Changes

The original DSi DWM-W015 module features two wireless chips; a Mitsumi MM3218 for DS compatibility and a more modern Atheros [https://problemkaputt.de/gbatek-dsi-atheros-wifi-internal-hardware.htm AR6002G] BGA which share the antenna through an RF switch. The DS WiFi is configured through profiles 1-3 and is limited to 802.11b 1-2Mbps and WEP encryption while the Atheros supports 802.11g rates and WPA encryption, configured through profiles 4-6.

There appear to be 3 WiFi modules at use in the DSi. These implement both the "old" WiFi chip (MM3315/MM3218) for DS-mode backwards compatibility, as well as a new Atheros 6k-based WiFi chip. The DS WiFi is configured through profiles 1-3 and is limited to 802.11b 1-2Mbps and WEP encryption while the Atheros supports 802.11g rates and WPA encryption, configured through profiles 4-6.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/micahdowty/3846960965/sizes/o/in/photostream/

 

The Mitsumi WiFi is controlled through data in the NVRAM (eg: [https://problemkaputt.de/gbatek-ds-firmware-wifi-calibration-data.htm calibration data, allowed channels]), while the Atheros configuration is stored in the other tiny IC on the board, an I2C EEPROM.

 

The pinout of the connector can be found in FCC documents (see below). This connector includes pins for JTAG access to the Xtensa core in the Atheros chip (using 3.3V signals, though the 1.8V rail needs to be supplied from an external source as well). It presumably uses the same debug interface as found in the ESP8266 and ESP32 chips (which also use Xtensa CPUs), though no reports of people attempting to connect to it have been found at the time of writing.

 

 

 

 

The updated DWM-W015A module uses a tiny "5A32" chip as NVRAM (UDFN/XSON, as opposed to the SOIC-sized chip in the older revision). Only the first and last few memory blocks are actually backed by a nonvolatile memory, other addresses return garbage.

 

The DSiXL or DSi/LL module is labeled DWM-W024, and includes only an Atheros AR6013G-AL1C, a 5A32 variant, empty SPI flash pads, and another small chip, the Atheros-native I2C configuration.

[[Image:DWM-W015a.jpg]]

=== DWM-W015 ===

Updated (RevA) modules use a very tiny custom chip labeled 5A32 for NVRAM storage.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/micahdowty/3846960965/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Note the circle in this image shows a 10k resistor from pin 5 WP to GND, which the ST M45PE10 datasheet indicates will write-protect the first 64K.  To disable this protection according to the SPI datasheet, remove the resistor and solder pin 5 to pin 6 VCC.

The DSi only uses a tiny portion of the 128KB available for startup data, calibration, and user settings.  Modules with SPI flash can be written to in DS mode, which enables the installation of WiFi loader "dslink" which can then be launched in DSi mode via save-game hacks in DSi hybrid games.  Newer modules with the 5A32 chip are incompatible with this, most likely because the custom chip has significantly less storage.  khmann had success backing up the data in a 5A32 using an SPI connection to a DS cartridge, removing the 5A32 and installing a pre-programmed ST M45PE20 2Mbit SPI flash chip which enabled use of the this exploit on a newer console.

=== DWM-W015A ===

Nintendo's reasons for changing the NVRAM chip are unclear (cost savings?), but it seems all DWM-W015 and DWM-W024 modules have connections for both types of chips, and the change to the limited chip occurred prior to the release of the dslink exploit.

[[Image:DWM-W015a.jpg]]

The Mitsumi WiFi is controlled through data in the NVRAM (eg: [https://problemkaputt.de/gbatek-ds-firmware-wifi-calibration-data.htm calibration data, allowed channels]), while the Atheros configuration is stored in the other tiny IC on the board, an I2C EEPROM.

Note the circle in this image shows a 10k resistor from pin 5 WP to GND, which the ST M45PE10 datasheet indicates will write-protect the first 64K. To disable this protection according to the SPI datasheet, remove the resistor and solder pin 5 to pin 6 VCC.

The pinout of the connector can be found in [https://fccid.io/EW4DWMW015/Label/Label-Location-1031953.pdf FCC documents].

=== DWM-W024 ===

[[Image:Dwm-w024.jpg]]

[[Image:Dwm-w024.jpg]]

The DSiXL or DSi/LL module is labeled DWM-W024, and includes only an Atheros AR6013G-AL1C, a 5A32 variant, empty SPI flash pads, and another small chip, the Atheros-native I2C configuration.

== Documents and external links ==

If this module is disconnected the DSi turns on to a black screen, because it can't read the NVRAM. If the DSi doesn't like the data contained on the module it will give either error 0000FEFE or 0000FE00 at poweron. See [[stage1]] for more information.

* [https://fccid.io/EW4DWMW015/Label/Label-Location-1031953.pdf FCC "label location"] document of the DWM-W015 (includes pinout)

* [https://fccid.io/EW4DWMW024/Label/Label-format-and-location-1137926.pdf FCC "label location"] document of the DWM-W024 (includes pinout)

* [[File:3002_Datasheet.pdf]] MM3315 aka RF3002 datasheet (old DS WiFi baseband chip)

* [[File:9008-pk020_Rev(B).pdf]] RF9008 datasheet (old DS WiFi RF chip)

* [[File:AR6002_Atheros.pdf.zip]] AR6002 datasheet (zipped to circumvent wiki upload size limits)

* [https://problemkaputt.de/gbatek-dsi-atheros-wifi-internal-hardware.htm GBATEK's information on the AR6002].