Wii Hardware \ Help with North American migration

nfirvine,

1)Power Supply

You have a few options, buddy!

One is to go to an electronics store, like Dick Smith Electronics, and buy yourself a 240Vac to 110Vac transformer. The frequency in Oz is 50Hz (cycles) as opposed to the North-Am 60Hz but since the transformer outputs 12Vdc anyway there should be minimal ripple ("ripple" is ac voltage on top of the dc). This would be my second choice.

A possibly more expensive, long-winded, but safer way would be to see if you can get an Aussie Wii power supply from a Nintendo distributor. The aussie part number is RVL-002(AUS).
It's output is exactly the same as you've described above. It'll be optimised for filtering out any 50Hz mains ripple and this'd be be way I'd recommend.

A third, and from your description of your technical abilities, not recommended, way is to buy a 12Vdc power supply, capable of 4Amps output max. then you'd have to cut the DC lead (the "Wii end") of the NorthAm power supply, find out which lead is which, and connect it up to the power supply. I'd put this a distant third on your list (unless you have an electronics-tech mate you can trust).

Finally, if you can translate what TheTooth said, you could power up the Wii from your car but it's not exactly well-regulated since the battery voltage can be up to 13.8 Vdc and if the car's running likely to be higher. Least recommended since you still really should have a 12Vdc/4Amp regulator and like

08/13/2007 Perth

Part 2

the last option, relies on cutting the dc lead off your existing supply.

2) NTSC vs PAL
You're right. Most modern Aussie TV sets are multisync on video signal, meaning they're capable of displaying PAL and NTSC frequencies (again 50Hz and 60HZ.. see a pattern here?) The other difference is the number of lines displayed on the screen - PAL has more on Standard Definition.
Just check that TV you get is capable of being driven by an NTSC video signal and it'll be cool.

3) If you have an NTSC box, keep buying those NTSC games and be then envy of everyone else when you get your single-language English version months before the rest of us... just don't hope to go online with any of your Aussie mates in your new time-zone though - my PAL Mario Strikers won't let me connect with any NTSC Mario Strikers owners

08/13/2007 Perth

Part 3

If the intent to fit a Mod-chip is to play original games from other regions, I believe it's not a crime as such to do so in Australia. To stop people being able to purchase and use items from other countries is considered an infringement on civil-liberties. There is no legitimate reason for region-coding. (you don't find region-coded PC games unless where restricted by _law_...)
I believe you only cross the line with the Aussie Feds when you collect and run "backup" copies you've downloaded, as some of the not-too-brighter members of the site occasionally talk about.

That should be enough bed-time reading!

da_Bear

08/13/2007 Perth

Kudos: 2,808

Mates: 91

jac33au says:

da_Bear said: Part 2

the last option, relies on cutting the dc lead off your existing supply.

2) NTSC vs PAL
You're right. Most modern Aussie TV sets are multisync on video signal, meaning they're capable of displaying PAL and NTSC frequencies (again 50Hz and 60HZ.. see a pattern here?) The other difference is the number of lines displayed on the screen - PAL has more on Standard Definition.
Just check that TV you get is capable of being driven by an NTSC video signal and it'll be cool.

3) If you have an NTSC box, keep buying those NTSC games and be then envy of everyone else when you get your single-language English version months before the rest of us... just don't hope to go online with any of your Aussie mates in your new time-zone though - my PAL Mario Strikers won't let me connect with any NTSC Mario Strikers owners

and what about what i said. Is a wii the same here as it is in the states and just the power adapter and firmware different. It would make sence from a production perspective.

08/13/2007 Hervey Bay, Queensland

Kudos: 4,133

Mates: 112

phatbass82 says:

nfirvine said: Hi folks, I've just moved to Aus from Canada and was not surprised to find that my Wii won't work none..

Ok, now this discussion is a mess. Let me help you answer all of your questions directly!

1) Get yourself a stepdown transformer. Dicksmith or Tandy sell them. It costs around $70 for one. It works well. I have a NTSC American Super Nintendo, and it works fine. I think you have to make sure you unplug it once you've finished playing, as it does tend to get a bit warm after a while (that's the stepdown transformer I'm talking about).

2) You NTSC Wii will be fine here. Just make sure you purchase a fairly modern TV. Any new TV you actually purchase will work with your Wii without any problems!

3) Mod chips are pretty much the only way you can play our localised games on your Wii. At this time, compatibility is pretty scattered. Here is a website that gives you up-to-date information about what games are currently compatible with your Wii if you were to chip it:
wiki.gbatemp.net/ - direct link
And yes, games are a massive rip-off compared to Canada and America, so you could also just import them, but you would have to wait a while to get your games.

Also, at present, there are no boot discs that bypass the region coding. Especially now with all the problems with the latest update for the Wii, which has blocked certain discs for the modchips (which pretty much has been fixed now). You probably are referring to the Gamecube boot disc which allows you to playing imported games without chipping your gamecube/wii.

I hope this helps. If you have any more questions, just PM me.

08/14/2007 Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, Earth