This guide was written by bhetrick on AD, all credit for this very well written guide goes to him.
"I've seen more than a few people now looking to build their own probe, to save money, but they can't quite grasp the drawing in the Xbox-Scene "Liteon Key For Free!" thread. http://forums.xbox-scene.com/lofiversion/index.php/t668247.html
So I figured I put up some simple to follow pictures of how I built one.
So to start, I'll list the parts I used.
- DB9 serial connector - Female (pic above shows backside)
- D-Sub connector hood (not shown in this pic)
- NPN transistor
- 1K resistor
- 10K resistor
- spring from ink pen
- alligatar clip
- wire from earbuds
Tools used.
- soldering iron
- solder paste (flux)
- solder
- tweezers
- wire clippers
Here's links for the important parts. Obviously some of you won't have a Radio Shack near you, but at least the links will give you some necessary details so you know what to look for.
- female D-Sub connector: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index....498&tab=summary
- D-Sub connector hood: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103993
- NPN transistor: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062609
- 1K resistor: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062323
- 10K resistor: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062330
- alligatar clip: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062236
A note on the resistors used. My pictures and the links above show 1/2 watt resistors. You can use a lesser watt resistor. I just used the 1/2 watt because that's what I had on hand.
A note about the transistor. It'll have 3 legs; a Base, a Collector, and an Emitter. When you purchase one, the back of the packaging usually shows which leg is which.
So let's get started.
Step 1 - Attach alligator clip
- Take one end of earbud wire, clip off what ever is there, and separate wires a few inches.
- Slide one wire through alligator boot.
- Strip wire, apply flux to wire and clip, solder together.
- Slide boot over clip.
Step 2 - Attach probe (spring)
- Streach out one end of the spring.
- Clip end with wire cutters and straighten out.
- Solder 2nd wire (same end that alligator clip is on) to spring.
- Tuck some of the wire in to the spring. This isn't necessary but I did it so there wasn't tension on the solder joint.
Step 3 - Readying the npn transistor
- Using tweezers, bend legs.
- Using wire cutters, clip legs.
- Solder 10k resistor to the "Base" leg.
- Take other end of earbud wire, clip off what ever is there, and separate wires a few inches.
- Solder wire to other end of 10k resistor. Use the same wire that has the spring on the other end.
- Solder 1k resistor to other wire. It'll be the same wire that has the alligator clip on the other end.
Step 4 - Attaching npn to d-sub
- Solder the "Emitter" to pin 5. In the picture, pin 5 is top, outside pin.
- Solder the "Collector" to pin 2. In the picture, pin 2 is the top, second pin in from the left.
- Solder other end of 1k resistor to pin 2.
- Attach d-sub hood.
That's it. Your probe is complete. The spring runs to the R707 hole on the Lite On board. The alligator clip runs to a 5 volt source. In the Xbox-Scene "Liteon Key For Free!" thread ( http://forums.xbox-scene.com/lofiversion/index.php/t668247.html ), they show the 5 volt running to a molex connector. You can use one of them while you have your pc open.
Myself, I have the original Team Xecuter Connectivity Kit they sold a couple of years ago. Because I use that for my power and ejecting (instead of the 360), I just attach the alligator clip to it to get my 5 volts.
"
Special Thanks To bhetrick for sharing this guide with the online community.
"I've seen more than a few people now looking to build their own probe, to save money, but they can't quite grasp the drawing in the Xbox-Scene "Liteon Key For Free!" thread. http://forums.xbox-scene.com/lofiversion/index.php/t668247.html
So I figured I put up some simple to follow pictures of how I built one.
So to start, I'll list the parts I used.

- DB9 serial connector - Female (pic above shows backside)
- D-Sub connector hood (not shown in this pic)
- NPN transistor
- 1K resistor
- 10K resistor
- spring from ink pen
- alligatar clip
- wire from earbuds
Tools used.
- soldering iron
- solder paste (flux)
- solder
- tweezers
- wire clippers
Here's links for the important parts. Obviously some of you won't have a Radio Shack near you, but at least the links will give you some necessary details so you know what to look for.
- female D-Sub connector: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index....498&tab=summary
- D-Sub connector hood: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103993
- NPN transistor: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062609
- 1K resistor: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062323
- 10K resistor: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062330
- alligatar clip: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062236
A note on the resistors used. My pictures and the links above show 1/2 watt resistors. You can use a lesser watt resistor. I just used the 1/2 watt because that's what I had on hand.
A note about the transistor. It'll have 3 legs; a Base, a Collector, and an Emitter. When you purchase one, the back of the packaging usually shows which leg is which.
So let's get started.
Step 1 - Attach alligator clip
- Take one end of earbud wire, clip off what ever is there, and separate wires a few inches.
- Slide one wire through alligator boot.
- Strip wire, apply flux to wire and clip, solder together.
- Slide boot over clip.



Step 2 - Attach probe (spring)
- Streach out one end of the spring.
- Clip end with wire cutters and straighten out.
- Solder 2nd wire (same end that alligator clip is on) to spring.
- Tuck some of the wire in to the spring. This isn't necessary but I did it so there wasn't tension on the solder joint.


Step 3 - Readying the npn transistor
- Using tweezers, bend legs.
- Using wire cutters, clip legs.
- Solder 10k resistor to the "Base" leg.
- Take other end of earbud wire, clip off what ever is there, and separate wires a few inches.
- Solder wire to other end of 10k resistor. Use the same wire that has the spring on the other end.
- Solder 1k resistor to other wire. It'll be the same wire that has the alligator clip on the other end.



Step 4 - Attaching npn to d-sub
- Solder the "Emitter" to pin 5. In the picture, pin 5 is top, outside pin.
- Solder the "Collector" to pin 2. In the picture, pin 2 is the top, second pin in from the left.
- Solder other end of 1k resistor to pin 2.
- Attach d-sub hood.



That's it. Your probe is complete. The spring runs to the R707 hole on the Lite On board. The alligator clip runs to a 5 volt source. In the Xbox-Scene "Liteon Key For Free!" thread ( http://forums.xbox-scene.com/lofiversion/index.php/t668247.html ), they show the 5 volt running to a molex connector. You can use one of them while you have your pc open.
Myself, I have the original Team Xecuter Connectivity Kit they sold a couple of years ago. Because I use that for my power and ejecting (instead of the 360), I just attach the alligator clip to it to get my 5 volts.

Special Thanks To bhetrick for sharing this guide with the online community.