tanooki2017

For now, I have decided to keep the current loader, mostly because it just works and I'm lazy and just want to play all of my favorite past time games. Down the road, once I understand how the loader works, I would like to either see or create an HTPC like interface that will display the title image along with specifics such as game genre, what the game is about and any other misc/useless details. You know like what you see at stores in the game department which have the demo video game consoles, like what I saw for the Nintendo Wii-U demo display. You just scroll/select the graphic titles and press either A or B for it to play. I think there is already something like that already developed...maybe. It's getting harder for me to keep up on these things as I continue to get older.

Hi IlChengis, I will definitely take that into consideration down the road once I get started on these other extra mods. On another subject, I have received my Lynx Multi-Card Friday and I am so very happy. :thumbsup: The fit and finish definitely looks very professional and durable. I also really appreciate the preloaded SD card. I was not expecting that. I immediately started playing ElectroCop, Slime World, Xenophobe, Road Blasters, Rygar, (One of my favorites) and Kung Food. For the first time, I actually had put more than 6 hours of playtime on my Lynx, so much playtime that my Lynx II started to develop an issue with the carbon membrane pad where the D-pad up and left controls stopped working, as well as the upper B button, and Option 1. Darn lousy carbon traces!! I've ALWAYS hated this electronic trend in the 80's and 90's....grrrrrrowwl Thankfully I had a Lynx II junk parts unit that had a working membrane so I was able to quickly able to get my Lynx II working once again. Woo Hoo! Before putting in the replacement membrane I used CaiKote 44 to enhance and strengthen all of the carbon traces, used fingernail polish to coat and protect all of the traces going to the connector plug, leaving exposed the connector pins and obviously the ends that make contact with the buttons. This might be somewhat overkill, however, I plan to keep my Lynx for a long time and don't want to experience that ever again. Thank you so much SainT for making a wonderful device and making me love my Lynx II all over again. You are totally awesome. Now my Android gaming tablet will be collecting dust as my Lynx II will get ALL of my attention.

Sure thing. The extras that I am doing are for ones who feel a little more "gutsy" and have a bit of soldering & electronics skill under your belt. This is for my Lynx 2 since I only own this model. Now for my disclaimer...umm yeah. I DO NOT recommend this to any electronics novice. Be warned you could severely damage your Lynx if you don't know what you are doing. I had to get that off my chest. Ok now to the fun stuff. I am an engineer and deal with electronics on a daily basis so I took this project on as an extra challenge. For the speaker, I purchased on eBay from China. It is a 2W 8ohm mylar speaker. It has a little more cone excursion than the Atari OEM speaker. Here is the link https://www.ebay.com/itm/2W-8-Ohm-40mm-Dia-Metal-Housing-Internal-Magnet-Speaker-Loudspeaker-4Pcs/321872671173?epid=1141773395&hash=item4af11b31c5:g:PeAAAOSwZtlaRTya For the amplifier, I decided against the 3W mono amplifier since my Lynx 2 has 2 LM386 IC's, instead, I ordered, also from China, a micro mini class D stereo amplifier. I will use this in place of the old amplifier. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Differential-Amplifier-Board-10W-10W-Class-D-Stereo-Audio-Amplifier-AMP-Module/201448801171?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 Just to satisfy any nit-pickers, yes I am aware the amp says 10W, however that is absolute maximum if powered at 9V and running on a 4ohm load. I don't really have much to worry since I am using an 8ohm speaker and I don't plan on blasting my ears out while playing ElectroCop. To power the amplifier I will use the same voltage that is supplied for the 2 LM386 chips. I also chose this amplifier because it has better characteristics over the PAM8403, It can run on more than 5V, also is a differential amplifier which will give me the ability to further increase the gain or use the negative feedback to produce a bass-boost circuit. Wiring this new amplifier will also require some rewiring on the headphone jack since the speaker output is BTL, not single ended. Yeah this is where the fun for some might end because this part will challenge you if you want a working stereo headphone output. The speaker should not need any unnecessary modification for it to fit. You should just be able to pull out the old speaker and snap in the new 2W mylar speaker in its place. The amplifier mounting is as simple as using Scotch Foam Mounting Double-Sided Tape or equivalent and finding a spare blank area to mount it. I won't get into the specifics on how it all connects as it does require some technical and electronics know-how. Also, I have not received the parts from China yet as they will take some time. Of course another way one could go about the amplification upgrade would be replacing both LM386 IC's with a stereo op-amp and piping the output to the headphone jack, This should be wired in a way that the audio on headphones comes directly from the op-amp, once headphone is unplugged, both channels of audio from the opamp are feeding the input of a 3W mono amplifier that is connected to the speaker. Both methods of the audio upgrade just as complicated. My way just requires less parts, less thinking, trial and error, and "tearing up". Lol For the Lynx voltage regulator repair kit, I ordered from Console5.com https://console5.com/store/atari-lynx-1-2-voltage-regulator-rebuild-refresh-kit-with-power-jack.html

Ok Spector, Just for future reference really is no need for harsh tone towards others. This is a forum and sometimes the answers to your questions are already posted elsewhere in the forum so it won't be redundant. The link he gave you had all of the answers to most of your questions. Since it is a forum it does require reading comprehension skills which means reading "Everything" and not skipping over critical information as well as practicing patience. Just sayin'. On another note, I truly believe this Lynx SD is exactly what the doctor ordered. I have also just ordered the McWill LCD kit, 40mm speaker, 3W mono Class D amplifier to power the speaker and give it more volume as well as some oomf in the lower end to drive the new 40mm speaker, and DC-DC converter fix kit just in case I blow something or it quits turning on. Putting this all together is as exciting as when I was working on a portable retro gaming system using a Raspberry Pi Zero W. I'm looking for any other modernization upgrades that can be done on this wonderful device.

Yeah no kidding. I have noticed this recent surge too.As for me I just got the urge to whip out my Lynx 2 after cleaning out my old rare past time gadget drawer. I was recently curious about what more could I do to somewhat modernize my Lynx 2. Rather than burning a hole in my wallet from buying games on ebay at those gawd awful inflated prices for titles I miss and lost for my Lynx 2 years ago, I was thinking I should see if there is a way to run ROM images on my Lynx 2, just like I did for my vintage Apple IIgs via CFFA3000. This is how I landed here. ? He's definitely going to have his work cut out for himself. Maybe he might want to consider hiring some people to help out with the manufacturing and processing. Dang If I knew how to code at his level or the manufacturing process I would love to help out. ?

If this is still open I would like to also sign up for a cased Lynx Multi Card for my Lynx 2. This will give me a reason to fall in love with my rarely used Atari Lynx II all over again after practically a 2 decade hiatus. "Wow 2 decades!! It actually felt like 8 years" Next will be the TFT LCD mod