Hacking Why buy modchips over Chiip?

[quadomatic]

This may seem like a strange question, but why does anyone bother buying a Wiikey, or any other mod chip when building a Chiip seems so easy?

 

[zosh]

This may seem like a strange question, but why does anyone bother buying a Wiikey, or any other mod chip when building a Chiip seems so easy?

For the same reason as any other DIY project, electronics or otherwise: Many people prefer to pay for manufactured goods instead of investing time, energy, and money into building them themselves with uncertain results.

It's a valid decision. I built a Chiip and a programmer and tought myself to solder for it, it was great fun and a very satisfying experience when it all worked. Even though economically it was a bad decision since I could've made much more money in the time I invested in it than a commercial modchip and its installation would've cost. No regrets though.

 

[Hooya]

I wonder the same thing. I install chips locally and so far out of around 20 installs only two have wanted WiiKey, all the rest went with WiiFree since I provided it for them for a nominal fee. I make a couple bucks more and they don't have to pay $30+ and shipping.

Heck, even if you don't want to go through building and programming your own WiiFree or Chiip, you can purchase pre-programmed chips for around $3.

 

[Louse76]

Who's selling pre-programmed chips for $3? Right.

Anyhow, clones are cheap. And when you get over a certain age, your time is actually worth money.

I work 55+ hrs per week, plus modding and other side projects, etc. That just wouldn't be worth my time at this point. However it's something I want to look toward in the future.

 

[icewarp]

Aren´t there technical differences between them?

 

[iamwhoiam]

I'd rather get a wiifree than a chiip.... only 8 pin PIC required

 

[shtonkalot]

Who's selling pre-programmed chips for $3? Right.

I believe Hooya may be refering to this place: ATVGC

 

[Hooya]

Who's selling pre-programmed chips for $3? Right.I believe Hooya may be refering to this place: ATVGC

That's not actually the site I saw, but I can't remember what I saw, so that works! You can also get a programmer package with some PICs from some Ebay sellers for about the cost of a clone modchip anyway, so you can even program your own and you still haven't bothered actually building anything provided you have a serial port on your desktop computer.

 

[Hooya]

Who's selling pre-programmed chips for $3? Right.

Anyhow, clones are cheap. And when you get over a certain age, your time is actually worth money.

I work 55+ hrs per week, plus modding and other side projects, etc. That just wouldn't be worth my time at this point. However it's something I want to look toward in the future.

by the way, I'm older than you.

 

[jaxxster]

Because some people dont have the means to make these free chips.