Nintendo-Scene

WiiJii Review
All pictures are expandable.

This is a a review of the WiiJii Mod Chip for the Wii’s DVD-Drive. I will get into what you get, how to install and use it, some features, and if it all is worth it.

I. Contents

The contents arrived in a small package, with everything secured in bubble wrap. The package included:
* 1 programmer (top right)
* 1 12F629 PIC on a board (bottom right)
* 1 header (bottom left)
* 5 precut wires (top left)
The programmer has a female serial connection on 1 end and 6 pins on the other. The serial port is for plugging into your PC, and the 6 pins is for plugging in the PIC Board. The header is what stays connected to your Wii the whole time. It has 5 pins on one side and 5 solder points on the other. The 5 precut 30awg wires, are what are supposed to be soldered onto there. The other end of the wires, gets soldered to your Wii’s DVD Drive. The PIC is extremely tiny, see pictures at the bottom of this review. The board isn’t so small you should be scared of losing it though. The board has 5 female plugs for plugging into either the programmer for programming, or the header already soldered into the Wii, for actual use.

II. Install
 
The install is pretty straight forward. There isn’t really a guide on their website, other than the single detailed pic. For a Wii Dismantle guide, check http://wiki.nintendo-scene.com/. Each letter in the pictures relates to the letter on the header. Wire the corresponding letter on the header to the point on the diagramn. You should do it 1 wire at a time since there is no color coding, that way you don’t accidently solder the wrong wire to the wrong spot on the header. You can run the wires up over the back through the USB cutout in the case, and use the double sided tape, provided on the header to apply to the outside of your Wii. That way you can reach it, when you are ready to reprogram it.

A better solution for the color of the wires should be E and D be red and white or black, to indicate positive and negative and then 3 seperate colors for A, B, and C to represent the 3 different data wires, to help prevent crossed wires. This isn’t a huge problem and easily avoidable. It would just make the install go that much more smoothly, to also have visual clues as to which wire goes where.

Comparing to other chips installations the WiiJii is pretty much the same. The WiiJii has 5 wires, which is right in line with most chips today having 5 or 6. There is no quicksolder method like with the WiiKey, but the wire install is better anyways, becuase it allows for easier removal and easier repair, if anything should go wrong. Simply by the nature of this chip, haveing a quicksolder install would defeat the purpose of easily upgrading or changing the firmware, whenever you want, without dismantling your Wii.

III. Programming

The programming of the PIC is about as easy as it can get.
1. Make sure you have a serial port on your PC. A lot of newer PCs are built without legacy connections and only have USB and Firewire ports. If that is the case with you, you will need to buy a Serial - USB adaptor. Unfortunately, as with most electronics, the cheap stuff doesn’t work well, or provide enough power. Get a higher quality adaptor such as a Belkin, and you should be alright. As with all serial connections, you will not do any damage to either device if you plug in or unplug the WiiJii to/from your PC while it is powered on.
2. Download the programming software IC-Prog Lite WiiJii Edition off of their website.
3. Download the compatible firmware of your choice. I could not find a list on their website, but any firmware designed for a 12F629 PIC should work fine. I tried both of these.
- WiiFree
- OpenWii
Not that it matters, but I stuck with the WiiFree firmware.
4. With the PIC plugged into the programmer, making sure the pins are lined up correctly, insert the unit into your PC. Open IC-Prog Lite and pick your COM port. Pick your *.hex and click program/verify. That is the button that has a lightning bolt over a computer chip. You should write down your OSCAL value in case anything ever happens and the firmware gets scrambled. You will need the OSCAL value to repair it. It should be written on the back of the PIC, just make sure.
5. After the flash has verified completion, plug it back into the header on your Wii, making sure the pins are lined up, and run an original correct region Wii disc. If that works, test a legal backup, and all should be good.

A better solution for the pin alignment, would be to have 2 layer of 4 pins. Leg 1 and socket Pin 1 notched and/or Leg 8 filled and socket Pin 8 pin removed so it can’t go in upside down.
Like this:
   * * * x
   * * * *
Not that any real damage is done other than having to reset the OSCAL value and reflash. It again, would just make things go more smoothly, with one less thing to worry about.

IV. Use
The WiiJii is pretty straightforward. As long as you have the pins properly aligned, there is not much that can go wrong. After it is flashed and working, you can pretty much forget about it, and let it quietly do its job. In the event you wish to upgrade or change the firmware, simply unplug the WiiJii from the header and plug it into the programmer, and reflash it. After the flash is verified, plug it back into the header and resume using it like normal.

To be safe, make sure you have that OSCAL value written down, just in case of a bad flash when changing the firmware.

V. Features
The PIC is a mini 12F629, that can be used as if it were a standard. The only difference is its size. The PIC is on a small PCB, that is a decent enough size that it doesn’t obstruct airflow or stick out, when attached properly.
The PCB itself, is sturdy and doesn’t feel fragile when pulling off or putting onto the Header or Programmer.
The prgorammer has a couple exposed chips, that are ok to touch. I would feel better having them enclosed, but not at the trade off of a higher price. So, when not in use, I keep the programmer in the supplied zip-lock baggie, to prevent dust and damage.

There are no activity LEDs, nor the ability to add any very easily. Both WiiFree and OpenWii now support these features. There is nothing saying that future revisions of WiiJii couldn’t easily incorporate these features.

VI. Conclusion
The WiiJii gives you the opportunity to try many firmwares, and to keep up to date with the ones you like. If you find a firmware you like and it works, there is no need to ever reprogram it, if you don’t want to. I really like its simplicity, and it costs about the same you would pay for an external programmer, if you bought one for use with standard size PICs. I think the price is fair, and would recommend this chip to anyone interested in open source firmware mods for the Wii. If you already own a PIC programmer, the WiiJii may not be right for you. But, if you are just getting into it, this all inclusive package is a great deal.

Pros:
* Very easy wire install.
* Built in programmer makes it very easy to switch or upgrade firwmare whenever you like.
* Very easy to (re)program, even for a novice.
* Enough features and flexibility for the hardcore.

Cons:
* Included wires are all the same color.
* The PIC can be plugged in upside down on both the Header and the Programmer.

2 things, neither of which are anywhere near deal breakers by any means. So, these 2 problems are understandably low on the priority list for the WiiJii designers. If you already own a programmer, just buying a standard PIC and socket might be better and cheaper option for you. There wouldn’t be a need for you to buy a complete package such as this. However, if you are just gettting into the Wii modding scene, don’t have a programmer, or are looking to experiment with some open source firmwares, this is the package for you. Everything you need is included to test and use any firmware that can be flashed to a standard 12F629 PIC.

P.S. Through no fault of WiiJii, I forgot to disable WiiConnect24 before removing my battery for the install. Getting WC24 to work for Forecast, News, and Everybody Votes Channel again is no fun. Make sure you disable WC24 before you attempt any chip install.
To change the firmware once WiiJii is installed, you do not need to remove power and/or battery. Just make sure the Wii is turned off, do the flash, and line up the pins, and you will be alright.

Thank you Team WiiJii for sending us a sample, and giving us the opportunity to do a review. It is appreciated.

Some Pics for reference of size:
1. WiiJii Header & PIC compared to a standard PIC.

2. WiiJii Package compared to a Wii.

3. WiiJii PIC compared to a Wiimote.

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