Bonus Life Stream 10 // BlueRetro Internal Bluetooth Mod -- Soldering Under Microscope

THE RND2 here. An innocent question -- how does BlueRetro handle N64 save files -- turned into a two-hour session on the controller board with a microscope camera and some very small wire.

The goal: install the BlueRetro internal Bluetooth mod on the second N64 unit. BlueRetro is open-source firmware for an ESP32 that lets you use Bluetooth controllers with your retro console from inside the shell -- no external dongles. The N64 board needs four data connections, one per controller port, pulled from the controller port vias.

First problem: the board I'm modding doesn't exactly match the diagram I printed. Used the continuity tester to map where the data pins actually land on this specific board variant. That took a while. Found all four.

Second problem: stranded wire is too thick to seat in those vias. Switched to Kynar solid-core wrapping wire. Strip it with a thumbnail pull rather than wire strippers -- you want almost nothing exposed, just enough to tin.

Soldered all four connections under the microscope camera. Confirmed each one with the toner before moving to the next. Pin three filled with solder -- heated the Kynar wire into the puddle and it confirmed clean.

Data connections are done. Power and ground still to connect.

Pain tonight was significant. Some of the worst I've streamed through. Gallbladder ultrasound is Wednesday.

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro -- BlueRetro origin story
6:00 Printing the diagram -- controller port via locations
14:00 Continuity testing to map the four data pins
19:00 Stranded wire problem -- switching to Kynar
23:00 Microscope cam setup -- first live precision soldering
28:00 Data connection 1 -- soldered and confirmed
37:00 Data connections 2, 3, 4
43:00 Pain check-in and closing

Watch live: twitch.tv/thernd2 -- Tuesdays and Saturdays, 7pm Eastern
Enter the giveaway: edm4.us/BL
Full playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtZI4xYVS8N6qhHfPK2KBSevl00tixSuu

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