Hacking O3DS LL 8.1J firmware looking to use CFW or homebrew launcher

[oxitran]

Okay,
So, I have a Japanese Nintendo 3DS LL running 8.1J firmware. I have gateway, and I have a cubic ninja cia installed.

I want to be able to use the homebrew browser for custom themes, region free, etc.
And I want to have an internet agnostic either homebrew or CFW launcher.

I understand that on 9.2 you can use many different ways to get homebrew and cfw. However, I'am stuck in this weird mid firmware ground.

I know some options are:
1) gateway downgrade to 4.x
2) SafeCTRTransfer method to a lower firmware and patch.
3) sysupdater to 9.2 using cubic ninja somehow.

I just don't really know where to go from here.

I was previously content with gateway, but now it's ended up being a $90 card that works about 20% of the time.

Could someone point me in the right direction, please?

 

[rikumax25!]

Check if your browser works, if so you can do the safe ctrtransfer to 2.1 from there

 

[oxitran]

It does work.

So the process would be to go down to 2.1
Patch
Then go back to a modified 8.1.
Which could access both homebrew and CFW?

I mean in ninjhax worked for 8.1 it would be perfect :/

 

[rikumax25!]

It does work.

So the process would be to go down to 2.1
Patch
Then go back to a modified 8.1.
Which could access both homebrew and CFW?

I mean in ninjhax worked for 8.1 it would be perfect :/

Yes, 3ds.guide and the downloader on my signature suggest that method. After restoring to 8.1 you can update to 11.4

 

[oxitran]

Will this interfere with gateway? Will I still be able to use the red card (when it wants to work anyways)? It's nice to have the storage capacity of 2 cards.

and thanks again. I will go ahead with the safectr

 

[rikumax25!]

Will this interfere with gateway? Will I still be able to use the red card (when it wants to work anyways)? It's nice to have the storage capacity of 2 cards.

and thanks again. I will go ahead with the safectr

I will recommend using an emunand since 11.3 makes gateway remove a9lh

 

[oxitran]

I take it a9lh is the luma boot exploit? could I then use gateway up until 11.2 and use gw emunand for online and keep the red card functionality?
or could I also upgrade to 9.2 then ninja hacks to homebrew and keep gateway functionality but use homebrew for sig patches and such?

 

[einhuman197]

I recommend you to downgrade to 2.1 with Safectrransfer and then install a 11.2 image ctrnand image because gateway removes arm9loaderhax.