SEARCH PVG








CURRENTLY ONLINE




Join us on here on Friday evening at 7PM PST (10 PM on the east coast) for the weekly PVG shoutcast!


LATEST NEWS




SUBSCRIBE




Homebrew How-to: SvSIP for DS phone calls

January 2nd, 2008 by sergioalb64

ds-phone.jpg

Homebrew applications for the Nintendo DS continue to surprise us. We have seen impressive games, a cool paint program, and a puzzle collection with tons of replay value. This time we have put together a handy ‘how-to’ guide for VoIP on DS. Using the SvSIP application by Samuel Vinson, you can use your DS to make phone calls to cells and landlines in many countries. The quality is great, and when your free minutes run out you can continue to make free 1-minute calls, perfect for a quick question for your local GameStop or a friendly ‘hello’ to an acquaintance of yours. Continue reading to find out just how to use your DS as a phone!

Want to make phone calls from your DS? Follow these steps and you should be good to go. PLEASE NOTE: These steps are simple, but you must follow them exactly as given to obtain satisfactory results. If you follow every step accurately and you still have problems, leave a comment and we will do our best to help you.

Step One: your DS’s WiFi configuration
For SvSIP to work it must connect to your computer via WiFi. If you have played any DS game online, you are likely ready to move on. All we need is for your DS to have connected successfully to the router or USB WiFi dongle that you will use to make phone calls through your DS. Remember; your DS can have three internet connections assigned to it. By using any of those connections, you will be calling your friends in no time!

Step Two: the SIP provider
Now we need a VoIP / SIP provider for this homebrew application to sync with. If you know you have one, move on to the next step. For those without a current provider, we will use VoIPCheap.com, as it has worked quite well during our tests and it’s free to some extent (more on that later).

To get VoIPCheap:

  • Visit voipcheap.com and download the software, or do so through our direct link here
  • Run the installer, then run the application
  • Select a language, accept the agreement, and finish installing the software.
  • Run VoIPCheap and create an account by filling in the required fields. Keep your username and password in mind as you will use them later.
  • Once your account is up and VoIPCheap is running, exit out of it; you will access it later through your DS.

    Step Three: the SvSIP homebrew application
    It’s time to get the homebrew application that makes this all possible. There are multiple versions of SvSIP, but we recommend the third version since it worked the best for us.

    To set up SvSIP:

  • Download the application here
  • Unzip / extract the folder to your desktop
  • Inside the extracted ‘svsip’ folder, find the svsip.nds file (DS game file) and take it out of the folder. Move it to your desktop; just make sure it isn’t inside the ‘svsip’ folder
  • It’s time to DLDI-patch the .nds file. If you are not familiar with this process, learn how to do so here

    Step Four: configuring SvSIP
    This is the trickiest part of the process, so be careful. Inside the ‘svsip’ folder you will find a TXT file named ‘config’. Open it up and you will see some ‘code’ that is used by SvSIP to access your VoIP / SIP account. This is what you should be seeing:

    text-before.jpg

    We need to make some changes to this text. Take a look at how things should look afterward; the red highlights indicate the parts that were changed:

    text-after.jpg

    Use ’sip.voipcheap.com’ as the domain, and you should use your own username and password, the ones you used on step two. One you make the necessary changes, save the text file.

    If you would like to use a different SIP provider, find the domain of such provider and use it instead of VoIPCheap. Keep in mind that not all providers work; we tried a few, but not all were successful. VoIPBuster worked, but the quality wasn’t great and our free calls period ran out quite quickly.

    svsipscreen.JPGStep Five: making a call
    It’s time to make some DS calls!

  • Send the ‘svsip’ folder and the DLDI-patched svsip.nds file to your homebrew-running device (R4, M3 Simply, etc.)
  • Run SvSIP. The application should take a second or two to sync to your SIP account, after which you should see a screenshot similar to the one on the left, except with more programming gibberish on the top screen.
  • If your computer gives you a message noting that a wireless application has reached your VoIPCheap account, simply ignore it. If it asks you to log in again, choose ‘No’
  • Using the stylus, tap zero twice (00), followed by the country code for the call you wish to make (1 for the US). Proceed to enter an area code and phone number, then tap the green phone icon and your call should go through!
  • Optionally, you can get more skins at the official SvSIP site, or you can make your own

    Supposedly, VoIPCheap offers 300 free minutes of calls per week, but we have heard that this is also limited to 1-minute calls. Well, that’s good enough for some quick rings, and you can always buy credit to call for longer or to reach other countries. As far as quality goes, SvSIP works quite well, but since the project is still in development you might encounter some crackled calls. There’s also a consistent but short lag, but nothing too serious.

    We hope you enjoyed our handy guide to DS VoIP calling. Again, if you have any questions, leave a comment and we’ll try to help, and check out our ‘how-to’ for video playback on DS and the famous R4 installation guide. We will continue to explore homebrew on DS as time goes by, so keep checking back!

  • Posted in DS News, Game Culture, Homebrew |


    42 Responses


    1. 1
      cygnusx1 Says:

      Sounds pretty garbled on the other end. I’m wondering if this has to do with either my ISP, the VoipCheap people, or maybe the DS’s hardware being too limited…

    2. 2
      sergioalb64 Says:

      We experienced this during testing. It seem to go away on its own; you could say it’s a ‘hit or miss’. Try changing your location, or call different numbers and see if the quality is better on some than on others. If not, just try the call at a later time; this worked for us quite well :)

    3. 3
      E Says:

      Does this work with Skype?

    4. 4
      Ertailara Says:

      Im interesed but according with Wikipedia Voip are something like evil overlords of VoIp changing terms and rules every second.

      it is really the best option?

    5. 5
      Ertailara Says:

      Voip= Voipcheap

    6. 6
      sergioalb64 Says:

      @ E: Not at the moment; it appears that the guy behind SvSIP needs some approval by Skype to use it for this application, and so far it hasn’t happened.

      @ Ertailara: VoipCheap worked the best for us and continues to do so, whereas VoipBuster delivered a garbled transmission and our free minutes went by extremely quickly. If you check the official SvSIP site linked above you can see a list of parameters for other VoIP providers that might work better for you.

    7. 7
      Ertailara Says:

      thanks, i seems that i already have a voipcheap account but for some reason it doesn´t seem to work with my Supercard lite

      it just show the splash screen and no text.

      I have my Ssid hidden…could that be it ?

      the only time it showed more text was when i deleted all my network settings on the Ds…really f´n ironic

    8. 8
      Dartan Says:

      How about receiving calls on the DS? Can you do that with this app and a VoipCheap connection?

      Or what about calling other DS’s is that possible with this set-up?

    9. 9
      sergioalb64 Says:

      @ Dartan:
      We’ve looked into this several times, and apparently the only way to receive calls is by using certain SIP providers that give you a ‘call back’ number, such as SipGate, which isn’t free and is available for Europe and Australia.

      And even so, this is limited to receiving calls from land lines; we haven’t heard anything about DS-to-DS calls. If we find a way to work around this, we’ll let you guys know.

    10. 10
      solitary Says:

      i have a problem
      when the select the Svsid application on my top screen it says cannot connect, about 5 secs later i my bottom screen turns on with the numbers…
      i dial 001 AREACODE + NUMBER
      after sending the message
      it says

      URI sip: 001 areacode, then number@sip.voipcheap.com

      it says it was disonnctd
      Error making call Number 001, etc.

      is it a port that i have to forward with my router
      and i m using a DSTT btw. Thanks

    11. 11
      static Says:

      when i start up svsip the top screen starts up but then on the bottom screen it says all of these stuff including cannot connect to arm9wifi.c

      what do i do??????????

    12. 12
      sergioalb64 Says:

      Are you using the recommended SvSIP version? Newer ones have a Wi-Fi searcher that you probably don’t need and sometimes don’t work as well.

    13. 13
      static Says:

      yeah i did everyhting that the article told me to do but then i don’t know how to connect

      i went to my wfc setting and later on it connects but the says error code 51300 on step 3
      unable to connect to access point wat do i do??

    14. 14
      sergioalb64 Says:

      This is Nintendo’s online support for that error code:

      Error Code: 51300

      Our experience has shown that this error message is typically caused by WEP Key issues. Please read the following information:

      Check Nintendo’s router info for special notes, if available, for your router.
      Click here to go to our Wireless Router Configuration page.
      Use the drop-down box on the left to select, if available, your router manufacturer.
      Click on your router’s model number, if available.
      Read any “special notes” at the top of the router’s page. Many issues can be solved by changing settings described in the “special notes.”

      Are you using WEP security on your router?
      Log into the router using the default IP (consult your router’s manual for assistance)
      If you are using 64-bit encryption, the WEP Key must be a 10-character key consisting of numbers or letters A through F.
      If you are using 128-bit encryption, the WEP Key must be a 26-character key consisting of numbers or letters A through F.
      The WEP Key must be a Hexadecimal (1-9, A-F, no other special characters or letters).
      Verify they are using the WEP Key in the first (#1) slot. Even though their router may have multiple slots, the Nintendo DS is only compatible with the WEP Key in slot #1.

      Check to see if your router is using MAC filtering.
      Log into the router using the default IP.
      Find the section for MAC Filtering (typically under “Security”).
      If MAC Filtering is on (”enabled”), enter the Nintendo DS?s MAC address to the list of approved MAC address. For info on locating the DS?s MAC address, click here. (For assistance with locating the MAC Filtering section of your router?s setup tool, please consult the router?s manual or contact the manufacturer.)

      Check to see if your router is set to “g only” mode. In order to work with the Nintendo DS, the router must be set to “mixed” or “b and g”.

      If you are still unable to connect, please call 1-800-255-3700 in the USA or Canada for more information.

    15. 15
      static Says:

      oh ok thanks very much for your help!!

    16. 16
      Puck it Says:

      I am having the same problem as solitary.

    17. 17
      henry Says:

      i can’t load the application on my ds it froze and the green light kept on flashing

      can anyone help me

    18. 18
      ghjghj Says:

      help me please how do you connect svsip to the internet with a wifi usb connector? i have an r4.

    19. 19
      OMG Says:

      Works on my R4.. IM SOO AMAZED.. THANXXX (use version 3 for r4.. v7 donesnt work.. )

    20. 20
      Mailman Says:

      Yeah, I have the same question as ghjghj, can anyone tell us how to do it with a Nintendo
      wi-fi USB connector?

    21. 21
      Drew Says:

      Yeah.. i followed everything except for the patching because my DSTT has auto patching anyways.. but i do everything that this article has said, but still i have the same problem as before, which is, When i Run the application on my DS. dial “001″ then area code.. Then i press the call button, And nothing happens… it jus says calling.. and i dont get any kind of Pop up on my computer saying anything that it connected.. can someone please help me!!!. i mean, i usually can play mario kart with my router so i know for a fact that my DS can connect to it..

    22. 22
      lil killa Says:

      if you turn your ds into a phone can you still play games?

    23. 23
      Mikeyyy Says:

      Im using a Supercard One with VoipBuster. I can hear people perfectly but on the other line its all static-y and cuts out? i know its not the mic on my ds because Nitrotracker records me perfect?

    24. 24
      lil killa Says:

      Can someone call your ds? will you be able to have a ds phone number or something or can you just make calls?

    25. 25
      lil killa Says:

      i know how you can make ds to ds calls, do something with the friend code as the phone number or something like that!!

    26. 26
      mike Says:

      Well I can’t get any further since voipcheap.com isn’t registering my info? I put in my username, password and email but it just sits there at registering and nothing happens…

    27. 27
      Chippa Says:

      Can you make a call on your DS without connecting to any phone like your DS is a phone itself?

    28. 28
      lil killa Says:

      yes, you need to be at a wifi hotspot though, or you need a router

    29. 29
      lil killa Says:

      the picture on the ds news page for
      “DS sequels hitting Japan soon; NOA’s chance to make up arises” is in a nintendo power issue :-)

    30. 30
      angrydude Says:

      right iv done all that withsvsip and iv got it going but when i click on it it stays on the loading screen (top screen). i havnt got wifi up so do i have to do this b4 i can even see the numberpad?

    31. 31
      will Says:

      i followed all the steps and when i load up the nds file the svsip image comes up on the top screen. but, on the bottom screen there is a lot of text and nothing happens after that. what did i do wrong?

    32. 32
      will Says:

      sorry i have to add one thing when the text comes up a thin on my computer comes up and says “there is an ip adress conflict with another system on the network.

    33. 33
      Anonymous Says:

      can it work on game n’music?

    34. 34
      kore Says:

      i’m using games n’ music, but it’s stuck on the loading screen

    35. 35
      phracture Says:

      will it work if you are just using wifi from a modem instead of an usb router or a router

    36. 36
      jericho Says:

      how do you get the domain if you find a different provider like InternetCalls.com?

    37. 37
      sam07 Says:

      hey, i tried this svsip ds phone and i dont know wat the area code for canada is!!??? and ive heard frm ppl and they said the u.s is the same area code but it dosent work!???> an1 help me!!!????plz

      thx:P

    38. 38
      FireFox93 Says:

      I have also the same question as ghjghj and Mailman, I use the nintendo WiFi connector as Softap, I am able to play games online and browse the internet, but SvSIP doesn’t work, it wil not connect

      Does anyone know how I can connect?

    39. 39
      Brent Says:

      PLEASE HELP!! im using this on my DSTT and everything works fine, but when i make a call, i hit 001, and my number and call, but it connects, and then says diconnected? is it because i need to like buy minutes on the Voip thing?

    40. 40
      Emmanuel Says:

      Great tutorial it worked for me. Took less then 10 mins. but um is there a different free company that allows other members to call you for free. Sort of like if someone has skype on the cpu and so do you they can call for free…is there anything like that?

      and is there anything i can do about volume?

    41. 41
      Emmanuel Says:

      Let me rephrase that. Is there a way for people to contact me on my DS ( Example my friend has a ds can he call mine so that were both talking on DS?)

    42. 42
      Cpt. Cool Says:

      I’m having the same problem as Brent, anyone have a solution?


    Leave a Comment

    Please note: Comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment. There is no need to resubmit your comment.