Worklog [2024 Contest Entry] WavePhoenix - Open-source implementation of the Nintendo WaveBird protocol

[StormEye45]

What's up nerds.

The first public release of WavePhoenix is now available:

GitHub - loopj/wavephoenix: Open-source implementation of the Nintendo WaveBird protocol using Silicon Labs Wireless Gecko SoCs

Open-source implementation of the Nintendo WaveBird protocol using Silicon Labs Wireless Gecko SoCs - loopj/wavephoenix

github.com

A public WavePhoenix+ release will follow at some point, but feel free to let me know if you'd like to try a WavePhoenix+ beta in the mean time.

I have a number of populated WavePhoenix mini receiver boards that I'll likely save for community members and give away at cost, but I won't be selling these myself outside of that.

Thank you so much for all the support, you all rock!

Congrats on the release loopj, I will for sure be ordering these

 

[tankie3k]

Just ordered parts, like 15 bucks with shipping and buying the pcb from oshpark. I'm so excited that something this big is open source.

 

[StormEye45]

Just ordered parts, like 15 bucks with shipping and buying the pcb from oshpark. I'm so excited that something this big is open source.

I agree, I can't believe it's real. also are you paying 15 for just the pcb or is it assembled?

 

[loopj]

Hey loopj I noticed on the Mouser list this part on your bom list is considered obsolete

Mouser #:306-SM04BSRSSTBLFSNP
Mfr. #:SM04B-SRSS-TB(LF)(SN)(P

They recommend this substitute will it work?

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/306-SM04BSRSSTBLFSN?R=306-SM04BSRSSTBLFSNP&bdprt=1&cartid=280794590

Yes that’s the correct part. If it weren’t for tariffgeddon I would suggest just buying the JST-SH 4-pin socket clones from aliexpress.

 

[tankie3k]

I agree, I can't believe it's real. also are you paying 15 for just the pcb or is it assembled?

I bought just the parts. I live in the U.S. so I had to use some discount stuff to buy from China, but oshpark and digikey orders were both sub $5. The most expensive part was the male connector but I'm hoping I can rip up an extension cord and use that instead because shipping was crazy.

 

[theskipster]

What's up nerds.

The first public release of WavePhoenix is now available:

GitHub - loopj/wavephoenix: Open-source implementation of the Nintendo WaveBird protocol using Silicon Labs Wireless Gecko SoCs

Open-source implementation of the Nintendo WaveBird protocol using Silicon Labs Wireless Gecko SoCs - loopj/wavephoenix

github.com

A public WavePhoenix+ release will follow at some point, but feel free to let me know if you'd like to try a WavePhoenix+ beta in the mean time.

I have a number of populated WavePhoenix mini receiver boards that I'll likely save for community members and give away at cost, but I won't be selling these myself outside of that.

Thank you so much for all the support, you all rock!

Excited to finally have some receivers to go with my WaveBirds! Thinking about ordering the PCBs from OshPark since it's cheaper, but saw that you said the board should be ordered at 1.2mm. OshPark only does .8mm and 1.6mm, will either of those work instead?

 

[loopj]

Both of those board sizes should work, you will have to adjust the case design slightly. The pcb retention “clips” and the button actuator will need to change length slightly.

To be honest I don’t know why I designed for 1.2mm boards when it’s just a simple 2 layer PCB and 1.6mm PCB are so ubiquitous. It might be worth me making an official 1.6mm friendly case version.

 

[theskipster]

Both of those board sizes should work, you will have to adjust the case design slightly. The pcb retention “clips” and the button actuator will need to change length slightly.

To be honest I don’t know why I designed for 1.2mm boards when it’s just a simple 2 layer PCB and 1.6mm PCB are so ubiquitous. It might be worth me making an official 1.6mm friendly case version.

Got it, thanks!

 

[scotianman]

Terrific work! I'm very excited to assemble this. One question: For a newbie to ordering from PCB Way, what are the dimensions of the Wave Phoenix board? I need to input the dimensions before I upload the Gerber files. Maybe I'm going about it the wrong way. Thanks for any help, and again, awesome work!

 

[SkinnyFiend]

Its about 11x6 or something. Just put a rough guess in and upload the gerbers. It'll auto-detect the exact size and you can come back and correct your initial guess.

 

[Y2K]

Terrific work! I'm very excited to assemble this. One question: For a newbie to ordering from PCB Way, what are the dimensions of the Wave Phoenix board? I need to input the dimensions before I upload the Gerber files. Maybe I'm going about it the wrong way. Thanks for any help, and again, awesome work!

I recommend using their Quick PCB quote tool, as you can just upload the gerbers and it calculates the important stuff for you kinda like JLCPCB. You can find that here.

 

[SkinnyFiend]

Anyone in Australia interested in getting in on a group buy for assembled WavePhoenix PCB's from PCBWay? They can do 20 fully-assembled PCB's for about $13 AUD each. I've already got interest for 5 including myself. I'm thinking I'll also offer to program the boards and/or 3D print the case for a bit extra as well if people want. Let me know, I've also posted to the gamecube channel in the Modded Gameboy Club Discord.

Good idea from @Y2K below, I've created a post in the Selling sub. Here is a link: https://bitbuilt.net/forums/index.p...ed-pcbs-an-opensource-wavebird-receiver.6903/

 

[Y2K]

Anyone in Australia interested in getting in on a group buy for assembled WavePhoenix PCB's from PCBWay? They can do 20 fully-assembled PCB's for about $13 AUD each. I've already got interest for 5 including myself. I'm thinking I'll also offer to program the boards and/or 3D print the case for a bit extra as well if people want. Let me know, I've also posted to the gamecube channel in the Modded Gameboy Club Discord.

Nice idea! I would recommend you create a separate thread in the Selling sub forum in User Trading for this so you can track responses more easily. It'll also get more attention than a reply in this thread. Best of luck to you!

 

[Cyclos787]

I'm having trouble sourcing the RF-BM-BG22C3, they went back in stock on Tindie this morning but quickly sold out, I suspect laser bear is probably buying a lot in bulk. Does anyone know of another source for these or does someone in the US have some extras for sale? I see they're on Oneyac but its a $30 order minimum, and its hard for me to see the transparent price including shipping and fees. I have every other part ready so i'm hoping to be able to assemble these soon

 

[Piy]

I would also be interested where to source the RF-BM-BG22C3, but in europe, i wanted to order a batch of pcb pre assembled from jlcpcb but they just have 2 left of the one in the files and have a bunch of alternatives and i'm not sure which to select ^^'

 

[Cyclos787]

I ended up ordering 12 of the RF-BM-BG22C3 modules from ONEYAC. If anyone in the US is passing by looking for parts I will have 7 for sale at cost probably in a few weeks, I'll make a separate post when I get them.

 

[jurai]

Laser Bear has his units up for order, pretty good price ($25), saw him post that he redesigned the board a little but to facilitate parts needs

WavePhoenix Replacement Wavebird GameCube Receiver

Batch 1 Releases 10am CST May 26th 2025Batch 2 Pre-Order will start when Batch 1 sells through. Batch 2 expected to ship Early July or sooner. The WavePhoenix Receiver replaces stock receivers that are hard to find these days allowing you to use Wavebird controllers that are missing their...

www.laserbear.net

 

[jurai]

I'm having trouble sourcing the RF-BM-BG22C3, they went back in stock on Tindie this morning but quickly sold out, I suspect laser bear is probably buying a lot in bulk. Does anyone know of another source for these or does someone in the US have some extras for sale? I see they're on Oneyac but its a $30 order minimum, and its hard for me to see the transparent price including shipping and fees. I have every other part ready so i'm hoping to be able to assemble these soon

https://fxtwitter.com/collingall/status/1923046874149204192

He decided to redesign his own build since the modules were scarce

 

[Amahumahaba]

I ended up ordering 12 of the RF-BM-BG22C3 modules from ONEYAC. If anyone in the US is passing by looking for parts I will have 7 for sale at cost probably in a few weeks, I'll make a separate post when I get them.

How did you end up getting shipping to go through? I was planning on ordering a bunch of them but shipping seems impossible on that site.
I'd probably be interested in those if they are available assuming i cant get shipping figured out.

 

[Cyclos787]

I've been back and forth with ONEYAC customer service for a couple weeks, I was able to place an order by inputting 'NOACCOUNT' into the 9 digit express shipping number field. (The field seems to be required but doesn't have the red asterisk like other required fields.) The order was placed, they needed to move the modules from the warehouse and this morning they told me they were ready to ship,. However, they just told me that to ship to the US with FedEx it will be $65, so now I'm at $100+ for 12 modules which isn't worth it to me. You might have better luck if outside the US or if buying a much larger lot, but I'm going to wait until another option comes in stock.

It looks like Aliexpress has them now