cyclowiz update

why do you need to install a switch to update the cyclowiz? does the wiikey also need a swith to update it by dvd (when an update is available)? please help i can't decide whhich chip to buy.

The switch is needed because the microprocessor used in the cyclowiz requires a higher voltage (12.5v) for reprogramming than it does for normal use. The wiikey does not requie a higher voltage to reprogram it's internal flash, and therefore does not have a switch by default. This makes the wiikey slightly easier to install, since it's less wires to solder.
However, the switch gives you a little bit of flexibility also. With the switch "off" the cyclowiz cannot be udpated - meaning Nintendo can't do anything nasty to it. Wiikey theoretically could be reprogrammed by N (though I think this is highly unlikely). You can mitigate this with wiikey by putting a switch on the positive voltage supply pin, essentially creating a "disable" switch.
As for which one to get - you're just asking for a flamewar. The features of the two chips are similar. However, I have a D2B chipset and therefore wiikey is best for me since cyclowiz has had late and/or shady support for D2B owners.
For most people asking this question, the best answer has been "whichever chip your local professional installer has in stock". I say this because there are many threads documenting the failed install attempts by those who are inexperienced with a soldering iron. Also, while there are several very good free chips (wiifree is excellent) I would not recommend them to anyone who doesn't want to learn to reprogram chips, build circuits, and do the soldering themselves.
That being said, I'm happy with my wiikey.

Originally Posted by grabb

The switch is needed because the microprocessor used in the cyclowiz requires a higher voltage (12.5v) for reprogramming than it does for normal use. The wiikey does not requie a higher voltage to reprogram it's internal flash, and therefore does not have a switch by default. This makes the wiikey slightly easier to install, since it's less wires to solder.
However, the switch gives you a little bit of flexibility also. With the switch "off" the cyclowiz cannot be udpated - meaning Nintendo can't do anything nasty to it. Wiikey theoretically could be reprogrammed by N (though I think this is highly unlikely). You can mitigate this with wiikey by putting a switch on the positive voltage supply pin, essentially creating a "disable" switch.
As for which one to get - you're just asking for a flamewar. The features of the two chips are similar. However, I have a D2B chipset and therefore wiikey is best for me since cyclowiz has had late and/or shady support for D2B owners.
For most people asking this question, the best answer has been "whichever chip your local professional installer has in stock". I say this because there are many threads documenting the failed install attempts by those who are inexperienced with a soldering iron. Also, while there are several very good free chips (wiifree is excellent) I would not recommend them to anyone who doesn't want to learn to reprogram chips, build circuits, and do the soldering themselves.
That being said, I'm happy with my wiikey.

thankyou very much for your information, but when i install it where do i put the chip, and to update it i have to open it again.