I've been thinking about installing my first modchip, the wiikey, on the Wii. First I want to get some practice soldering though, and basically learn how to do it. I don't want to go in blind with a $250 device. I've avoided learning how to solder for quite some time by using softmods or a flip top in my ps2's case. Well, I don't really feel like waiting around for that type of thing :\
I also don't really want to pay someone to do it. I would much rather learn it myself so I have another skill, and in case I want to install mod chips on other consoles.
I just need some tips on how to approach this if at all possible. Thanks.
Yes, I have read this thread already and I find it to be very useful. My main question is if I can get something to practice on beforehand. Like I said, I'm not really concerned about how difficult it is to learn, I just want to learn, but I don't want to use the real thing first.
Also, I'm intending to do a wired install because I've read it's better or easier.
EDIT: Well I did some looking around and bought a practice solder kit.. I wasn't sure if they were around actually, but it should make me feel more confident anyway. i'll go ahead and purchase the wiikey.
not a big deal, the thing only cost about $12 and I'm not sure If I have old hardware to practice on, but I may do both.... This will identify if I'm doing things correctly though, making good connections etc..
If you are worried about making a good connection.. Make sure you have a multimeter or a cobbed up light bulb and batter with wires.
I woudl also suggest get some electrical flux. Even though the solder has it in there. It will make it alot easier.
I went and bought everything I'd need from RadioShack today or at least what I think i need :\
I didn't get the 30 gauge Kynar wire, my radioshack didn't have it. :(
I did get the 15 watt iron, the .022 solder, electrical tape, wire cutter, and some 24 gauge wire to practice with.
I may be going a little extravagant with this whole soldering thing but I want to make sure I get it down completely. Not just for this mod, but for mods on my computer (video cards etc) and other consoles in the future. Soldering has been a limiting factor for me for awhile now and I really want to get it out of the way.
I did think about buying the Flux and the multimeter, but it seemed like the multimeter was too expensive and I looked around and didn't notice any flux.
I will get the 30 gauge wire with my chip, along with the tri-wing screwdriver.
EDIT: I soldered on an old remote control(Still works but I no longer have the tv that went with it) and just connected the wire at random places. I put the thing together and it didn't work with the wires (which makes sense :o) but then i took them off and wallah it worked! so i must not be doing that bad to destroy it :) worst things i'm doing right now is burning myself and i think i burned off one of the very small soldering pads :\
Hey I just wanted to let you know, I bought my chip from modchipstore, got it today installed it and everything works (well, I've only been able to test out the wiikey setup disk unfortunately, but I'll have to go buy some more DVD-rs to test it..
On a side note, I made a lot of stupid mistakes that made the install A LOT longer than it needed to be.. 1st, i soldered the wires to the wii first which was a no no because I couldn't route the wires to the chip right.. then connections were breaking off and stuff and well... it just took me awhile to get the hang of how to go about it.
Then, I probably screwed up and didn't have the dvd ribbon in enough or something so it wouldn't even take discs at first. I re connected the ribbon and everything is working fine. Just put some electrical tape over the Wiikey...
All in all, the points were about the size of that I was practicing on so the actually soldering to the wii was easy. Routing the wires and everything was a real pain, and I also had trouble getting solder on the quick solder pads :\
Well everything works so I'm glad it's all over with now I have to work on re-assembling my wii correctly.
Good Job South. Not that it matters for you now though. When i soldered the wires to the wii, I left the insulation on the wire at the ends. So i kind of knew that the ones with insulation at the ends went there adn then the different lengths went in order.
Did you use any flux. I know that theres flux in the solder but using what radio shack had, the wires kind of just snapped in place.
I didn't bother with the flux. It seemed like with the 30awg wire it was easy enough.
Most of my troubles came from lack of experience routing wires, the actual soldering didn't seem like a big deal. Except flux may have made it easier soldering to the actual modchip, it just wouldn't stick there too easily. All I had to do for the wii dvd drive was touch the wire to the point that was tinned with my soldering iron and it stuck basically right away. No need to hold it there more than a second or 2 max when the iron is sufficiently hot. (I probably held it there less than a second in some cases) I'm glad i read up on the wet sponge/rag though because it came in handy for getting rid of excess solder on the iron.
On a side note, Modchipstore sent me some solder that was too big in my opinion I used the .022 i bought from radio shack.
EDIT: Also, I will be testing my first Wii backup momentarily, I'll update later..
EDIT: Yep.. Wii games work fine.. Everything is good :)
