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Something to look forward to: Many NES owners have spent decades wondering what purpose the expansion port beneath the iconic console served. Although its Japanese equivalent, the Famicom, received groundbreaking peripherals, none came to Western markets. A third-party add-on promises to connect the NES to modern devices and Famicom peripherals nearly four decades later.
Pre-orders are now open for RetroTime's upcoming Bluetooth hub for the NES. It is the first attachment for the system's mysterious expansion slot in almost 40 years.
The NES hub supports up to four controllers and other devices over Bluetooth. RetroTime hopes to begin shipping the $57 adapter in December. However, buyers should note that it only supports the front-loading NES-001 model.
Installation is relatively simple and doesn't require soldering. Ensure the console is powered off, then remove the cover on the bottom and cut the small tabs holding the second cover in place. After plugging in the hub, run the antenna cable under the add-on and through the channel to one side of the NES and attach the antenna.
Following installation, the sync button should be on the console's bottom left side above one of the hub's add-on ports and begin flashing when the NES powers up. RetroTime doesn't specify which Bluetooth controllers are compatible. However, the device does support wireless mice and keyboards.
Connecting more than two wireless controllers requires setting the Multitap configuration to dual mode, which causes the hub to emulate the NES's Four Score adapter. Connecting two wired controllers simultaneously with wireless controllers causes them to share inputs in single-player games.
Another feature, Expansion Audio, enables some Famicom games to use additional sound channels. The hub includes three dip switches that can support NES audio mods.
Firmware updates and documentation for the NES hub are available on BlueRetro's GitHub page. Updating the firmware and using the web-based controller configuration portal require using Google Chrome on a Windows or Android device.
RetroTime also included four expansion ports for use alongside wireless controllers. The first device to utilize the ports is an additional hub that supports two wired Super NES controllers and one Famicom attachment. The $26 add-on makes the console compatible with various devices made to support Japan-only games through the Famicom's 15-pin expansion port. RetroTime hopes that other modders will develop attachments for its NES hub.