NDSTV V2.1 Guide

by Rhotronix .

Congratulations on purchasing the NDSTV V2.1! This guide right here will tell you how to install it properly and to get you playing as soon as possible.

This project was made possible with the LostNintendoHistory Team who figured out this cool feature inside the Nintendo DS Lite.

DISCLAIMER: This guide assumes that you have some basic level technical knowledge or some experience taking things apart.  Please kindly note that Rhotronix will not be held liable if you damage your own device including and not limited to software locking or irreparable physical damage done while following this guide. If you feel uncomfortable performing these operations, please seek a professional installer; otherwise you may move forward.

Required Materials

 

Note: If you have purchased a pre-flashed NDSTV Wi-Fi chip, you can skip to Step 2 

Step 1: Flashing the Firmware

In order for the DS Lite to output signals to the NDSTV, it needs to be told what to do. This is done through the reprogramming of the firmware of the Nintendo DS Lite.

1.) Get all the files necessary from https://github.com/LostNintendoHistory/Lost-NDS-TV/tree/main/fwpatch. You need to patch the BIOS of your DS and put the files into the flash cart.

YOU MUST BE AWARE THAT IF YOU TURN OF YOUR DS AT THE INAPROPRIATE TIME YOU MAY BRICK YOUR DEVICE!

2.) Once that is done put the flash cart into the DS Lite and flip your DS over to the back side.

 

3.) Locate the SL1 gap. Those two pads need to be bridged in order for you to flash firmware to the DS. You could use something metallic or a screw driver bit but the SL1 area has to be bridged.

4.) Now turn on your DS and get to your main directory folder, and install v8a_flashme_noatuo.nds file.

5.) You will then be prompted to a screen like this. Make sure that SL1 is still shorted and start press the combination to start the flashing process. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT TURN OFF THE DS UNTIL THE PROCESS IS COMPLETE OR YOU MAY BRICK YOUR DEVICE

If you accidently stop shorting SL1 it is fine. The firmware update just stops and put your tool back in to short SL1 and the percentage will continue up.

6.) Once it reaches the end when the update is completed, it will tell you that you can safely turn off your DS.

7.) You now have to get your DS Firmware in order to patch it. Now turn on your DS again to enter the program dsbf_dump.nds  After the process is complete, turn off your DS and take the SD Card out of the flash cart and put it into your computer.

You will obtain the file called FWBAD958.BIN

8.) Once you obtained this file, you need to start Lunar IPS; a program that gives you the ability to patch your firmware .bin file. Press apply IPS patch

 

9.) It will then allow you to choose what ips file and you must select the ndstvout-patch.ips file.

 

10.) It will then prompt you to choose your firmware so locate where the file is and make sure that you change the file setting to ALL FILES(*.*) as highlighted in the photo below. Select the .BIN file, in this case the FWBAD959.BIN

 

11.) Now your firmware has been patched 

 

12.) Bring your newly patched firmware to a new folder on your root directory SD Card called firmwares . Take the SD Card out and put it back in the flash cart into your DS along with the fwmanager.nds file on the SD Card root directory.

13.) Now it is time for you to install your second piece of firmware, the NDSTV firmware. Turn on your DS again and navigate to the fwmanager file and you will reach a screen like this.

fwmanager looks for the firmware that you patched in the firmwares/ folder on the root directory of your SD Card. Short SL1 again and then confirm the file, the process will start to flash the firmware. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT TURN OFF THE DS UNTIL THE PROCESS IS COMPLETE OR YOU MAY BRICK YOUR DEVICE!

14.) Once this is finished, turn off your DS when the program instructs you. Congratulations, you have successfully flashed your DS Lite to output video. 

 

Step 2: Disassembly

1.) Start disassembling and remove screws and batteries until you can remove the back cover.

2.) Now here is the back cover. If you have bought the pre-flashed Wi-Fi chip. It may be a bit stuck or sticky because of an adhesive pad that is on the motherboard, but with a bit of gentle force, it can be removed and add in the chip that you have bought.

3.) After removing the screw on the motherboard, you can flip it over and disconnect the ribbon cable to the upper screen.

Step 3: Installation and Reassembly

1.) After you have removed the cable, install the 51mm FFC cable that comes with the NDSTV kit.

2.) Now start to put the motherboard back into the top shell of the case. If you notice here in this photo, you can see that there may not be enough space for the cable to run through.

This is optional: as you can see, you can make a bit of a notch here. I am not the best at cutting or filing, but all that is needed is a slightly recessed edge for the ribbon cable to comfortably get through.

3.) Once that is done, you can move onto reassembly. Put the screw to hold the motherboard back into place, make sure all the trigger buttons springs are good, and double check the power and volume slider to see if they align. You should put the bottom shell back on and screw everything into place.

4.) Add the battery back into place and close the battery cover and now attach the NDSTV V2.1 Board to the other end of the ribbon cable.

 

Conclusion

Please be careful with the FFC Cable. It is fragile and if it breaks and shorts out, you may possibly damage the NDSTV V2.1

To try out your new NDSTV V2.1, you must have a 3.5mm to RCA CTIA Cable. That means you must have a cable that has this pinout.

After you connect that cable to the NDSTV V2.1, experience playing your DS Lite on your TV!

There are different modes available via the buttons on the NDSTV.

First button starting from the top gives you the ability to switch screens.

Second Button allows you to have a split screen mode between the top and bottom screens.

 

The third button lets you change the opacity of the second button. This means that it lets you control the transparency of the split screen.

 

Well this is the guide for the NDSTV V2.1!

I thank everyone who has purchased this device and I wish you all happy gaming!

If you have any questions, you can always message me at my Twitter @Rhotronix

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