WillF
.
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2020
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Due to the Wavebird with it's receiver being expensive today, I always wanted to find a way to still be able to use this other Wavebird I had collecting dust to put to use without the original receiver. Luckily, a new product from 8BitDo came out called the 8BitDo Mod Kit for the original NGC Controller. This of course is meant to turn your original WIRED GameCube controller into the ultimate Bluetooth controller but what if I were to use it for this spare Wavebird? Here's how it all went down and the challenges I faced.
I first bought kit with the 8BitDo Retro Receiver for NGC, and disassembled the spare Wavebird. The original controller PCB was damaged anyways but I put it aside in case I get some time to troubleshoot it in the future.
Don't worry I deyellowed that disgusting front shell lol.
Next, I prepared the new 8BitDo PCB. It fits perfectly in the case except for one part. The start button. Since the start button is in a different spot to accommodate the size of the wavebird's central body, it will have to be manually wired to the start button pad on the 8BitDo PCB.
Huge thanks to @YveltalGriffin for pointing out where to solder to start wire and ground wire saving me the hassle of messing around with the controller IC.
After exposing the solder pads under the carbon ink, be sure to clean the scratched/exposed spots with some Alcohol and a Q-Tip to get a clean shiny area to tin and to prevent any future corrosion.
The two wires will then be soldered to a Conductive Silicone Soundless Tactile Tact Push Button. Just hot glue the switch on top the start button mold inside the case. The tactile micro switch buttons have 4 connector pins. If you haven't used one before and don't know where to solder the wires, you can learn from this short beginner guide here.
From there you just need to install the PCB into the wavebird case like you would with the regular controller case. 8BitDo has a video tutorial on how to install the kit on the product website but you can also find it on YouTube here.
A few things you must know, if you want to use the rumble motor as it is compatible with the 8BitDo PCB, you'll have to get one individually as the Wavebird does not have the rumble motor the original GameCube controller has. The orange LED light that turns on with the Wavebird controller is attached to the original PCB. If you still want to add an LED Light on there, you will have to find a way to wire and make it work with either the 8BitDo PCB or with the original battery compartment. I did not bother to try that.
This in the end was a fun cheap alternative way to use the wireless Wavebird controller but if you don't want to modify your working original controller, @loopj is working on the first reproduction RF receiver for the original Wavebird and will be coming out hopefully soon.
Here is the original controller on the left and the new modded version on the right.
One thing I would recommend doing which I didn't do at the time I took this photo, is to cover the "on and off" switch hole with some sort of layer like hot glue to prevent any dirt and debris to climb in there.
Video of the mod is on YouTube
I first bought kit with the 8BitDo Retro Receiver for NGC, and disassembled the spare Wavebird. The original controller PCB was damaged anyways but I put it aside in case I get some time to troubleshoot it in the future.
Don't worry I deyellowed that disgusting front shell lol.
Next, I prepared the new 8BitDo PCB. It fits perfectly in the case except for one part. The start button. Since the start button is in a different spot to accommodate the size of the wavebird's central body, it will have to be manually wired to the start button pad on the 8BitDo PCB.
Huge thanks to @YveltalGriffin for pointing out where to solder to start wire and ground wire saving me the hassle of messing around with the controller IC.
After exposing the solder pads under the carbon ink, be sure to clean the scratched/exposed spots with some Alcohol and a Q-Tip to get a clean shiny area to tin and to prevent any future corrosion.
The two wires will then be soldered to a Conductive Silicone Soundless Tactile Tact Push Button. Just hot glue the switch on top the start button mold inside the case. The tactile micro switch buttons have 4 connector pins. If you haven't used one before and don't know where to solder the wires, you can learn from this short beginner guide here.
From there you just need to install the PCB into the wavebird case like you would with the regular controller case. 8BitDo has a video tutorial on how to install the kit on the product website but you can also find it on YouTube here.
A few things you must know, if you want to use the rumble motor as it is compatible with the 8BitDo PCB, you'll have to get one individually as the Wavebird does not have the rumble motor the original GameCube controller has. The orange LED light that turns on with the Wavebird controller is attached to the original PCB. If you still want to add an LED Light on there, you will have to find a way to wire and make it work with either the 8BitDo PCB or with the original battery compartment. I did not bother to try that.
This in the end was a fun cheap alternative way to use the wireless Wavebird controller but if you don't want to modify your working original controller, @loopj is working on the first reproduction RF receiver for the original Wavebird and will be coming out hopefully soon.
Here is the original controller on the left and the new modded version on the right.
One thing I would recommend doing which I didn't do at the time I took this photo, is to cover the "on and off" switch hole with some sort of layer like hot glue to prevent any dirt and debris to climb in there.
Video of the mod is on YouTube
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