SD Gecko (Wiikey version) | |
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Supported Cards | |
| Type | SD/SDHC/SDXC (Class 2/4/6/10) |
| Size | 16MB-2TB (up to 128GB tested in Swiss) |
| v·d·e | |
He told me that the sd media launcher appeared to be out of stock because of the wii firmware update issue, and that he had no idea about how much time it could take for their staff to update the product. I told him to send it to me because my intention was to use it on a gamecube, and in fact after a week I received the media launcher. With SD Media Launcher you can now load your own homebrew applications and run them on your Gamecube and Wii console. (in Gamecube mode) Simply load the Media Launcher Disc and choose the application from the SD Media menu. SD media launcher emulation guide by arion Sat Jun 23, 2007 12:36 am I´ve been trying out some emulators for the gamecube recentely and i´ve found a few that make good use of the sd card.
- 5wiring diagram
General
The SDGecko is a simple 'straight through' device meaning that it has no components and simply connects the SD card pins to the Gamecube memory card port pins. SD Cards have a SPI mode which is basically what the EXI bus (memory card ports) use which is why this device is so easy.
It is supported in the majority of Gamecube homebrew (emulators, gc-linux, etc). Since the SD Card support is all done in software, SD, SDHC and SDXC Cards are supported natively through libOGC.
Hardware Variations
Nintendo officially released the SD Gecko (DOL-019) in Japan exclusively for users to save their game in Animal Crossing. After that there were generic 3rd party adapters released, but mainly for homebrew. When the Wii was released as there was no homebrew that was able to utilize the front-sd slot initially, so naturally there was a higher demand for an SD adapter to dump games with. Due to that demand, the Wiikey team released the Wiikey SD Gecko to dump full Wii discs to SD Card via Gamecube mode homebrew using the SD Gecko.
SD Media Launcher
Datel (a.k.a. Code Junkies) also commercially released a SD Gecko device known as 'SD Media Launcher'. Their reason behind it was to be able to store cheats on the SD card (much like Datels other devices but which did it on the Memory Card). It came with a bootable Gamecube DVD disc which could be used for Region Free, Cheats (from SD card), or to load homebrew executable files (.DOL) from the SD card. It is a popular solution for those who wish to play backups/originals without needing to open up their console.
DoItYourself SD Gecko
You can easily build one yourself, if you have some broken/old EXI-Hardware and an SD-slot/unused MiniSD-Adapter, you just have to connect some pins together, as the EXI bus and SPI bus are similar.You can even add a LED in parallel to the data line, so you can see, when the cube is reading data.
wiring diagram
(click to enlarge)
| EXI Pin | SD Pin | / | SD Pin | EXI Pin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | 1 | 9 | |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | |
| 3 | - | 3 | 2 | |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| 5 | 2 | 5 | 11 | |
| 6 | - | 6 | 10 | |
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| 8 | - | |||
| 9 | 1 | |||
| 10 | 6 | |||
| 11 | 5 | |||
| 12 | - |
Dont forget to connect EXI pin 1 and 12, if your card not already has it, otherwise the cube won't recognize the device.
It is possible to swap SD pin 3 and 6 or EXI pin 2 and 10 or connect them all together (common ground). It is also possible to use EXI pin 8 instead of pin 4 with SD pin 4.
The data line the LED is attached to, is 3.3V. Choose the right resisitor, if your LED needs one.
Hardware pics
(click to enlarge)
Datel's SD Media launcher was made to run homebrew on unmodified GameCube's in a super easy way!
Packaging
How To Burn Sd Media Launcher Gamecube Games
The Package always contains:
- SD Media Launcher disc
- SD Reader
- SD Media Launcher memory card
- SD Media Launcher Manual
How To Burn Sd Media Launcher Gamecube
If you order SD Media Launcher from Datel's website,you can order a SD card less version or a version with a SD card.
Sd Media Launcher Iso
Getting started
- Put an SD Card (Max 4GB non-SDHC(it can read bigger cards, but SD Media Launcher can't) in the SD Reader and put it in the computer.
- Copy for this example swiss on it (if rename swiss.dol autoexec.dol SD Media Launcher will auto execute the program).
- Put the SD card in the SD Media Launcher memory card and put it in any memory card slot in the GameCube.
- Put SD Media Launcher disc in the GameCube and turn on the GameCube.
- In the SD menu you should see a file named swiss.dol in this case.
- If you press the B button you should get into the Action replay menu, where you can use the free loader or use the preloaded cheats with games.
- Run swiss.dol by pressing the A button.