My first Wii Portable

[JamesPi]

Nice! I think that's a good choice. Just a tip, rather than harvesting from a GameCube controller, buy a Wii classic controller, which is cheaper, then buy the buttons separately. That also means that you can choose what button colors you want, rather than the default ones.

 

[mynameislogan]

Nice! I think that's a good choice. Just a tip, rather than harvesting from a GameCube controller, buy a Wii classic controller, which is cheaper, then buy the buttons separately. That also means that you can choose what button colors you want, rather than the default ones.

Got it! I'm making an excel spreadsheet of the prices of everything, but I don't know if I need everything from the 4LT store or if $280 also includes the prices of components like reprogrammers though I will update this post when I'm done, and I will post the spreadsheet since I haven't seen any for this build

 

[JamesPi]

Got it! I'm making an excel spreadsheet of the prices of everything, but I don't know if I need everything from the 4LT store or if $280 also includes the prices of components like reprogrammers though I will update this post when I'm done, and I will post the spreadsheet since I haven't seen any for this build

Here is the spreadsheet for almost all of the parts for the Ashida https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0540/5035/7446/files/Ashida_BOM.pdf?v=1677018428
This link is mentioned in the Ashida post by Wesk, who created it.

 

[mynameislogan]

I downloaded the spreadsheet but my biggest worry is that the only videos that are in-depth about how to make one are 7-8 hours (aka the gingerofoz ones bc i cant find any others)

 

[fluffypenguin]

I've learned a lot from this playlist of guides from Dubesinhower

 

[JamesPi]

I've learned a lot from this playlist of guides from Dubesinhower

This I can also recommend 100%. Not sure how you didn't see it, as it's in Wesk's post as well, but it's a pretty great guide! The wires he uses are questionable, but for the most part, it's an extremely helpful and well taught video series.

 

[mynameislogan]

I remade the spreadsheet in Excel, but I don't know where to find a Wii which is good for the build at an affordable price. Please let me know if you know a good place for me.

UPDATE:
I bought a RVL-001 Wii and I have everything ready for purchase except for "Gamecube button set with rubber contacts" and I wanna know where to find a good one since theres multiple on AliExpress and I don't know which is good and vice-versa

 

[mynameislogan]

I found good buttons which come with the rubber contacts and all I need now are wires because I don't think the parts come with them

 

[JamesPi]

I remade the spreadsheet in Excel, but I don't know where to find a Wii which is good for the build at an affordable price. Please let me know if you know a good place for me.

UPDATE:
I bought a RVL-001 Wii and I have everything ready for purchase except for "Gamecube button set with rubber contacts" and I wanna know where to find a good one since theres multiple on AliExpress and I don't know which is good and vice-versa

Did you make sure to buy a black wii, or a wii with a confirmed motherboard revision over CPU-40?

 

[mynameislogan]

I'm ready to buy everything but I don't know whats the difference between FDM and SLA

Did you make sure to buy a black wii, or a wii with a confirmed motherboard revision over CPU-40?

nope i'm just praying it works w the portable

 

[loopj]

 

[Stitches]

I'm ready to buy everything but I don't know whats the difference between FDM and SLA

nope i'm just praying it works w the portable

Don't pray, check and do it right. If you try to fudge this, you may as well take the money you were going to spend and burn it in the fireplace.

As for your question about printer types:

Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) refers to printers that fabricate objects by melting a line of plastic filament, like an Ender 3, Prusa Mk4, or Bambu X1/P1/A1. FDM prints are stronger, have many options for material properties, but take exponentially longer to print as volume increases and have visible layer lines. THis is usually the cheapest option and the easiest to iterate.

StereoLithogrAphy (SLA), or Masked StereoLithogrAphy (MSLA) refers to printers that use ultraviolet light to cure layers of liquid photosensitive resin in a vat to fabricate objects. SLA prints are highly smooth and detailed with almost invisible layer lines, most of the prettiest portables you see on youtube/reddit are painted SLA prints. The downside is that UV resin is quite brittle and cracks/scratches easily if dropped or twisted, and will warp if improperly cured. This is more expensive than FDM, the extent of which depends on what kind of resin is used and what post-processing options are chosen.

You may also have heard of Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), which refers to printers that spray a fine layer of nylon particles and melt them with a laser to fabricate objects, or Multi-Jet Fusion (MJF), which refers to printers that spray a layer nylon particles and then selectively spray a chemical agent over the print and cure it with a UV light to fabricate objects. They produce objects that are more detailed than FDM, less detailed than SLA, but can be more durable than both. SLS/MJF prints tend to have a slightly rough dry texture to them a bit like a Gamecube controller. This is usually the most expensive option, but customer satisfaction is very high.

 

[mynameislogan]

Don't pray, check and do it right. If you try to fudge this, you may as well take the money you were going to spend and burn it in the fireplace.

As for your question about printer types:

Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) refers to printers that fabricate objects by melting a line of plastic filament, like an Ender 3, Prusa Mk4, or Bambu X1/P1/A1. FDM prints are stronger, have many options for material properties, but take exponentially longer to print as volume increases and have visible layer lines. THis is usually the cheapest option and the easiest to iterate.

StereoLithogrAphy (SLA), or Masked StereoLithogrAphy (MSLA) refers to printers that use ultraviolet light to cure layers of liquid photosensitive resin in a vat to fabricate objects. SLA prints are highly smooth and detailed with almost invisible layer lines, most of the prettiest portables you see on youtube/reddit are painted SLA prints. The downside is that UV resin is quite brittle and cracks/scratches easily if dropped or twisted, and will warp if improperly cured. This is more expensive than FDM, the extent of which depends on what kind of resin is used and what post-processing options are chosen.

You may also have heard of Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), which refers to printers that spray a fine layer of nylon particles and melt them with a laser to fabricate objects, or Multi-Jet Fusion (MJF), which refers to printers that spray a layer nylon particles and then selectively spray a chemical agent over the print and cure it with a UV light to fabricate objects. They produce objects that are more detailed than FDM, less detailed than SLA, but can be more durable than both. SLS/MJF prints tend to have a slightly rough dry texture to them a bit like a Gamecube controller. This is usually the most expensive option, but customer satisfaction is very high.

I thought a RVL-001 Wii was what the build required, not a CPU-40 or Black Wii and thanks for explaining the option. I'm choosing the cheapest option for this build because I spent all my money except for like $300 (and I spent some of it on the parts) + chipotle is good

 

[loopj]

• The Ashida uses the OMGWTF here: https://bitbuilt.net/forums/index.php?threads/ashida-wii-portable.4529/)
• The OMGWTF trimming guide is here: https://bitbuilt.net/forums/index.php?threads/the-definitive-wii-trimming-guide.198/
• There is a 6-layer "version" of OMGWTF but you don't want to use it in portables. The 6 layer Wiis use ~40% more power than the 4 layers, resulting in more heat and shorter battery life.

Please listen to what everyone else is saying here, you are going to end up buying all the wrong parts, not having any budget left, and not having a working portable.

 

[fdraghi]

Ok... I strongly advice you to pause for a second, stop spending money and read first. This isn't a casual quick weekend project that you can completely wing it by watching a 30 minute youtube "tutorial" at 1.5x speed, unless you have a ton of experience and already you know what you're doing... In which case we wouldn't be having this conversation. The fact that you're in this position and just learning that you need a 4 layer wii kinda says it all. There is A LOT to digest before even pointing a screwdriver to your wii. "this video is 7 hours long" yes and it's packed with information and step by step on how to do it. I have probably watched that video (and others, plus reading the trim guide, the definitive wii motherboard thread, and a whole list of build log threads here, etc) twice before even start buying parts for my build... Not sure how long you think it's going to take you but I guarantee you it's going to take A LOT more than 7 hours. The information is out there, but you gotta put some effort into it, everybody is happy to help, answer questions, etc but nobody is going to hold your hand through the whole thing... I know that social media nowadays has set the expectation that everything is on demand, instantaneous and ready to consume but this isn't the case... This is actually quite a complex project and requires you to pay attention, read, learn, and take it slowly. If you do, you'll end up with an amazing project in your hands that you'll be very proud of and the satisfaction of being able to acomplish such a feat. If you don't you'll just end up frustrated, mad, with a thinner wallet and nothing to show for it.

You can absolutely do it, as long as you do it right. If you don't, I'll guarantee you that you'll fail.

 

[loopj]

You can absolutely do it, as long as you do it right. If you don't, I'll guarantee you that you'll fail.

Can I get this on a t-shirt please.

 

[JamesPi]

Ok... I strongly advice you to pause for a second, stop spending money and read first. This isn't a casual quick weekend project that you can completely wing it by watching a 30 minute youtube "tutorial" at 1.5x speed, unless you have a ton of experience and already you know what you're doing... In which case we wouldn't be having this conversation. The fact that you're in this position and just learning that you need a 4 layer wii kinda says it all. There is A LOT to digest before even pointing a screwdriver to your wii. "this video is 7 hours long" yes and it's packed with information and step by step on how to do it. I have probably watched that video (and others, plus reading the trim guide, the definitive wii motherboard thread, and a whole list of build log threads here, etc) twice before even start buying parts for my build... Not sure how long you think it's going to take you but I guarantee you it's going to take A LOT more than 7 hours. The information is out there, but you gotta put some effort into it, everybody is happy to help, answer questions, etc but nobody is going to hold your hand through the whole thing... I know that social media nowadays has set the expectation that everything is on demand, instantaneous and ready to consume but this isn't the case... This is actually quite a complex project and requires you to pay attention, read, learn, and take it slowly. If you do, you'll end up with an amazing project in your hands that you'll be very proud of and the satisfaction of being able to acomplish such a feat. If you don't you'll just end up frustrated, mad, with a thinner wallet and nothing to show for it.

You can absolutely do it, as long as you do it right. If you don't, I'll guarantee you that you'll fail.

This is the best response. PLEASE follow his advice. I, personally, I watched through many different videos more than three times, and still messed upon some aspects. If you take your time, and do proper research, you'll absolutely be able to do it.

 

[Skibub28]

Ok... I strongly advice you to pause for a second, stop spending money and read first. This isn't a casual quick weekend project that you can completely wing it by watching a 30 minute youtube "tutorial" at 1.5x speed, unless you have a ton of experience and already you know what you're doing... In which case we wouldn't be having this conversation. The fact that you're in this position and just learning that you need a 4 layer wii kinda says it all. There is A LOT to digest before even pointing a screwdriver to your wii. "this video is 7 hours long" yes and it's packed with information and step by step on how to do it. I have probably watched that video (and others, plus reading the trim guide, the definitive wii motherboard thread, and a whole list of build log threads here, etc) twice before even start buying parts for my build... Not sure how long you think it's going to take you but I guarantee you it's going to take A LOT more than 7 hours. The information is out there, but you gotta put some effort into it, everybody is happy to help, answer questions, etc but nobody is going to hold your hand through the whole thing... I know that social media nowadays has set the expectation that everything is on demand, instantaneous and ready to consume but this isn't the case... This is actually quite a complex project and requires you to pay attention, read, learn, and take it slowly. If you do, you'll end up with an amazing project in your hands that you'll be very proud of and the satisfaction of being able to acomplish such a feat. If you don't you'll just end up frustrated, mad, with a thinner wallet and nothing to show for it.

You can absolutely do it, as long as you do it right. If you don't, I'll guarantee you that you'll fail.

I second this. When I was building my first Ashida I didn't really know what I was getting into, didn't look up enough information (and had next to none soldering skills). I was eventually able to complete the build, but it took me over a year to get to a result I was happy with. That 7 hour build log will save you so much time in the long run.

 

[cy]

Mad facts all around with this, all very well said!

As @fdraghi said, this isn't something that you're going to be able to do quickly. You need to order components, wait for them to arrive, and then seriously take your time when you do eventually start putting everything together. Soldering itself is something I've seen a few too many people struggle with in this community. One of the biggest roadblocks people run into when they learn to solder is not using the right flux, or not using any flux at all. I would recommend using Chip Quik SMD291 flux, it comes in a syringe making it easy to control how much you want to use, and does an exceptional job of getting the solder to flow where you want it to.

As for the rest of the process, the Wii trimming guide is one of the best resources out there for building a Wii portable, but it might not be a super clear read for newbies, so I would also recommend looking through the G-Boy assembly guide since that one is a lot more user-friendly. These both have great diagrams and are great to reference whenever building a Wii portable.

The best advice I can give right now though would be to slow it all down and do some proper research. If you have to ask basic questions about whether you need a 4 or a 6 layer Wii, or how something gets wired up, then you probably need to do more reading. We don't mind pointing you in the right direction, and we are happy to help, but doing your own research is going to save everyone (including yourself) time.