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WiiKey Installation Guide - How To Install The WiiKey Nintendo Wii Mod Chip
by Steven Fields

The WiiKey install is quite possibly the easiest modchip installation youll ever do, or have someone do. While this is a very bold claim, it is absolutely true. I realize that every single mod chip makes these claims, and in the case of the Wiikey - they have every right to do so. Im no expert when it comes to soldering. I installed my own Playstation 2 modchip, but it took the better part of 4 hours. While I know most people complete this within about 35 minutes, Im no expert, and I am technically challenged to some degree.

Installation of the WiiKey is actually one of the easiest mod chip installations that Ive ever done. While almost every single mod chip maker boasts that their mod chips are the easiest modchip to install, the WiiKey installation really is easy. You need only a few things to do the installation, and there are absolutely no wires to solder anywhere on the main board of the Nintendo Wii.

It has long been customary in the Playstation 2 mod chip world for manufacturers to state things like 'Only 19 wires installation' as opposed to the regular 23 wires that other mod chips needed. The WiiKey does not make any such claims - because they dont have to. You see, the WiiKey installation relies on whats called Quick Solder Pads. Quick solder pads are locations on the actual PCB of the WiiKey Mod Chip. What these quick solder pads enable you to do is simply to place the WiiKey in the correct place on the Wii Motherboard, and apply some solder to the solder pads. Your chip will immediately be soldered to the board, without any wiring, hassles or fuss. Now lets move no to what youll need.

Youll need the right tools for the WiiKey Install

The right tools are really what its all about. Most of the tools youll need are for opening the Wii console itself. Youll need a tri-wing screw driver and a Phillips screw driver as well. These are needed so that you can open your wii console.

If you would like to have an more in-depth tutorial on the WiiKey and its installation instructions, then I would suggest you go and visit this WiiKey Installation page, complete with pictures showing where the WiiKey install needs to take place on the actual Nintendo Wii Motherboard.

Everything you need can be purchased at your local Radio Shack, with the exception of the tri-wing screwdriver, but in all honesty, even a Phillips head screw driver will work, as long as it is small enough to fit, youll be able to unscrew the tri-wing screws with ease. And now on to the list.

1. For The WiiKey Install, Youll need a good soldering Iron.

Good doesnt mean expensive. You dont have to spend more than $15.00 to $20.00 on a soldering iron at all. Youll want one with a fine, small tip, because you are soldering onto an actual mother board. You also dont want the screw driver to be one that can heat up past 15W. This is because anything hotter, could easily burn through or part of your Nintendo Wii Motherboard. To avoid this, buy a soldering iron that simply wont heat up past 15 WATTS with a Maximum of say 30 WATTS. These are very common, and often used by electronics hobbyists for their soldering projects. Cost varies, between $7.99 and $19.99. Dont cheap out. You never know when you might need to use it again for another project, so if you can afford it, get the soldering iron that costs $14.99 or $19.99 Radio Shack Catalog #: 64-2802

2. The right type of solder, makes all of the difference.

There are lots of different kinds of solder out there, and while most of them WILL work, you certainly dont want to risk your $250.00 Wii system by using the wrong kind of solder when installing your WiiKey. For this reason, spend a few extra dollars. The Hi-Tech rosin core solder costs only $3.99 for the spool you need - so dont bother using any old solder you may or may not have at your house. Its just not worth it. Because you are dealing with a Surface mount device (While the WiiKey is external, and has to be soldered, it actually has to be soldered/mounted onto the surface of your Wii Motherboard) youll want solder thats specifically designed for surface mount soldering. At only $3.99, you cant go wrong. Radio Shack Catalog #: 64-013

3. The screw Drivers youll need. You cant Install The WiiKey Unless You Open Your Wii.

A tri-wing screw driver by far would be the easiest, as far as taking out the tri-wing screws from certain places on your Wii. But realistically, you can use a flat head screw driver (small enough to fit into the tri-wing screw heads, and have a tight grip) or a Phillips screw driver with which you can unscrew the tri-wing screws. Try a few of them before you go out and spend extra money. Just remember, dont use too much pressure of force, as they are tri-wing screws, and you dont want strip the screws by trying to unscrew them with too much pressure, when its simply not needed.

Now that you have all of the tools for your WiiKey installation, heres what youll have to do.

Plug in your soldering iron and warm it up. Get it warmed up so you can melt the solder and get to work. You can test whether or not its ready by taking the solder and putting it on the tip of the soldering iron. Once the iron is hot enough, it should easily just melt away at the solder and absorb it onto the tip of the soldering iron itself. I recommend that you wait a good 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, unless the soldering iron is broken, it should be hot enough. Put your Wiikey mod chip on a good flat surface, and take a look at the quick solder pads. Now take some solder, and your soldering iron into your other hand and put the solder on a quick solder pad, and place the soldering iron on the pad too. As the pad heats up, the solder will melt onto the pad itself. Do this for all of the quick solder pads that youll be working with.

Once youve pre-soldered the quick solder pads, youre ready to go. Assuming that you have already opened your Nintendo Wii, and the motherboard is right in front of you, place the WiiKey onto the correct part of the mother board as per the WiiKey Install diagrams. You pre-soldered the pads, because youll actually need to hold the WiiKey in place for at least the first solder point. Hence, you dont have hands to hold any solder, the soldering iron AND the Wiikey. Make sure you hold the WiiKey in place, and take your soldering iron and put it on the quick solder pad, this will melt the solder, and will also fix it to the point on the Nintendo Wii motherboard. Be very careful NOT to get solder on any other point on the Wii motherboard. You must only solder each quick solder pad to ONE location on the Wii motherboard, otherwise you may create a short.

Once your first point is soldered in place, you can now let go of the WiiKey because its not going to move anywhere. Continue to apply the soldering iron heat onto the other quick solder pads, until youre complete, and the all of the points on the WiiKey are soldered to the right places on the Nintendo Wii Motherboard.

Thats it. All thats left to do now is to put your Nintendo Wii back together again, and start playing.

Steven Fields is an avid gamer and freelance video game reviewer. Many of his game and accessory reviews can be found on some of the most popular video game sites online. For more information on the WiiKey Modchip or the WiiKey Installation please visit http://www.ps2cover.com

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