[News]

News: Welcome to Nintendo-Scene, enjoy your stay and don't forget to read the Rules before posting.

[twistedsymphony]

I'm going to start a case mod with my Wii soon and this case mod will include an integrated 16x2 LCD screen.

I got the last of the parts I need in last night and I started mapping out my cuts.

ever since I saw the WiiFree LCD mod I've been racking my brain how to integrate an LCD into such a small case and the key to it all came to me last weekend, after which I went straight online and ordered everything I needed.

I originally wanted to use a RED 20x2 I had laying around but it wouldn't fit how I wanted it. I have a 16x2 green VFD I could have used but it would require some tinted glass so I didn't want to use that.

I ordered two White on blue 16x2 LCDs which will mesh perfectly with the Wii's natural styling. 

I'll post some pictures later tonight.

... it's such a good idea I have a feeling I'll see a few copy-cat mods as a result, but that's ok

My biggest worry is messing up the cuts in the case, because I DONT want to paint it and ruin the white gloss texture. What I'm planning on doing is covering the area in masking tape, drawing out my pattern on the tape then cutting very close to the line but not all the way and finishing the cuts with sand paper by hand.

I'm not much into case mods but is this the right way to do it if I'm not going to be painting?

[sicknasty413]

First off, sounds like an awesome mod.

If you did this.. and it works out well.. and it's cheap (can you give a total price of supplies?).. I'll definitely be trying it 

But yeah, since you don't plan on painting.. just take your time and cut slowly.

I'm sure ya' know the ol' saying, "Measure twice, cut once".. or something like that. lol

Can't wait to see some pics! 

[twistedsymphony]

pics will have to wait, I decided to make some slight adjustments to the location of the screen and I probably wont be cutting the case until next week (don't want to post pics until I have something to actually show).

anyway I can tell you that the total cost is less than $40 and that includes the LCD screen the modchip driving the LCD screen and everything else.

[sicknasty413]

$40 eh? Not to shabby.

So what does this exactly do? I know that in the video it just says "loading..patching.." or something.

[twistedsymphony]

yeah that's pretty much all it does really... 

I suppose theres potential that a future version could also display the game name, which would be kind of cool.

Basically Since the WiiFree is just a PIC chip some guy took the LED output codes and added code to display text on an LCD screen instead of blinking the LED. it's real basic stuff, probably anyone capable of programing a PIC chip could do.

So right now it just tell the status of the code... loading game, patching game, playing game.

it's not like the LCD was really all that useful on the Xbox either.

[sicknasty413]

lol. I'm glad it may be able to tell me what game I'm playing.. after I put the game in.. or as I'm playing it.. haha. Well didn't the LCD on an xbox tell you other things? Like the name of the song you wanted to play or some thing actually interesting. lol. I never had one.. so idk.

P.S. I should have my PICs and programmer some time next week... w00t 

[twistedsymphony]

Well the Xbox LCD was useful because it the XBMC guys built integration for it.

Aside from the XBMC controls (and some very limited DVD2Xbox controls) the LCD was completely useless on the Xbox 1. The modchips couldn't really do much with them, it was all in the homebrew.

The way the Wii LCD is setup it's all in the modchip, but since the modchip is attached the DVD drive it can theoretically grab data from the DVD (like the disc title). As of right now though it only displays the status of the modchip.

I'm doing this for 2 reasons
1. Because LCDs are way cooler than blinking LEDs, case painting or other appearance based mods IMO, and I'm doing this for the same reasons people pain their case or make windows etc.
2. Because if there is a good method for people to install LCDs in their Wii it will become more popular and more development will go into them, meaning more functionality.


As for where I am:

I made my cuts yesterday, thanks go to some people on the XS forums for suggesting the use of files to clean up the cuts. I masked off the area, drew my pattern, dremeled it out leaving a bit extra, and then filed it flat. After all that I took off the tape and did a test fit of the LCD and then filed a bit more where needed and finally finished with some high grit sand paper to smooth and round the cut surfaces. I got a little bit of a scratch on the gloss surface of the case, hopefully I'll be able to buff it out with tooth paste or something.

I started laying out a circuit board that plugs right into the back of the LCD but I soon discovered that the circuit diagram for using an LCD with the WiiFree is all messed up. These guys are using all kinds of extra components for no good reason just because they're worried about the LCD drawing too much power. I'm going to completely redesign the circuit basically powering the LCD from it's own separate source which will require me to run 1 extra wire but at the same time remove at least 5 parts from the circuit.

I've decided I'm not going to post any worthwhile information until it's completed or very near completion. I still have a few things to figure out... like a good way to sneak a 5 pin connector out of the vent side of the Wii (the bottom when it's standing upright)

[twistedsymphony]

I'll post more detailed pictures later

[sicknasty413]

Interesting.

I'm not exactly sure what's going on in the 1st picture.. besides the fact that there's an LCD and some wires and what not. lol

In reference to the 2nd picture.. I did not expect this LCD install to go that way at all. Which makes me think the title of your thread is misleading (also has a misspelled word). You modded a Wii Stand by Pelican! That's completely different!

Regardless.. pretty cool nonetheless.

[Flexia]

that fits perfect.  did you build the circuit for the lcd??

[twistedsymphony]

it's not a pelican stand... it's made by a company called "PDP" and it carries the official Nintendo Seal. It was only $20 at Circuit City. The compartment is meant to carry a Wii Remote and Nunchuck as well as the sensor bar across the bottom front.

Where the LCD Screen is now used to be a simple "Wii" logo. and the screen was placed precisely so that I cut out the Wii logo almost completely (I did need to sand a smidge off and then polish it)

The circuit is actually the WiiFree modchip using the LCD compatible.12F628 PIC I added a pin header to the LCD and then a female header to the circuit board with a chip socket and a smaller pin header so I can run the necessary wires to the console install points. The pot on the circuit adjusts the contrast of the LCD

I will need to add either a resistor or another pot to adjust the backlight, I'm not sure what I want to do yet, I still need to run wires from the LCD unit. I'll be using a USB cable to provide power to the LCD. the chip will get separate power from the original points inside the console since it's 3.3V instead of 5V and I'd need to add a bunch of additional components to circuits if I were to use the USB power and drop down to 3.3V.

I'm going to use part of an IDE ribbon cable and exit out of of the console next to the power socket so I don't have to cut the original case. I'm not sure how I'm going to get it back into the LCD side.

Once this is done I'm going to put a USB hub inside the box and possibly even hardwire 4 Wavebird wireless adapters in there (though if I do that I might consider making even deeper modifications and place the LCD unit on the left side of the console instead of the right)

housing cost $20, the LCD was $12, the chip was about $2 and then a bunch of other random parts I had laying around that cost less than $1.

[sicknasty413]

Very interesting stuff.

Nice progress pictures as well... Your initial cut looked terrible though. haha.

As for the reason why I said it was a Pelican accessory- Link. It too carries the official Nintendo Seal, holds the Wiimote and Nunchuck, has the sensor bar spot, and is $20. lol.

[twistedsymphony]

this was a kick in the balls... I spent all kinds of time making up the custom connectors and double checking all of my wiring to not only make it easy to quickly disconnect the side unit and everything.

It was all set, all I had to do was flash the chip and wouldn't you know it my uber USB programmer straight from microchip doesn't support the 12F628

there are maybe 8 chips in the entire microchip catalog that my programmer doesn't support and this is one of them.

I guess I might have to try my hand at building one of those cheap JDM programmers or something... either that or if someone is kind enough to send me a WiiFree 2.51 flashed 628

[sicknasty413]

lol!

That sucks. How many legs does a PIC12F628 have?? I can't even find it on sample.micropchip.com

EDIT-
..I'm guessing 16 by the look of it from the pictures.

My programmer only supports PIC12F629s.. :: sigh ::

[sicknasty413]

Bump.

It's been 2 weeks! Any progress there mate?