SD2Vita – The Ultimate Guide

Is Here

SD2Vita is an exciting niche for anyone interested in the

mechanical assembly of PCBs because it touches on what most of us love:
PS gaming. Primarily, SD2Vita is just a micro SD adapter inserted into the
standard Sony PS Vita.

However, it adds some charm with its ability to offer more memory for gaming.
Thanks to the advancements made in SD2Vita; gamers can now extend their
external memory storage to about 256GB.

Then again, the SD2Vita’s hype doesn’t go without a few issues. As

manufacturers of PCBs, we have noted a spike of problems related to this
technology.

In this edition, we brought together different views that could help you survive
in manufacturing SD2Vita PCBs. We also tried to showcase the critical
SD2Vita hacks and tricks that you need to possess when using the adapters.
If you want to know more about how to use the Eagle to design please
see Eagle PCB Design Full Version. Are you ready to roll? Well, let’s get
started.
So, What Is SD2Vita?

1.1 Definition

As already highlighted, SD2Vita is a Micro-SD adapter that is designed for

use in a regular PS Vita game card slot.  The SD2Vita adapter allows gamers
to use the standard micro-SD card rather than Sony’s PS Vita memory
card. At the moment, SD2Vita comes in either version 3.0 or 5.0.

 Also, these adapters run on the standard PS Vita firmware (version 3.60 or
later).  Because of this compatibility, you don’t have to scratch your head,
again and again, trying to find the compatible software accompaniments.

1.1.1 Something About PS Vita

The Play Station Vita (PS Vita) is a portable, hand-help play station console
that was produced by Sony in 2011 as part of their larger plan for the
8th generation of Video games.
This device became famous for its ability to move PC gaming experience onto
a portable device. SD2Vita is a memory card adapter that is designed to be
used by the PS Vita card slot instead of the proprietary Sony Game memory
card.

Because SD2Vita is compatible with Sony’s firmware, everything else about it

is all set. There are also other additional vendor software applications that
make modern gamers to prefer SD2Vita over the Sony’s proprietor cards.

These factors lead us to our essential question: why should you consider
going the PS2Vita way?

1.2 Is SD2Vita For Me?

As we shall observe towards the later chapters of this edition, SD2Vita has
awakened incredible community support and popularity among gamers in the
modern times.

Consequently, the increase in polarity has pushed the demand for SD2Vita
adapters which directly dictates an increase in their production. Moreover,
when the output of particular PCBs increases, it then becomes of interest to
PCB engineers. 

While doing a short online review, I did notice a few compelling reasons that

back this popularity of SD2Vita. The three principal reasons that make most
gamers to love SD2Vita include:

1.2.1 More Storage space

SD2Vita adapters allow players to make use of their own ordinary micro SD
cards as opposed to Sony’s proprietary PS Vita micro SD. 

At the moment, these adapters support up to 256 GB of storage space.

Because of this, gamers can quickly increase their storage space by buying
standard Micro SD cards with more storage capacity. 

1.2.2 User Preference And Freedom

Look. I find PC games more interesting the more freedom accorded to me.
For instance, there was a game I adored so highly because it allowed me to
drive virtual cars like crazy and make accidents like I was acting in some “Fast
And Furious” movie.

Moreover, then came a different one that allowed me to shoot like a freaking
terrorist. Ooh boy! Gulp. Those were my ideal games. Besides the freedom to
break the rules in the gaming environment, I also fancied the ability to run the
game on multiple devices with different computing ability.  

That was my (personal) view of an ideal computer game. However, when

checking through other gamers, I noted that most of us as players share a
similar taste of “freedom.”

Now, think about it; would gamers love to be tied to using only one type of
hardware? (I guess they don’t.) Isn’t it the nature of players to try out whatever
is new and exciting?

SD2Vita shifts the attention of SD storage from the Sony’s standard cards and
allows gamers to adopt cards that suit their preferences. This aspect now
allows more PCB designers to be crafty and smarter to woo more sales.
1.2.3 Cheaper

Though the cost of SD2Vita adapters keeps changing, these adapters have
proven to be cheaper to buy when compared to the regular Sony Micro SD
cards.

Of course, there is always a tradeoff with this reduced price as some of the
adapters may be incompatible with some PS Vita gamepads. Even so, most
of them are above the bar.

1.3 Verdict

However, then, our question was: is SD2Vita for me? Well, honestly, there is
no fixed answer to this question. To most people, the idea of adopting new
technology is often met with some doubts.

However, maybe through good study and comparison of the advantages

explored, you will be able to conclude whether you will, or you won’t go with
the SD2Vita technology.

If you feel like you might want to adopt it, then I advise you to stick around for
the next few chapters as we explore the installation and a few hacks of the
technology.

SD2Vita Setup

Though the advantages of using SD2Vita somehow outdo the cons of

adopting the technology, there is more to installing the PS2Vita adapter than
meets the eye.

This process involves three main steps: determining the version of SD2Vita
adapter, formatting the storage micro-SD card, and installing a few software
applications. Before we set to the process of installation, let’s first check out
the requirements of setting up a new SD2Vita adapter.
2.1 SD2Vita Setup Requirements

       1. The PS Vita HENKaku Enso Firmware: Ensure you download the

appropriate PS HENKaku firmware for the SD2Vita adapter. At the moment, it
could be recommendable to opt for versions later than 3.65.

Also, consider checking through our “Tricks and hacks” section for a collection
of other vendor applications like AutoPlugin that could be helpful during
installation.

       2. The SD2Vita adapter: Also you will need to order for a few SD2Vita
adapters. At the moment, the two main versions of SD2Vita are version 3.0
and version 5.0.

Due to their popularity, these two versions have broad community support
from gaming forums. Because of this fact, you are often likely to receive aid
whenever you get stuck using these adapters.

Also, as I had noted from the beginning, SD2Vita still exists as a blue ocean
without much competition but prone to constant and frequent improvements.
The later versions (SD2Vita v3.0 and v5.0) are better materials than their
predecessors.

They are also able to support more vendor applications and tricks that can
make gaming more interesting.   

       3. Micro-SD card(s): you will also need to have a standard micro-SD card
for storage of game and setup files. SD2Vita supports up to 256GB.
2.2 SD2Vita Firmware Installation

Once you have gathered the three required components for set up, now
proceed as follows:

Steps:

       1. Move the UX0:tai folder into the UR0:tai folder and delete the
original UX0: Tai. The UX0:tai folder allows you to use the SD2Vita adapter
once the vita card gets inserted.

The UR0: Tai, on the other hand, is the folder that acts as the internal
memory of the Vita for slim FAT models and PSTVs models. This step is
therefore critical as it helps to eliminate the path-related complications when
you begin to use SD2Vita.

       2. Download SD2Vita adapter drivers from Github.

       3. Download The zzBlank.img File.

       4. Copy the “gamesd.sprx” file (included in the SD2Vita adapter drivers)
into the UR0:tai using the VitaShell through USB.

       5. Open the “config.txt” file in UR0:tai. Now add the text
“ur0:tai/gamesd.skprx” immediately after the line with the word  *KERNEL.

       6. Make a backup of the UX0:tai folder in your computer. This step is
essential as we will require it in the preceding stages. It is also necessary as
you may encounter installation challenges in the later steps and might need to
repeat the steps from the very beginning (if you don’t make the backup now).

Also, if you are operating through the VitaShell USB, it is advisable to ensure
that all the hidden files are visible before making the backup.

       7. Now install the zzBlank setup into your Micro-SD card using the
steps guidelines below.

Setting Up A Micro-SD card for SD2Vita

Adapter

3.1 Micro-SD Card Setting Up In Windows Operating

System

Steps:

       1. Download an appropriate Windows disk imager like the Win32 Disk
Imager.

       2. Install the set up in your computer and run the application.

       3. Choose the option of making a new disk image.

       4. Select the zzBlank.img that you downloaded earlier as the source for
the setup and your micro-SD card as the disk, then click “write.”

       5. Hang on for a few seconds for the file to be written.

       6. Once you are done, eject the micro-SD card and return it.

       7. Windows will prompt you to format the drive.

       8. Format the drive with the exFAT File System.

       9. Once done, copy the backup files for the card we had made earlier into
the micro-SD card.

       10. Now insert the SD card back to the SD2Vita adapter and insert it into
the PS Vita, then reboot the PS Vita.

3.2 Micro-SD Card Setting Up In Macintosh Operating

System
Steps:

       1. Navigate to Disk Utility -> Select Card -> Partition -> Options -> MBR
-> 1 partition -> exFAT

       2. Copy the memory card backup we had made before into the SD card.

       3. Insert the SD card back to the SD2Vita adapter and insert it into the PS
Vita, then reboot the PS Vita.

3.3 Micro-SD Card Setting Up In Linux Operating

System(s)

Steps:

       1. First, locate the whole-device node in “/dev/” directory. For instance, it
could be labeled as “dev/sda1”. When you are uncertain, use the “mount”
command. Be sure to replace the “sda1” with an appropriate label.

       2. Unmount all the partitions without ejecting the Micro-SD.

       3. Copy the zzBlank.img file into the SD card in the terminal. E.g. “dd
if=/path/zzBlank.img of=/dev/sda1”.

       4. Eject the micro-SD card and insert it back.

       5. Format the SD card using exFAT. E.g., you can type the following in
the terminal screen “mkfs.exfat /dev/sda1”.

       6. Copy the file backup you made earlier into the micro-SD card.

       7. Insert the SD card back to the SD2Vita adapter and insert it into the PS
Vita, then reboot the PS Vita.

3.4 Congratulations. You’ve Finally Made It.

At this point, your Vita should be able to recognize the SD2Vita adapter you
inserted. An orange LED next to the adapter should repeatedly blink once you
have inserted the file as an indication that the PS Vita is reading the files in
the micro SD.

Additionally, you should observe that the SD2Vita adapter is now mapped to
UX0.

If these two indications are shown, then it means that your installation was
successful. At this point, feel free to install more vendor games and install
them on your PS Vita as you wish. You have successfully learned how to set
up the SD2Vita adapter.

Now to run any new vendor games, you will only need to mount them in UX0.
However, there are times when issues of navigation and game compatibility
may arise.

In the next chapter, we will look at some of the tricks and hacks that can make
your experience with SD2Vita worth of remembering.

SD2Vita Hacks & Tricks

Trick 1: Using Switch2SD2Vita to switch storage between

UMA0 and UX0

When using SD2Vita adapter, most vendor games are installed and run on
the UX0. As you might have noted from the installation process, we shifted
the default storage from UMA0 to UX0.

Now, there are times that you would love to peek into the UMA0 storage. This
step is often limited to rebooting your PS Vita and choosing the storage as
UMA0. The Switch2SD2Vita is an excellent plugin that can enable you to
switch between UMA0 and UX0 without rebooting easily.

There are sometimes that your PS Vita might fail to recognize or run the
plugin. In such cases, we advise that you consider an updated version of the
plugin (Version 2.0 is the latest release of the plugin) and retry it.
If it fails still, then you might have to remove micro SD card from the SD2Vita
adapter.

This plugin is advisable as it is open-source. Because of this nature of the

plugin, it has been used by several gamers and addressed several bugs.
Thus, it currently stands as the market’s stable and secure plugin.

Trick 2: Using HENKaku AutoPlugin to install plugins

For newbies to SD2Vita, the ocean is always blue with several plugins that
you can use to install applications. However, most of the plugins sometimes
fail to work. This experience can sometimes be very frustrating. HENKaku’s
AutoPlugin is the ideal plugin for installation of games.

AutoPlugin loads with HENKaku (version 3.6 or later). As such, it is easy to

locate and use. It is recommendable over the games-plugin for installing
games.

Trick 3: Using NoNpDRM

Like I had insisted in the beginning, gaming is only fun when you do away with
restrictions: when you have absolute freedom to break a few gaming rules.
This plugin will allow you to get around the DRM protection on PS Vita
content.

Of course, there other favorite plugins (like MaiDump and Vitamin) that
perform tasks related to the same job the NoNpDRM plugin performs.
However, we recommend this plugin as it is free to download and use (open-
source).

Also, it has undergone several updates to ensure its stability and safety when
used. Even though the app does not require you to install Enso, it is
recommended that you install it alongside the plugin.

To install this plugin, you need to download the NoNpDRM setup files into
your Tai folder. Next, you will need to update the configuration file “config.txt”
file within UR0:tai under *KERNEL with the appropriate name of the setup file,
e.g., adding “nonpdrm.skprx.”

Conclusion

Here Is My Take

As I had indicated from the very beginning, the SD2Vita niche is a relatively
new niche in both gaming and PCB development. But SD2Vita is a
recommendable improvement as it grants gamers the ability to extend the
amount of external storage space they can utilize for gaming at a lower cost.

The technology also offers players the freedom to explore more games and
generally makes the gaming experience exciting.

Now, when analyzing this trend (as a gamer rather than an engineer), I can
observe an increasing trend in the popularity of SD2Vita over the proprietary
Sony SD-cards for PS Vita in many gaming forums.

This popularity can also account for the increased complaints of poorly
developed PCBs for SD2Vita adapters.
 Now, just like any new technological advancement, SD2Vita was bound to
face a few challenges from its onset. Sure enough, it has suffered several
problems in the past, and it is still likely to face more in the coming days.  

However, we have also strived hard to ensure that we now manufacture

advanced PCBs for SD2Vita adapters.  Also, you can order them at a bargain
here.

You’ve Got A Few Worries? Yes, We Can Help

In this edition, we have strived hard to gather and compile some of the
challenges we believe may be facing most gamers and questions that most
sellers of SD2Vita adapters are facing.

Even so, we think you might still have more worries about SD2Vita adapters.
Feel free to contact us, and we will take time to respond to your fears.

Also, just in case you might need some other PCB printed boards, please feel
free to reach out to us for a quotation.

Extended Reading

 1.PCB Assembly Cost-6 Ways To Breakdown

 2.PCB vs PCBA-What is the Differences
 3.PCB Manufacturer – Key Factors to Consider
 4.Surface Mount Soldering – A Comprehensive Understanding of Soldering Technology