Hacking Hardware Picofly - a HWFLY switch modchip

[Tafty]

I'm using a grossly oversized tip honestly because I haven't felt like replacing it, but I can 2nd the importance of low-temp solders for things like this.

Good thing solder has flux in it. What on earth type of flux were you using that smells like food? Personally, I use Kingbo RMA-218 BGA flux. Use the syringes, not the jars.

Im using kingbo aswell in a syringe, it's been my go to flux for a while now as its easier to work with

 

[TheSynthax]

Sorry for dumb question. I can't quite get the reason we can't boot custom firmware, can anyone explain?

The SD loader in the RP2040 firmware is broken.

Speaking of, does anyone know how this SD loader is compressed when stored in the RP2040? None of my usual methods have been able to locate any magic numbers or headers.

 

[pixxel13]

The SD loader in the RP2040 firmware is broken.

Speaking of, does anyone know how this SD loader is compressed when stored in the RP2040? None of my usual methods have been able to locate any magic numbers or headers.

Wouldn't that mean that we can't load any firmware??

 

[TheSynthax]

Wouldn't that mean that we can't load any firmware??

It has to properly "pass the torch" from the bootROM since we can't run code in EL3 on Ipatched or Mariko units. Basically, Hekate and Horizon expects it to handle certain things on its own that it isn't doing, therefore Hekate can't launch Horizon- the system hasn't been put into a state where Horizon can be launched since the startup process wasn't completed properly. Booting a modern system is highly complex, especially on ARM. The Linux kernel doesn't care that the boot process hasn't been done properly, as it isn't using the DRM features built into the Switch hardware/firmware.

 

[gol300]

Apparently the Pikofly thing is on the right track, I thought it was SMOKE. Excellent

 

[pixxel13]

It has to properly "pass the torch" from the bootROM since we can't run code in EL3 on Ipatched or Mariko units. Basically, Hekate and Horizon expects it to handle certain things on its own that it isn't doing, therefore Hekate can't launch Horizon- the system hasn't been put into a state where Horizon can be launched since the startup process wasn't completed properly. Booting a modern system is highly complex, especially on ARM. The Linux kernel doesn't care that the boot process hasn't been done properly, as it isn't using the DRM features built into the Switch hardware/firmware.

So we have to manually search for what's wrong, right?

 

[TheSynthax]

So we have to manually search for what's wrong, right?

Swapping the SD loader should fix the issue. We could manually insert it into eMMC, though that'd be a pain in the rectum on OLED and Lite, and it would just get replaced by the Pi's firmware anyway. What we need to do is locate the compressed SD loader binary in the firmware, figure out how it's compressed, and swap it with Spacecraft-NX or HWFLY-NX.

At least until an open-source reimplementation is sorted out. That shouldn't take too many weeks/months, given that it should now be easy to reverse engineer this firmware since it does work, it just needs the right binaries to load on the console.

 

[rulles]

Hello everyone.
I need some help or advise from you guys.
I have one switch Mariko, and right now, my options be buy a hwfly Core or wait and try pikofly when it be working (what I think that not be far).
I have some skills with solder, but nothing too tiny like the components on switch. Looking my skills and what I need to do in flex for hwfly, I think maybe 50% in difficult for me solder the flex.
So, by that, and in pikofly the solder point are more that the flex and maybe more tiny, what you guys suggest?! Buy the hwfly or wait for pikofly?!
Another thing, I'm thinking buy this tool set for solder.
That should be good/enought?!
Thanks for all help/suggest you can provide.

 

[pixxel13]

Hello everyone.
I need some help or advise from you guys.
I have one switch Mariko, and right now, my options be buy a hwfly Core or wait and try pikofly when it be working (what I think that not be far).
I have some skills with solder, but nothing too tiny like the components on switch. Looking my skills and what I need to do in flex for hwfly, I think maybe 50% in difficult for me solder the flex.
So, by that, and in pikofly the solder point are more that the flex and maybe more tiny, what you guys suggest?! Buy the hwfly or wait for pikofly?!
Another thing, I'm thinking buy this tool set for solder.
That should be good/enought?!
Thanks for all help/suggest you can provide.

If you are willing to spend the money on a hwfly go ahead, personally I would wait, that is what I am doing and a switch is still playable without modding.

 

[TheSynthax]

Hello everyone.
I need some help or advise from you guys.
I have one switch Mariko, and right now, my options be buy a hwfly Core or wait and try pikofly when it be working (what I think that not be far).
I have some skills with solder, but nothing too tiny like the components on switch. Looking my skills and what I need to do in flex for hwfly, I think maybe 50% in difficult for me solder the flex.
So, by that, and in pikofly the solder point are more that the flex and maybe more tiny, what you guys suggest?! Buy the hwfly or wait for pikofly?!
Another thing, I'm thinking buy this tool set for solder.
That should be good/enought?!
Thanks for all help/suggest you can provide.

The iron should be plenty good, but those tips are probably really bad and will either permanently destroy your console or literally dissolve in the solder after barely any use. Get a Hakko T18BL or T18-BR02 tip to go with that iron, I doubt that 0.2mm tip is any good and will probably be cold at the tip, leading to you cranking up the heat on the iron and losing all control over your soldering temps. You will also want a syringe of Kingbo flux, and some Sn63/Pb37 solder or other low melting point solder. Do not use standard lead free, do not use the solder that comes with that iron, and do not use the flux or tips that come with that iron. Also, get some 40AWG enamel wire. If you haven't done this before, seriously practice on the cheapest broken Switch or bare board you can find on eBay or similar A LOT before you ever touch a working console.

Edit: Actually even better, just get a Pinecil and a TS-100 I-tip

Edit 2: Don't even try to install an HWFLY, SX, or RP2040 without absolute confidence you aren't going to kill your console. It's dumb to even try, these are not for novices to soldering.

 

[Deleted member 194275]

Hello everyone.
I need some help or advise from you guys.
I have one switch Mariko, and right now, my options be buy a hwfly Core or wait and try pikofly when it be working (what I think that not be far).
I have some skills with solder, but nothing too tiny like the components on switch. Looking my skills and what I need to do in flex for hwfly, I think maybe 50% in difficult for me solder the flex.
So, by that, and in pikofly the solder point are more that the flex and maybe more tiny, what you guys suggest?! Buy the hwfly or wait for pikofly?!
Another thing, I'm thinking buy this tool set for solder.
That should be good/enought?!
Thanks for all help/suggest you can provide.

About hwfly vs pico, hwfly works, pico fly is yet under development, the good people of this forum is learning and sharing while going along, but we not quite there yet.

about soldering yourself, if you don't have the tools why do it yourself? It will be cheaper just to pay a professional to do it (I recommend cell phone repair shops).

If you intention is get into electronics fixing and modding, then get the tools, but you should not start with the switch due to the size of the components, and you kinda don't need anything fancy to learn and improve.

 

[szubiennica]

Hello everyone.
I need some help or advise from you guys.
I have one switch Mariko, and right now, my options be buy a hwfly Core or wait and try pikofly when it be working (what I think that not be far).
I have some skills with solder, but nothing too tiny like the components on switch. Looking my skills and what I need to do in flex for hwfly, I think maybe 50% in difficult for me solder the flex.
So, by that, and in pikofly the solder point are more that the flex and maybe more tiny, what you guys suggest?! Buy the hwfly or wait for pikofly?!
Another thing, I'm thinking buy this tool set for solder.
That should be good/enought?!
Thanks for all help/suggest you can provide.

google t12X (superior cheap soldering station or w.e.p. 936

 

[pixxel13]

About hwfly vs pico, hwfly works, pico fly is yet under development, the good people of this forum is learning and sharing while going along, but we not quite there yet.

about soldering yourself, if you don't have the tools why do it yourself? It will be cheaper just to pay a professional to do it (I recommend cell phone repair shops).

If you intention is get into electronics fixing and modding, then get the tools, but you should not start with the switch due to the size of the components, and you kinda don't need anything fancy to learn and improve.

won't the picofly be easier to solder?

 

[Deleted member 194275]

won't the picofly be easier to solder?

looks like it will be just the same. Right now they are using the hwfly ribbon cable after all.

It will be not be extremely easy like the pico for the gamecube, if is that what is crossing your mind.

 

[szubiennica]

won't the picofly be easier to solder?

Basicly it uses the same solder points, but for example hw core uses flex cable (you remove emmc from switch and insert it into socket of hwfly (no dat 0, clk, dmd soldering is needed), howewer with pico you have to solder this points to a very little soldering pads

 

[TheSynthax]

won't the picofly be easier to solder?

Not by any stretch of the imagination. The SX-Core/Lite and the HWFLY are designed to hold your hand with flex QSBs and ZIF connectors and convenient shapes for mounting in the Switch and being a neat install. This is FAR more advanced even if you try to use the HWFLY ribbons.

Edit: and when someone inevitably makes an HWFLY clone with a custom PCB using an RP2040, only then will it come down to the same level of difficulty as the HWFLY.

 

[l7777]

I need some help or advise from you guys.
I have one switch Mariko, and right now, my options be buy a hwfly Core or wait and try pikofly when it be working (what I think that not be far).
I have some skills with solder, but nothing too tiny like the components on switch. Looking my skills and what I need to do in flex for hwfly, I think maybe 50% in difficult for me solder the flex.
So, by that, and in pikofly the solder point are more that the flex and maybe more tiny, what you guys suggest?! Buy the hwfly or wait for pikofly?!
Another thing, I'm thinking buy this tool set for solder.
That should be good/enought?!
Thanks for all help/suggest you can provide.

Edit: Actually even better, just get a Pinecil and a TS-100 I-tip

This. A Pinecil or other TS-100 based iron will be far superior.

 

[pixxel13]

looks like it will be just the same. Right now they are using the hwfly ribbon cable after all.

It will be not be extremely easy like the pico for the gamecube, if is that what is crossing your mind.

I mean yeah, on gamecube it was just some cables

Basicly it uses the same solder points, but for example hw core uses flex cable (you remove emmc from switch and insert it into socket of hwfly (no dat 0, clk, dmd soldering is needed), howewer with pico you have to solder this points to a very little soldering pads

got it, thank you

 

[Piorjade]

Is it a Lite/OLED?

Normal Mariko

 

[vittorio]

delete