks in advance

Welcome to the madhouse!

Right... Lets see

  • "does not start automatically if you plug the power supply directly into the USB-C port"
It won`t. If you plug straight in to a power supply (any USB-C power supply apart from the dock), it will put the console into RCM.


  • "But now when I put the Switch on the dock totally OFF the LED blink and the Switch does not turn on automatically"
It should not do this. When you place into the dock, the console should start.

So, we will start with how I ask everyone to start... Can you post some high-resolution pictures of your board? Just the M92T36 chip area?

I want to see if anything is amiss there.

Which file are you using on the trinket?

Cheers
 

mattytrog

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What this is, is a virgin chip I bought from RS components. £5 ish for pack of two.

Programmed with OpenOCD from a Pi zero via VNC/SSH

The big square board is just a prototype board.

Might put a hookup guide in OP. Good idea?

Boardless chip nearly here! Basically, just stick the QFP package to an empty area on the board on top of some kapton, solder a couple of wires off the legs aka PS1 days, done.

Shield goes back on. Nobody is the wiser...
 

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ciariello

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Welcome to the madhouse!

Right... Lets see

  • "does not start automatically if you plug the power supply directly into the USB-C port"
It won`t. If you plug straight in to a power supply (any USB-C power supply apart from the dock), it will put the console into RCM.


  • "But now when I put the Switch on the dock totally OFF the LED blink and the Switch does not turn on automatically"
It should not do this. When you place into the dock, the console should start.

So, we will start with how I ask everyone to start... Can you post some high-resolution pictures of your board? Just the M92T36 chip area?

I want to see if anything is amiss there.

Which file are you using on the trinket?

Cheers

(SOLVED) - Sorry.....an invisible short on 3v between the condenser (i found it with usb microscope!!!)....now it works nicely!

thank you
 
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roamin

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What this is, is a virgin chip I bought from RS components. £5 ish for pack of two.

Programmed with OpenOCD from a Pi zero via VNC/SSH

The big square board is just a prototype board.

Might put a hookup guide in OP. Good idea?

Boardless chip nearly here! Basically, just stick the QFP package to an empty area on the board on top of some kapton, solder a couple of wires off the legs aka PS1 days, done.

Shield goes back on. Nobody is the wiser...

one chip to rule them all. $5 for 2, its getting cheaper every time.
 
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mattytrog

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Here we are. Might be useful if you want to roll-your-own Trinket.

Added a picture to OP. Just download and flash Trinket bootloader with OpenOCD.

I`ve left it ambigious on purpose (re flashing bootloader). If you cannot understand or flash the bootloader using OpenOCD, you should not be attempting this.

Save your money and buy a pre-assembled unit instead.

:)
 
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