STEP ⭐✨
@vulpvibes.bsky.social
33 • HE/HIM • ARTIST • LOVER • RAVER
Pinned
another fox fix on this unit; it had no touch screen response, and upon taking measurements I found one of the I2C signal lines for the touch IC was low. I traced those lines to these tiny pull-up resistors way on the opposite side of the board, fixed them up, and I think the results are touching 🦊👍
November 27, 2025 at 6:09 PM
another fox fix on this unit; it had no touch screen response, and upon taking measurements I found one of the I2C signal lines for the touch IC was low. I traced those lines to these tiny pull-up resistors way on the opposite side of the board, fixed them up, and I think the results are touching 🦊👍
replacing the USB port that the previous tech did; covered the damaged area between the rows with UV mask, and used a clever technique I learned recently to tin the pins without flux, to create peaks that reach down onto the pads for better contact. it all takes a while but the result is worth it 🦊👍
November 26, 2025 at 9:47 PM
replacing the USB port that the previous tech did; covered the damaged area between the rows with UV mask, and used a clever technique I learned recently to tin the pins without flux, to create peaks that reach down onto the pads for better contact. it all takes a while but the result is worth it 🦊👍
another console rescued from the parts bin 🦊👍 this one needed a rebuild of the battery charging area, as well as a new cpu voltage regulator, LCD driver, and a USB port replacement for good measure.. but I am always happy to see that home screen and have a result for the work I put in
November 26, 2025 at 6:19 PM
another console rescued from the parts bin 🦊👍 this one needed a rebuild of the battery charging area, as well as a new cpu voltage regulator, LCD driver, and a USB port replacement for good measure.. but I am always happy to see that home screen and have a result for the work I put in
another fox fix for today; this was my first time dealing with a short on the main voltage rail. the voltage regulator for the cpu/gpu would immediately get boiling hot if the battery was connected, so on just a little bit of a hunch I replaced it with a reballed donor and now all is well 🦊👍
November 25, 2025 at 11:38 PM
another fox fix for today; this was my first time dealing with a short on the main voltage rail. the voltage regulator for the cpu/gpu would immediately get boiling hot if the battery was connected, so on just a little bit of a hunch I replaced it with a reballed donor and now all is well 🦊👍
an easy fox fix for today 🪛🦊 this switch was not charging, and replacing a missing resistor at the battery management IC fixed it right up. and to my delight it had pokemon sword on it, so I was able to inject the save that I extracted from my own broken switch and rescue my beloved sword dog 🗡️🐺
November 25, 2025 at 3:14 PM
an easy fox fix for today 🪛🦊 this switch was not charging, and replacing a missing resistor at the battery management IC fixed it right up. and to my delight it had pokemon sword on it, so I was able to inject the save that I extracted from my own broken switch and rescue my beloved sword dog 🗡️🐺
had a dream that sly cooper 5 was announced.. hoping this is a gift of prophecy moment
November 23, 2025 at 12:08 AM
had a dream that sly cooper 5 was announced.. hoping this is a gift of prophecy moment
I think my most recent repair is the one I am most proud of; I took a dead board and fixed every issue it had, one by one. replacing the ram, the wifi ic, the fuel gauge, and eventually reflowing the apu to top it all off.. I really feel like I did everything right and gave this switch a second life
November 21, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I think my most recent repair is the one I am most proud of; I took a dead board and fixed every issue it had, one by one. replacing the ram, the wifi ic, the fuel gauge, and eventually reflowing the apu to top it all off.. I really feel like I did everything right and gave this switch a second life
success! after reballing a donor wifi chip and replacing it, it finally booted into the OS. this was a parts board from a previous repair tech that I took from blue screen (bad ram) to black screen (bad fuel gauge) to orange screen (bad wifi), and finally into the OS. now that is a fox fix 🦊👍
November 21, 2025 at 4:06 AM
success! after reballing a donor wifi chip and replacing it, it finally booted into the OS. this was a parts board from a previous repair tech that I took from blue screen (bad ram) to black screen (bad fuel gauge) to orange screen (bad wifi), and finally into the OS. now that is a fox fix 🦊👍
this switch motherboard had a blue screen, which can be an issue with ram. I reballed a donor set, and with working ram could boot into hekate, which showed me the fuel gauge was bad.. I replaced that, and was then treated to an orange screen, which can be the wifi chip.. this is gonna be a long one
November 20, 2025 at 4:09 PM
this switch motherboard had a blue screen, which can be an issue with ram. I reballed a donor set, and with working ram could boot into hekate, which showed me the fuel gauge was bad.. I replaced that, and was then treated to an orange screen, which can be the wifi chip.. this is gonna be a long one
country foxes without the correct solder paste stencil make do
November 20, 2025 at 5:49 AM
country foxes without the correct solder paste stencil make do
*who's that pokemon voice* IT'S VAPOREON
November 19, 2025 at 8:30 PM
*who's that pokemon voice* IT'S VAPOREON
no repair today, but a considerable effort.. this board had separated layers due to hot air rework, which severed multiple vias including one that went straight to the CPU.. I used board scans to find a safe place to drill two layers and expose it to run a jumper. it didn't fix it, but I did my best
November 19, 2025 at 3:09 AM
no repair today, but a considerable effort.. this board had separated layers due to hot air rework, which severed multiple vias including one that went straight to the CPU.. I used board scans to find a safe place to drill two layers and expose it to run a jumper. it didn't fix it, but I did my best
the switch motherboards I work on often have factory writing and markings on them, but this letter B looks like some kind of 3D street graffiti? it's strangely beautiful for something so inconsequential
November 18, 2025 at 6:01 AM
the switch motherboards I work on often have factory writing and markings on them, but this letter B looks like some kind of 3D street graffiti? it's strangely beautiful for something so inconsequential
a second repair for today: I started on the loose motherboards from that big repair lot, and this one had no backlight. upon inspection, the IC that boosts the voltage to drive the backlight was damaged. I replaced it with a reballed one from a donor board, and now things are looking bright 🦊👍
November 18, 2025 at 4:24 AM
a second repair for today: I started on the loose motherboards from that big repair lot, and this one had no backlight. upon inspection, the IC that boosts the voltage to drive the backlight was damaged. I replaced it with a reballed one from a donor board, and now things are looking bright 🦊👍
today's repair is a video! 🦊📽️
November 17, 2025 at 9:02 PM
today's repair is a video! 🦊📽️
and the end result! I was able to repair 14 out of the 15 assembled consoles, with only one having no power due to water damage and being set aside for later. and as a bonus, 12 of them are unpatched/hackable! this was a very good fix fox lot 🦊👍 now to work on all the loose motherboards hehe
November 17, 2025 at 8:06 PM
and the end result! I was able to repair 14 out of the 15 assembled consoles, with only one having no power due to water damage and being set aside for later. and as a bonus, 12 of them are unpatched/hackable! this was a very good fix fox lot 🦊👍 now to work on all the loose motherboards hehe
with all the docks and chargers that came with that recent repair lot, I realized I can stress test multiple switches at once... such decadence
November 17, 2025 at 2:43 AM
with all the docks and chargers that came with that recent repair lot, I realized I can stress test multiple switches at once... such decadence
today's repair: a "quick" PI3USB docked video output chip replacement.. takes me a couple tries to get them seated just right so all the pins flow properly, but it is working 🦊👍
November 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
today's repair: a "quick" PI3USB docked video output chip replacement.. takes me a couple tries to get them seated just right so all the pins flow properly, but it is working 🦊👍
well, after almost four years it finally happened.. I accidentally fumbled the pointer in steamvr and closed steam while I was in vrchat haha
November 16, 2025 at 7:11 AM
well, after almost four years it finally happened.. I accidentally fumbled the pointer in steamvr and closed steam while I was in vrchat haha
it took a game cart/touchscreen connector pin replacement, a backlight cable trace repair, and rebuilding the firmware to remove an update nag that prevented playing cartridges, but the 1.0.0 switch is now completely refurbished and functional, ready to find a new home 🦊👍
November 16, 2025 at 3:58 AM
it took a game cart/touchscreen connector pin replacement, a backlight cable trace repair, and rebuilding the firmware to remove an update nag that prevented playing cartridges, but the 1.0.0 switch is now completely refurbished and functional, ready to find a new home 🦊👍
nevermind??? even though it looked like both ends of the wire flowed properly, it turned out to be a cold joint when I checked it with my multimeter. always test your work!!
November 15, 2025 at 6:50 PM
nevermind??? even though it looked like both ends of the wire flowed properly, it turned out to be a cold joint when I checked it with my multimeter. always test your work!!
sometimes a repair is not a fix.. this switch's touchscreen and housing assembly was immaculate, except for a burnt trace on the backlight ribbon. I repaired the trace to avoid having to replace the LCD, but unfortunately the backlight seems to be dead. I am still happy with how it turned out 🦊👍
November 15, 2025 at 6:37 PM
sometimes a repair is not a fix.. this switch's touchscreen and housing assembly was immaculate, except for a burnt trace on the backlight ribbon. I repaired the trace to avoid having to replace the LCD, but unfortunately the backlight seems to be dead. I am still happy with how it turned out 🦊👍
one late night fix to close out fix fox friday: this switch had a damaged pin on the card reader/touchscreen connector that was causing touch issues. I replaced it and reflowed the others for good measure, and now it is all good 🦊👍 this is the firmware 1.0.0 unit as well, the touch test is blue!
November 15, 2025 at 7:15 AM
one late night fix to close out fix fox friday: this switch had a damaged pin on the card reader/touchscreen connector that was causing touch issues. I replaced it and reflowed the others for good measure, and now it is all good 🦊👍 this is the firmware 1.0.0 unit as well, the touch test is blue!
a relaxing fix fox friday, cleaning each of the consoles that passed initial power checks and then stress testing them to a crisp in the flat step dock
November 14, 2025 at 8:30 PM
a relaxing fix fox friday, cleaning each of the consoles that passed initial power checks and then stress testing them to a crisp in the flat step dock