--==M37R01Dz M0Dz ==--
--==WiiJii Chip Kit & IC Prog Lite Review==--
First as always I would like to thank the people over at www.WiiJiiChip.com for the sample to review, Thanks :-)
The WiiJii Chip kit is a simple and easy to use all-in-one open source PIC and programmer kit. The kit includes everything to get you started flashing all your wii hex codes from WiiFree, to Wiinja, even your own custom hex, plus the many more that are available.
In this kit you will receive:
1x JDM Programmer
1x DVD drive header
1x PIC12F629 surface mount chip on a PCB
5x Precut and stripped Kynar 30 awg wires
The software, IC-Prog Lite, can be downloaded on their site, or you can CLICK HERE
--==Install==--
The install is pretty strait forward and not to difficult at all, making it great for the novice modder.
The first step was to flash the supplied chip. We attached the programmer to the chip and plugged it into the serial port on the PC, and fired up IC-Prog Lite.
Once you start the program you will have a GUI with 2 buttons, open and flash. Click the open button and load your hex file. In this case we tried the Wiinja v2 hex and WiiFree 2.45 which can be found in their official support forums on www.wiinewz.com. Once you see your file name in the GUI, and your COM port setting is properly set, click the flash button.
VERY IMPOTANT: The first thing that will happen is IC-Prog Lite, will read the OSCCAL Value and display it in the corner. Write down your chips value as you will need it for backup purposes.
Once your chip is flashed you are ready to move to the soldering side of the install.
The soldering side is only 5 points which are fairly easy to solder to. And are the same 5 points for most chips on the market. Their wiring diagram can be found HERE
I found the easiest way for now was to solder one wire to point A on the DVD drive then to the point A on the Header.
Then do the same for points B - E Apply a but of electrical tape over the points, and connect the dvd drive back to the Wii and screw it down. Next wrap the wires around the back of the console towards the USB ports.
Once you put the Wii’s case lid back on and screw it all down, remove the white plastic on the back of the header and stick it to the back of the Wii. Plug in the PIC chip and you are ready to go.
--==Testing==--
Once the chip was plugged into the header, and the console was booted, it read all my originals, legal Wii backups, and legal GC backups flawlessly. Next step we removed the PIC from the header and connected it once again to the programmer. Fired up IC-Prog Lite and reflashed our PIC again. After reconnecting it back to the Wii, again everything booted without a glitch.
Reprogramming is a breeze with the included software, all the extra and advanced features have been cut out, to bring you a basic interface to easily program and reprogram you PIC.
--==Conclusion==--
This kit comes in handy to many people, if your looking to try your own code, or have the ease of reprogramming code to your PIC chip, this kit is for you. Never bend your PIC’s IC legs again tryin to pull it out of the socket with the PBC designed chip. The install shouldn’t be a problem, and in no way does this require you to cut your case.
Pros
Cons
You can order you WiiJii Chip kit direct right now from their site for $24.99ea. or $114.99 for a 5 pack.
http://wiijiichip.com/shop.html