NES Cartridge Wireless Router

Check out the new gear at our shop and get yourself a Nintendo cartridge shirt!

Now on YouTube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSsPpOVJvhc

The goal of this Instructable is to create your own wireless router using an NES cartridge housing. 

Thanks everyone for the positive feedback! We sincerely appreciate it. We never thought it would get this much publicity! Check back often for more innovative and original posts brought to you by Unconventional Hacker. 

Step 1: Materials and Tools Needed

NES Game Cartridge
(Preferably a very common game)

Belkin Wireless G Router
Model: F5D7230-4

Gamebit (3.8mm) or Flathead Screwdriver
Dependent on cartridge type 

Soldering Iron
Low-heat soldering iron is recommended

Solder

Thin Wire

Razor Blade

Desoldering Iron (Optional)

Desoldering Braid (Optional)

Pliers (Optional)

Comments

[SilentStray]

I would LOVE to do this. The only thing holding me back is the Belkin router. I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a different router that would fit.

[UnconventionalHacker]

On my website, I believe someone in the comments mentioned using a different router.

Here's the link to the article, I can't remember which comment it was, though.

http://www.unconventionalhacker.com/2010/11/nes-cartridge-wireless-router.html

I'm glad you like it though!

[SilentStray]

Thanks for the info! ^^

[buhimoth]

If you lose signal, do you have to blow over the bottom of it? ;)

[hammertong]

+1

[nwalkowski]

What happened to the antenna? Does the router still give off a good sized signal without it?

[UnconventionalHacker]

It's obviously not as great as it originally was, but it still sends off a fairly decent signal. We lined it around the outside of the motherboard inside the cartridge.

[vtturbox]

Very clever, thank you for sharing this with us

[SteampunkManiac]

would it be possible to rig something like Mozilla Firefox with the wireless so you could use the Internet on your NES?

[cnguyen6]

betwenn tell and plus the dsl,power,intenet,wireless and usb
^
oh and one more thing can you try adding a wireless antenna

[cnguyen6]

hey, can you like add leds with the symbols underneath so you can tell plus adding a button for a secure connections and a wifi protected setup

[fsped09]

Such a cool idea, thank you for sharing. Heres my run. Everything went well and the router still works just as it would if left untouched. I had a friend do the electrical work and I made the rest. Fantastic logo as well, thanks for the template.. I printed with the size 650x1146 with 300 dpi. Then I used self adhesive laminating sheets (Avery 73603) to give it that professional touch. It did get a little hot but I think I'm going to make a small holes on the back to ven for air. Other than that a fun build, thanks again!

[UnconventionalHacker]

Awesome! Looks even better than ours! Great work.

[GameV8]

This would be so cool if it wasn't so sad. ; )
What poor defenseless game did you mutilate for this project?

[UnconventionalHacker]

The best NES game known to man, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

[DooMer10]

Thats a REALLY BAD game you know the Angry video game nerd thanks you

[mr.ratburn]

You are my hero for casting one of those horrific abominations out of existence.

Good day, sir.

[Barfopotamus]

i'm guessing you have seen AVGN?

[pontiacpassion]

Oh I totally disagree! CONTRA : up up down down left right left right BA BA select start!

[adapt]

oh cmon n00b, there is only one BA

[pontiacpassion]

works either way ;)

[brandon9271]

I think he was being sarcastic about Dr Jekyll... ;) I hope... lol

[UnconventionalHacker]

Yes, definitely. Haha.

[jbutler4]

I just use apple routers, that company may make crappy desktop stuff but in terms of wireless they've got something right.

[Honda Enoch]

The only problem I find is the Belkin Router. Belkin routers suck.

If this can be done with another brand router, then I am all for it. :)

Great job man.

[pjrpumpken]

I got 3 belkin router and they ending crashing in less then 1 year

[ac1D]

Funny that I read this, my belkin rooter just decided to go slowww on wireless, and stopped completly to work on wired.

[pjrpumpken]

Is this like a pocket wifi

[buttersnake]

What size would I need to print the iage out as to fit on the cartridge properly? I know I could trial and error, and measure and still mess it up, but since you have done such a great job I figured you had already done all of that for us :)

[NapenE04]

definately the coolest instructable i have seen yet

[ArcticNemo]

Also, shop Mcmaster-Carr and Jergens tool catalogs for the unique drivers used in industry, one can collect the right driver for any of the "security" screws out there.

[Tomcat94]

I *love* this project! I can't believe I haven't thought of this yet! :)

[UnconventionalHacker]

Thanks!

[dreadengineer]

If you have a Dremel tool, you can turn unconventional screws into flathead screws by cutting a groove in the top. (Assuming the screw isn't recessed into the hole too far.)

[static]

Since I'm on my way to being fossilized, I'm sure it's just me, but I don't get why this was feature on the weekly email.. So this is merely a cosmetic hack, with no functionality improvement? The artwork does look like it belongs on the repackage router though. Someday some one will end up with the router, and will search the internet for a user manual for a product that never existed. Evil, I tell you, evil. :)

[Abi Ketrail]

I was checking out the site for my first real time as a new member, and your work happened to be the first that caught my attention. Love the concept and the fact that it looks easy to achieve a positive outcome and I doubt that, not counting yours, there are not many people that would have thought that up or even know about it. Something different and its a winner in my books. I will be checking out your other work fairly soon. Crackin' Instructable !
Abi Ketrail

[Calvin Remsburg]

Can I blow on the cartridge if I have a bad signal?

[UnconventionalHacker]

You can, it just may not do much good.

[cdousley]

I like it!

[UnconventionalHacker]

Thanks!