DanJayUK

Guys - I've just had a bit of a shock and think it's worth sharing here... I have a Lynx 2. Rediscovered it in the loft a year back and whilst delighted was reminded how awful the screen contrast was. Well, a new one from McWill and it is now everything it ever should've been. I've bought a few new games and am loving playing on it again. The PSU I've been using is the one I had with it in the first place and was a 'proper' Lynx one rated at 9v. Seems to work fine but I've been starting to think I should check it - not in the least with a few on here painfully experiencing their Lynx going (quite literally) pop. I measured the voltage across the PSU out and nearly had a fit - 14v!!! It may well be it drops to the correct level with load but no thank you. I cut the lead off it and am now using with a regulated supply at 7.5v (I haven't upgraded/replaced the power reg components in mine and this seems a happy medium as 6v flashes the power light). So if you haven't checked recently, get a multimeter and test the voltage across the power plug. Safe Lynxing... Dan

Please include me on the list for a copy also!

Wow. I'd go as far as to say I feel a little emotional. My Lynx II was up in the house loft and I hadn't played on it for years. I'm not sure what prompted me to get it out a few weeks back - probably my young son playing on his new Nintendo 2DS. It was a big reminder of two things... 1) games - particularly those simpler 'pick up and play' ones - really haven't got that much better over the intervening years 2) but LCD screens and backlighting have come light years. And those early days colour ones are pretty awful to be honest I was actually struggling to play Toki as a combination of my now old eyesight and the bad contrast. My Lynx has sentimental value given it was a present from my mum during hard times when I was young. I was wondering if anything could be done to sort the screen and make it useable again and a bit of searching brought me to the Atari forum. Incidentally I'm amazed and really pleased to see the Lynx has such a vibrant and passionate following amongst people today. There are even new games! Though trying to get hold of Zaku is another story entirely Anyway... McWill's solution looked brilliant and anyone who has got one of his screens says how great it is so I thought I would give it a go. I should firstly say Marco is a great guy and is always happy to answer any questions. The way he sells and communicates it also up there with any top eBayer you'll find. You get full tracking details of your package. Yeah, the screen instructions could perhaps be slightly clearer but all you really need is the combination of what is supplied plus Daniele Tartaglia's video here I also recommend a soldering iron with a pointed tip - not a flat head like a screwdriver. Failing that the amount Marco charges to do the work for you is very reasonable. Incidentally I am keeping my Lynx looking stock - I haven't bothered with the VGA out and so have left the contrast control in place. If you haven't done this mod I cannot tell you what a jaw dropping difference it makes. The clarity and contrast is as good as my iPhone and it doesn't just improve the screen, games look completely different. You're actually seeing what the developer wanted you to see instead of the limitations of the LCD back in the early 1990s. It was actually quite nice removing the circuity for the original and the massive fluorescent bulb - every likely the batteries never lasted more than 5 minutes! So... thank you very much Marco. I'm going to playing on this for hours now and am already looking to buy some new games in. For everyone else words fail me. I can't recommend this enough - it's what the designers wanted the Lynx to be the first time round. Dan

I'm in for this too! Fabulous work SainT - the skills of people like you (and McWill) just astonish me. If only you and SD cards were around back in the 90s!