Updating mods...

I've been taking the time to update all (well, most) of the softmods of Nintendo consoles I've done. Voultar on YouTube did a tutorial on softmodding a Wii U and 3DS. Seeing this video inspired me to get my 3DS and 2DS updated.

In that video, he basically followed the guide(s) that are online. I started with my Pikachu 3DS XL. Following the guide, all that was really needed to do was update the a few things...really, just a few steps to update it. The 2DS was the the same for the update. Fairly simple.

I decided to attack my DSi XL next. It was a bit more convoluted than I remember. There were apps that I didn't need anymore, which lead to changing configurations that I didn't mess with for a few years. That lead to some options not being available or resetting to the wrong app. It took a few minutes to figure out what I needed to do, so now I have it back to a working state. 

I figured at this point that I should update my Switch as well. For some reason, I can never get a smooth update done with the Switch. At first, when I was trying to get it to go into dev mode, it wouldn't do it properly. Come to find out that the fist USB-C cable that I was using wasn't a proper data transfer cable, just a charging one. After changing that out, the Switch took a bit longer to boot up. Updated the official firmware, did a reboot, then nothing loaded. 

I started to get all the SD card stuff ready to redo the mod, but it turns out that just a few apps were corrupted. I ended up just removing what wasn't working then re-uploaded the apps that I knew that worked back on it. A few hours later, and I'm done.

There's some things that I have to take note. There are a few files, after updating, that I have to replace. Mainly, a .ini file. I have to be more proactive about doing the updates as they come.

...I really need to order those RGB amps for the PC Engine Duos so I can recap and mod them in one go. Soon...

Atari 2600/7800 Joystick revisted...

Back when I made a thing, the 4-way restrictor that I printed was...good enough. However, recently playing Joust and Defender on the revived Atari 2600 Jr, I found that it was really hard to move around. 

Here's the old 4-way restrictor out. I had to break off a a part of it to be able to remove it from the joystick. I though I could use the joystick without a restictor, but...

The switches here are loose. There's nothing to keep the switches in place while using the joystick. So, off to Thingiverse to find a new restrictor to replace the 4-way. 

I found an 8-way restrictor that was similar to the 4-way one. This print took a little over an hour to complete.

Here it is installed in the controller. It fit pretty good, but after printing it, I noticed that the actuator isn't touching the main directions of the controller. 

I mean, the gap isn't a huge deal to me. It does have a decent 8 way feel, but I still have to test it. I already have a remixed version that has a smaller hole ready to print, just in case I don't like the feel of this restrictor. 

Return of the Atari 2600 Jr...

I've been sidelining the Jr for a while. If you recall where I left it, it was essentially finished, but not without issue. Mainly, the color black was appearing gray.

...upsetting...

Fast forward to February 2nd. My Reddit post got answered! User u/bgianninoto figured out that the original UAV installation instructions had different jumper positions for the Jr. 

Looking at the UAV with the IC markings up and the IC notch to the right, I desoldered the original jumpers I had (following the guide for the 2600 jumper positions) to these jumper positions. It was a trial to get the old jumpers out since I already had the pin headers installed, but I made it happen.

So, did it work? 

So much better! I know, it's not Joust like the original pic, but the Defender background looks nice in S-Video! Composite looked just as awesome too (thanks to some tweaking with the RetroTINK 5x!)

Because of the pin headers, I bent some component leads and installed them underneath between the pin headers. I then soldered the connection from the top. 

So happy that the color issue was solved! Big thanks to user u/bgianninoto for figuring out the issue. Next thing that I need to work out is the controller that I made from spare parts. I need to print a new restrictor gate for it because the one I put in there isn't working that well for old Atari games.