Nintendork Posted November 25, 2006 Posted November 25, 2006 It has been floating around a few days that the sensor bar, doesn't actually sense anything.. it merely transmits IR frequencies so that the Wiimote can triangulate it's position and send data to the Wii via bluetooth. http://www.hackaday.com/2006/11/22/wii-dont-need-no-stinkin-sensor-bar/ These are the geeks that figured it out. http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/24/diy-erless-wii-sensor-bar/ You can make one on your own, using a couple of IR LED lights, some batteries and junk, but damn does it look ugly. There's a rumoured retail solution as mentioned in the Joystiq post for a wireless sensor bar that will simply run off AAs in the same way. In theory.. if the Wii sensor bar is just recieving power from the Wii.. and not actually transmitting any data- then it should be possible to cut up the cable. And splice in a battery pack/inverter somehow. If it's coming straight out the Wii it's probably DC instead of AC so an inverter might be needed. I have a friend who uses a projector, he's also a geek so will no doubt be doing this himself.. but is it do-able? And would anyone be willing to do it in the name of science?
Emasher Posted November 25, 2006 Posted November 25, 2006 somone ought to make a usb one so we can use a wii-mote as a mouse
Nintendork Posted November 25, 2006 Author Posted November 25, 2006 That doesn't make sense. The bar even if connected by USB doesn't transmit data. Just electricity. What could work for that solution, is to get the drivers, map them onto a bluetooth enabled computer and then you'd be able to use the Wiimote on your computer. I'd say give it 6 months for that to come out.
Cube Posted November 25, 2006 Posted November 25, 2006 Doesn't Windows already detect the Wii Remote as an "unknown bluetooth device" or something? If so, won't be that long until someone makes some drivers. Anyway. How long until a 3rd Party wireless sensor bar?
Guest Stefkov Posted November 25, 2006 Posted November 25, 2006 I remember seeing the video where he makes a wireless one. The wii sensor bar has just 10 ir leds in it or something. He made one with 4 or 6. I cant remember and it worked perfectly fine. I remember watching the first on aswell. They used a couple tv remotes. Its nice that this is happening and all, but who cares really? I dont.
Jackster Posted November 25, 2006 Posted November 25, 2006 Well obviously in some conditions it must make some sort of improvement otherwise it wouldn't be packed in with the Wii, it all costs money. Maybe at some point someone will figure out a way to place the IR lights which makes the wii remote work better, after all I've heard a few reports of it going a bit funky sometimes.
Emasher Posted November 25, 2006 Posted November 25, 2006 you still need the sensor to use the wii-mote, so if a computer detects the wii mote that is only step one (a mod should move this thread to tec/pc talk)
blender Posted November 25, 2006 Posted November 25, 2006 greetings fellow geeks, we already knew this . Sensor bar is just a light. look you can use candals too if you want. http://gonintendo.com/?p=9206
Emasher Posted November 25, 2006 Posted November 25, 2006 were not talking about screwing it up were talking about making our own. and posibly using a wii-mote as a mouse
Jasper Posted November 25, 2006 Posted November 25, 2006 The Wiimote is exactly like any other bluetooth device - it only needs drivers. Just like the PS3 controller, only sony wants their controller to become universal standard. Pitty them. Just wait for Wii Emulators and Drivers for those controllers and you wouldn't need a Wii anymore and we all spend 250 euros to much. But at least we have a nice-looking piece of equipment in the house.
Bogbas Posted November 25, 2006 Posted November 25, 2006 I have known this for a while, I made a post about it in the wii hardware discussion thread in may. http://www.n-europe.com/forum/showthread.php?p=145374#post145374 To answer to the first post: Yes it can be done, and it's easy to do. The sensor bar just contains few IR leds. I'd only need to find out a couple of things about the leds. The voltage they need to start emitting infrared, and how much current they can handle. With those it's easy to calculate the resistor's value that will be used with the power source. And then there's only the fun part left: the soldering
blender Posted November 25, 2006 Posted November 25, 2006 3rd parties will almost definately make a wireless sensor bar or one with an independent power supply. That and rechargable battery wiimote packs are quick wins for them
DiemetriX Posted November 25, 2006 Posted November 25, 2006 Joytech or nyko will probably make a wireless one soon. In theory it's stupidly easy.
Cube Posted November 25, 2006 Posted November 25, 2006 Joytech or nyko will probably make a wireless one soon. In theory it's stupidly easy. Yea, they will probably be £14.99 or something.
Caris Posted November 25, 2006 Posted November 25, 2006 Theres totally no point in a wireless sensor bar.
blender Posted November 25, 2006 Posted November 25, 2006 Theres totally no point in a wireless sensor bar. there is if you use a projector. You dont need a new sensor bar - you actually just need a battery pack or power supply to plug the nintendo sensor bar into.
Emasher Posted November 25, 2006 Posted November 25, 2006 Theres totally no point in a wireless sensor bar. what if you want to put you wii beside you. also it would be nice to see a more durable one i my tv has a little space undr it so i put the sensor literaly under my tv so it wouldn't get broken. also the cord is pretty thin on the sensor and breakable. and you may not want all the wires behind your tv (it was quite a mess to untangle)
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