Xbox:EyeToy Mod Guide

This guide covers how to modify a PS2 EyeToy camera to function as an Xbox Video Chat camera and how to patch the Xbox Video Chat software to accept the PS2 Eye Toy as an Xbox Video Chat camera.

An experienced hand at soldering is very helpful for the small soldering required for this mod.

Required Items

• A PS2 EyeToy model black SLEH-00031 or black SCJH-10001 N by made Namtai or silver model SCEH-0004 made by either Namtai or Chicony
  
  • SLEH-00030 and SCJH-10001 L by Logitech are not compatible!
• Soldering iron, no clean flux, solder (a magnifier is also recommended for the small soldering work)
• A thin length of wire, approximately 28-32AWG
• Phillips #1 screwdriver or other small phillips screwdriver
• A USB female A to Xbox controller male adapter cable eBay Canada/US, eBay inside the USA, Aliexpress 1, Aliexpress 2
• Xbox Video Chat Software
• HxD Free Hex Editor
• (recommended) EvanBlax's English patch for Xbox Video Chat

Modifying the EyeToy

1. Take the bottom cover off of your Eye Toy. This will require removing the 2 screws from the bottom of the Eye Toy, then lifting the back end of the bottom up and pulling it backwards. The black models will have exposed screws. The silver model screws are hidden beneath the sticker on the back of bottom of the camera. Rotating the base 180 degrees will make this easier.
   
2. Remove the focus adjustment ring by sharply pulling it up or down and away from the front of the camera housing.
   
3. Remove the circuit board by lifting it up while sliding it towards the back of the camera. Carefully pull the microphone out of the camera housing.
   
   • (optional) The microphone can be entirely removed for ease of disassembly and reassembly as it will not be used by Xbox Video Chat. The black and silver model circuit boards are almost identical despite the camera size.
4. Locate pins 33 and 34 on the OV519 chip and any ground point on the circuit board. A recommended ground point is marked below with a red arrow, some alternate ground points are marked with yellow arrows. Pin 33 and 34 shown below in the blue square are diagonally opposite of pin 1 and 2. Measure, cut and strip your piece of wire to fit between the ground point and Pins 33 and 34.
   
5. Apply flux to pin 33 and 34 of the OV519 chip, the ground point, and both ends of the wire. Apply a small amount of solder to both ends of the wire and to the ground point.
6. Place one tip of the wire between pin 33 and 34 of the OV519 chip and solder it in place. Solder the other end of the wire to the ground point. Clean up any excess flux with 99% Isopropyl alcohol.
   
7. Reassemble the EyeToy by sliding the microphone back into place. Then slide the camera lens and board back into place at about a 30 degree angle while sliding it forward and down until the board is seated as far forward as it can.
8. Ensure the cord strain relief is stuck firmly in the slot at the back of the camera. Slot the front end of the bottom of the camera casing into the front of the top half of the casing at about a 15 degree angle, then push it down firmly until it is seated against the top of the casing. If the base of the camera does not fit down cleanly try reseating the cable strain relief in the slot at the back of the top casing.
9. Reinstall the two screws that hold the camera together. Gently rotate the focus ring around the lens of the camera until it slides backwards onto the lens, then push the focus ring back until it seats against the camera casing. Rotating the focus ring should rotate the entire lens.
10. Connect your new Xbox EyeToy camera to the USB adapter cable, connect the USB A female to Xbox male adapter cable to your Xbox.
    • (optional) the original USB cable can be removed and replaced with an Xbox controller cable. That will not be covered in this guide.

Patching Xbox Video Chat

1. Download and install HxD Free Hex Editor
2. Extract your Xbox Video Chat software to a folder on your computer.
3. Open the default.xbe within the Xbox Video Chat software in HxD Hex Editor.
   
4. In your HxD window press CTRL+R to bring up the Replace dialogue, select the Hex-values tab.
5. Copy this string of characters 5E040F85CA01000066817C241E8C02 into the Search for: box, copy this string of characters 4C050F85CA01000066817C241E5501 into the Replace with: box, click Replace all.
   
6. This red string of characters should appear in your HxD window, if it does press CTRL+S to save the changes.
   
7. The Xbox Video chat software is now patched to use the modified PS2 EyeToy and can be copied to your Xbox.
   • (optional) patch your Xbox Video Chat Software with EvanBlax's English Patch for a more user friendly experience.
   • If an Xbox Camera eeprom image is flashed onto the EyeToy 24x04 eeprom chip, or the EyeToy eeprom image modified to use the Xbox device IDs this step can be ignored. However patching the default.xbe is a far easier solution.

Credits

• Ryzee119 - discovering and testing the OV519 hardware register device descriptors, discovering the device ID locations in the default.xbe
• xbox7887 - research, testing, images
• User:Harcroft - research, testing, eeprom patching, Xbox camera teardown
• Libby - additional patching
• Luke Usher - the entire idea
• Evan Blax - English patch
• insignia.live - test platform