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Another Camputers Lynx project

Posted: 25 Mar 2026 13:59
by PhilC
Its a bit like buses in here today.

No Camputers for years and then two Lynx projects come along at once.

Well, I was going to plug the Lynx in and try it but picking it up I could hear something loose inside rattling round. It turned out to be a loose screw, which has now been removed.

So whilst inside I thought I'd take a few photos to share. Hopefully they will help @stephen_usher out with creating a BOM for his reproduction project.
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It looks like a 48K version from the fitted memory expansion. If so I'll get it up and running and then see what I have to do to get it upgraded to at least 96K.

Re: Another Camputers Lynx project

Posted: 25 Mar 2026 14:10
by PhilC
And here it is, booted up straight away.
PXL_20260325_140758141.MP.jpg
Of course I had to use my small Sony CRT to test it. There are a few keys that don't work but they look to be similar to the keys fitted in the MTX512 and the BBC B, so shouldn't take long to fix.

Re: Another Camputers Lynx project

Posted: 25 Mar 2026 14:40
by stephen_usher
Bodge wires! Bodge wires everywhere! :-)

The PCB I have is for the later 128K/192K version, so quite a bit different.

Re: Another Camputers Lynx project

Posted: 25 Mar 2026 14:43
by PhilC
stephen_usher wrote: 25 Mar 2026 14:40 Bodge wires! Bodge wires everywhere! :-)

The PCB I have is for the later 128K/192K version, so quite a bit different.
Ah that's a shame that it won't work with location but may help you out with the parts at least.

Re: Another Camputers Lynx project

Posted: 25 Mar 2026 15:25
by PhilC
So, the keyboard had quite a few dry joints on it, even on the keys that worked, so I've ran a soldering iron over them and hopefully that's that sorted.

The motherboard is a bit dusty and has pink bodgewires everywhere. Which actually looks factory fitted. Id usually tidy these up but because they are original, I'm not sure if I should just leave them as is.

The underneath of the PCB is in actually quite a surprisingly good condition.
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So I shall be putting this back together right now and will then do some googling about 96K memory upgrades etc.

That brown tape is on the power supply low voltage side, so id better give that a look over too.

Re: Another Camputers Lynx project

Posted: 25 Mar 2026 15:42
by PhilC
Rather annoyingly, the PSU case is rivetted together, so I'll have to check the outputs from it and leave it alone until I can get some 3mm rivets.

The brown tape was actually covering nothing, which is odd but I'm not complaining obviously.
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Re: Another Camputers Lynx project

Posted: 25 Mar 2026 16:06
by mrbombermillzy
PhilC wrote: 25 Mar 2026 13:59 Its a bit like buses in here today.

No Camputers for years and then two Lynx projects come along at once.
Indeed. What are the chances, eh?

You realise, @rubber_jonnie will have to now also get a 'secret' Lynx. :lol:


Love the Sony monitor BTW. :dualthumbup:

Re: Another Camputers Lynx project

Posted: 25 Mar 2026 16:11
by PhilC
mrbombermillzy wrote: 25 Mar 2026 16:06
PhilC wrote: 25 Mar 2026 13:59 Its a bit like buses in here today.

No Camputers for years and then two Lynx projects come along at once.
Indeed. What are the chances, eh?

You realise, @rubber_jonnie will have to now also get a 'secret' Lynx. :lol:


Love the Sony monitor BTW. :dualthumbup:
Yes I think you are right. Although there is another one in eBay if you've got very deep pockets. £500 later and it's yours.

The TV cost me about £20 IIRC and just needed a bit of TLC and the screen degaussing. It even has a battery to make it portable but I've not dared plugging that into it yet. Just in case.

Re: Another Camputers Lynx project

Posted: 25 Mar 2026 16:43
by rubber_jonnie
mrbombermillzy wrote: 25 Mar 2026 16:06
PhilC wrote: 25 Mar 2026 13:59 Its a bit like buses in here today.

No Camputers for years and then two Lynx projects come along at once.
Indeed. What are the chances, eh?

You realise, @rubber_jonnie will have to now also get a 'secret' Lynx. :lol:


Love the Sony monitor BTW. :dualthumbup:
Damn and blast you!

:dizzy:

Re: Another Camputers Lynx project

Posted: 05 Apr 2026 15:12
by PhilC
So today, after doing a spot of tidying up in the Geekroom, I'd decided to do the 96K ram upgrade on the Lynx.

It turned out to be as simple as removing the old 4116 chips, cutting link 1 to the left of them, and then switching the links on Link 2 from link middle bottom, to middle top. Then plug in 8 4164 chips and then test.

The details can be found in issue 4 of Nilug magazine, which you'll find on this Github link https://github.com/ukscone/Camputers-Lynx.git