Hello all. In order to provide as painless of a venture as possible into the scary territory of Wii portablizing, I decided to detail my progress in this worklog. I've spent solid weeks scouring the forums for information on how to complete this process, and I believe I have the most basic understanding (just about enough to get my hands on it and start working). Here is my understanding of the act thus far:
1) Obtain a Wii and install PortablizeMii
2) Disassemble the console and determine the board revision (in order to determine if you have a six or four layer motherboard)
3) Trim the motherboard to one of two commonly used trims (being either the OMGWTF trim or LMAO trim).
4) Rewiring the necessary cut pieces of the motherboard (such as the Bluetooth module and disc drive daughterboard) back to the motherboard in order for the Wii to run and actually play all Wii and virtual console games as intended.
5) Wiring a power supply to the system, such as batteries (also implementing a Wii PMS so as to hopefully avoid the hassle of relying on custom regulators.)
6) Wiring a screen to the motherboard (and possibly implementing the VGA Patch to produce better video quality.)
7) Connecting the audio outputs to some sort of amplifier (hopefully one that supports headphones and is easy to work with.) This process I am a bit iffy on.
8) Implement a method of controlling the portable, preferably with GC+ as it is compact and easy to use. From my understanding, all you do is wire the buttons themselves with the corresponding function labeled on the GC+ board.
9) Find a way to allow for the Wii to run games and programs off of the USB (I am also unsure of this process).
10) Implement a fan, exhaust, and a heat sink apparatus of some kind in order to keep the device cool (I'll be using a six layer board since it is supposedly better for beginners, so keeping the device cool is an essential part of this process, even more so than the four layer board.)
11) Find or create some type of case that allows for the portable Wii to be housed effectively (and in a stylistic fashion, hopefully).
I intend to use the parts list of GingerofOz's Louii as a reference point to understand what parts are going to be needed/what parts are recommended for this project. I have also compiled a list of many resources which I intend to use as a rough guide. The hardest part by far will be the process of wiring different components to each other and understanding what goes where. I have, of course, studied the Bible of Wii portablizing, the Definitive Wii Trimming Guide and the Six Layer Expansion, but I am having a hard time understanding what is expected in terms of relocation. To remedy this, I plan to study these documents even more, as well as explore worklogs and enlist the help of my fellow portablizers (is that what they call you guys?). Aside from the general issue of relocation, my other two greatest concerns involve everything that has to do with voltage and power, as well as the types of wires that need to be used. When it comes to the tools used, the materials needed, and the process, I do think I have a fair understanding, though there is infinite room for improvement. I understand that this is an arduous task, but I am ready to face the risk and create something to be proud of. While it isn't promising that the most important part of the process, the wiring, is my weakest point, I am confident in my ability to learn and refine the process over time. I would like to thank everyone in advance for welcoming me and allowing me to share in this strange, confusing yet unimaginably rewarding hobby. So far, all I have is the six layer Wii, but I will update this thread with every step of the process as I go along so that I can learn and hopefully teach others who are just getting into this. I believe that no matter the level of knowledge or experience, one can accomplish anything through determination and a willingness to fail, no matter how intimidating the challenge before them.
1) Obtain a Wii and install PortablizeMii
2) Disassemble the console and determine the board revision (in order to determine if you have a six or four layer motherboard)
3) Trim the motherboard to one of two commonly used trims (being either the OMGWTF trim or LMAO trim).
4) Rewiring the necessary cut pieces of the motherboard (such as the Bluetooth module and disc drive daughterboard) back to the motherboard in order for the Wii to run and actually play all Wii and virtual console games as intended.
5) Wiring a power supply to the system, such as batteries (also implementing a Wii PMS so as to hopefully avoid the hassle of relying on custom regulators.)
6) Wiring a screen to the motherboard (and possibly implementing the VGA Patch to produce better video quality.)
7) Connecting the audio outputs to some sort of amplifier (hopefully one that supports headphones and is easy to work with.) This process I am a bit iffy on.
8) Implement a method of controlling the portable, preferably with GC+ as it is compact and easy to use. From my understanding, all you do is wire the buttons themselves with the corresponding function labeled on the GC+ board.
9) Find a way to allow for the Wii to run games and programs off of the USB (I am also unsure of this process).
10) Implement a fan, exhaust, and a heat sink apparatus of some kind in order to keep the device cool (I'll be using a six layer board since it is supposedly better for beginners, so keeping the device cool is an essential part of this process, even more so than the four layer board.)
11) Find or create some type of case that allows for the portable Wii to be housed effectively (and in a stylistic fashion, hopefully).
I intend to use the parts list of GingerofOz's Louii as a reference point to understand what parts are going to be needed/what parts are recommended for this project. I have also compiled a list of many resources which I intend to use as a rough guide. The hardest part by far will be the process of wiring different components to each other and understanding what goes where. I have, of course, studied the Bible of Wii portablizing, the Definitive Wii Trimming Guide and the Six Layer Expansion, but I am having a hard time understanding what is expected in terms of relocation. To remedy this, I plan to study these documents even more, as well as explore worklogs and enlist the help of my fellow portablizers (is that what they call you guys?). Aside from the general issue of relocation, my other two greatest concerns involve everything that has to do with voltage and power, as well as the types of wires that need to be used. When it comes to the tools used, the materials needed, and the process, I do think I have a fair understanding, though there is infinite room for improvement. I understand that this is an arduous task, but I am ready to face the risk and create something to be proud of. While it isn't promising that the most important part of the process, the wiring, is my weakest point, I am confident in my ability to learn and refine the process over time. I would like to thank everyone in advance for welcoming me and allowing me to share in this strange, confusing yet unimaginably rewarding hobby. So far, all I have is the six layer Wii, but I will update this thread with every step of the process as I go along so that I can learn and hopefully teach others who are just getting into this. I believe that no matter the level of knowledge or experience, one can accomplish anything through determination and a willingness to fail, no matter how intimidating the challenge before them.