--- title: Camputers LYNX categories: - Computers types: - Home Computer origins: - United Kingdom years: - '1982' cpus: - Zilog Z80A params: name: LYNX image: /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx128_system_s2.jpg logo: /media/museum/logos/camputers_lynx_logo.gif company: /companies/camputers company_name: Camputers specs: - label: NAME value: LYNX - label: MANUFACTURER value: Camputers - label: TYPE value: Home Computer - label: ORIGIN value: United Kingdom - label: YEAR value: March 1982 - label: END OF PRODUCTION value: June 1984 - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: Lynx Basic, machine code monitor - label: KEYBOARD value: Full-stroke keyboard, 57 keys - label: CPU value: Zilog Z80A - label: SPEED value: 4 MHz - label: CO-PROCESSOR value: Motorola 6845 (CRT controller) - label: RAM value: 48 kb, 96 kb or 128 kb depending on models (max. 192 kb) - label: ROM value: 16 kb (48K version), 24 KB (96K and 128K versions) - label: TEXT MODES value: 40 x 24, 80 x 24 - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: 256 x 248, 512 x 480 - label: COLORS value: '8' - label: SOUND value: one voice beeper - label: SIZE / WEIGHT value: 32 x 20 x 7 cm / 2 kg - label: I/O PORTS value: |- Serial port, Tape (600 to 2100 baud), RGB video output, TV output (RF modulator), Composite video output & lightpen\ Optional extension box with Parallel and joystick ports - label: OS value: CP/M optional - label: POWER SUPPLY value: External PSU - label: PERIPHERALS value: floppy disk unit - label: PRICE value: |- 48k : £225 (UK, 82)\ 96k : £299 (UK, 82)\ 128k : £345 (UK, 82) tabs: - photos - hardware - software - emulators - links - docs forum_thread: 170 photos: - title: 'LYNX RANGE #1' subtitle: '' text: Three computers of the Lynx range image: /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx_3models_s1.jpg - title: 'LYNX RANGE #2' subtitle: '' text: Apart from the Lynx label, the Lynx 48, Lynx 96 and Lynx 128 are exacly alike on the outside. image: /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx_3models_s2.jpg - title: LYNX 96 subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx96_system_s1.jpg - title: SIDES VIEW subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx128_sides_s1.jpg - title: REAR CONNECTORS subtitle: '' text: |- From left to right:\ • TV UHF video output\ • RGB video output\ • Monochrome composite video output and Light pen input\ • Serial RS232 port\ • Cassette recorder In/Out\ • Expansion port, main ly used by the floppy disk unit\ • Power input from the external PSU image: /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx128_rearside_s1.jpg - title: LYNX LABELS subtitle: '' text: |- On top: Kynx 96 label\ On bottom: Lynx 128 label with handwritten serial number. image: /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx128_labels_s1.jpg - title: LYNX IN BOX subtitle: '' text: Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture image: /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx-128_inbox.jpg - title: LYNX IN USE subtitle: '' text: The game played here is a PacMan clone called Gobble Spook image: /media/museum/photos/camputer_lynx-gobbler_1.jpg - title: LYNX 96'S NEURONS subtitle: '' text: |- The Lynx 48 and Lynx 96 share the same main board but with a different RAM and ROM memory layout. **(1)** Motorola 6845 display controller, in text and graphics modes\ **(2)** Rarely used I/O chip, the Intersil LM64021, compatible with the more common 6821 chipset. Manages almost all of the system ports.\ **(3)** 24 KB BASIC ROMs (3x2764). The Lynx 48 board only has 16 KB of ROM memory (2 IC and an empty socket)\ **(4)** Z80A CPU, here a Sharp version\ **(5)** Keyboard connector\ **(6)** 64 KB RAM chips (8x4164), replaced with 16 KB chips (8x4116) in the Lynx 48\ **(7)** 16 KB expansion card. A third bank of 16 KB is soldered on the main board\ **(8)** Internal connector connected in parallel with the external expansion connector. image: /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx96_mainboard_s1.jpg - title: LYNX 128, MORE NEURONS... subtitle: '' text: |- The Lynx 128's mainboard was completely redisigned to afford larger RAM capacity. **(1)** Three 8 KB EPROM chips hold the same 24 KB BASIC and monitor as the Lynx 96\ **(2)** Zilog Z80A microprocessor\ **(3)** First 64 KB RAM bank (8x4164 chips)\ **(4)** Same 6845 video controller as the 48 & 96 versions\ **(5)** Second 64 KB RAM bank\ **(6)** Provision is made for a third 64 KB RAM bank. image: /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx128_mainboard_s1.jpg - title: ENGLISH & FRENCH MANUALS subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx_manuals_s1.jpg - title: OTHER ENGLISH MANUALS subtitle: '' text: Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture image: /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx-128_manuals.jpg - title: LYNX DOS MANUALS subtitle: '' text: Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture image: /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx-128_dosmanuals.jpg - title: OEIL DE LYNX N°1 subtitle: '' text: |- "Oeil de Lynx" was the french magazine dedicated to the Lynx. Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture image: /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx_oeildelynx.jpg - title: THE MAN BEHIND THE LYNX subtitle: '' text: |- After leaving Cambridge university, **John Shirref** starts building inflatable and portable structures. Then he plays drums with several rock'n'roll bands and starts to be interested in electronics. He is however still going on with his musician and sound engineer career, before he creates the Lynx. Finaly, after the Lynx adventure, he would goes back to electronic music research... image: /media/museum/photos/lynx_48_shireff_1.jpg hardware: - title: FLOPPY DISK UNIT subtitle: '' text: The case contains the disk drive and its PSU but not the FDD interface wich is connected to the expansion connector of the computer. image: /media/museum/hardware/camputers_lynx_fdunit_s1.jpg - title: BOXED subtitle: '' text: Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture image: /media/museum/hardware/camputers_lynx-128_disk-drive_box.jpg - title: PARALLEL PRINTER INTERFACE & DISK INTERFACE subtitle: '' text: Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture image: /media/museum/hardware/camputers_lynx-128_parallel-and-disk.jpg - title: PRINTER INTERFACE subtitle: '' text: This interface was delivered with a standard Parallel printer cable image: /media/museum/hardware/camputers_lynx_printerinterf_s1.jpg - title: SERIAL PRINTER PACK subtitle: '' text: This pack was comprised of a serial cable and a printer driver in a cassette tape. image: /media/museum/hardware/camputers_lynx_serialpack_s1.jpg - title: JOYSTICK INTERFACE subtitle: '' text: This interface was connected to the Lynx's expansion connector and allowed two standard joysticks to be connected. image: /media/museum/hardware/camputers_lynx_joyinterf_s1.jpg screenshots: - title: LYNX GAMES subtitle: '' text: Some Lynx games published in the UK by Camsoft image: /media/museum/software/camputers_lynx48_softboxes_s1.jpg emulators: - title: CamLynx url: http://www.emu-france.com/?page=fichiers&idMachine=93 platform: MS DOS text: Emulator made by Paul Robson in 2000 - title: PALE url: http://heraclion.users.btopenworld.com/palelynx.htm platform: Windows text: Basic 48k Emulation with tape support links: - title: Camputers Lynx Info url: http://www.camputerslynx.info/ text: Website dedicated to the preservation of all things Camputers Lynx related - title: Futurman's Camputers Lynx 128k Site url: http://futurman.club.fr/flhp/lynx/index.htm text: French website with some info - title: PALE Lynx emulator url: http://heraclion.users.btopenworld.com/palelynx.htm text: Lynx emulator website docs: - title: USER MANUAL url: http://www.camputerslynx.info/technical.html cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/camputers_lynx_user-manual_1.jpg text: |- [**USER MANUAL**](http://www.camputerslynx.info/technical.html)written by Sue Jansons  compiled/archived by John Roberts\  type of document : PDF\  source : [www.camputerslynx.info](http://www.camputerslynx.info/) **... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :** - title: MANUEL D'UTILISATION (FRENCH MANUAL) url: http://memo5.dyndns.org/Manuels/Ordinateurs/Camputers/ cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/camputers_lynx_manuel-d-utilisation_1.jpg text: |- [**MANUEL D'UTILISATION (FRENCH MANUAL)**](http://memo5.dyndns.org/Manuels/Ordinateurs/Camputers/)written by Camputers / Golem  compiled/archived by El Bimbo\  type of document : DOC\  source : [Memo5.net](http://www.memo5.net) **... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :** - title: EXTRACT FROM LYNX 128 KB MANUAL url: http://www.camputerslynx.info/technical.html cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/vide.gif text: |- [**EXTRACT FROM LYNX 128 KB MANUAL**](http://www.camputerslynx.info/technical.html)\  type of document : PDF\  source : [www.camputerslynx.info](http://www.camputerslynx.info/) **... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :** - title: LYNX DOS MANUAL url: http://www.camputerslynx.info/technical.html cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/camputers_lynx_dos-manual.jpg text: |- [**LYNX DOS MANUAL**](http://www.camputerslynx.info/technical.html)written by Camputers Ltd  compiled/archived by Russell Davis\  type of document : ZIP\  source : [www.camputerslynx.info](http://www.camputerslynx.info/) **... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :** oc_id: 158 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608215653/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=158 date: '2023-06-08' --- The Lynx 48 was a competitor of the [Sinclair Spectrum](/museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum/) and the [Oric 1](/museum/oric-1/). It was a good machine but its main problem was a lack of software. Several models were available with 48 KB, 96 KB or 128 KB RAM, and it was possible to reach 192 KB with on-board RAM expansions! There is even a monitor in the Lynx's ROM which allowed the user to write and edit programs written in machine code. The 96 KB and 128 KB versions featured 4 KB of additional ROM memory (mirrored twice for obscure reasons) with lots of extra commands for sound effects, such as laser and klaxon, and for using 24 KB of dedicated RAM as data space. The Lynx Basic has really cool features, unseen on other systems of its category, like REPEAT-UNTIL and WHILE-WEND statements, and automatic indenting of procedures! The graphic possibilities were excellent, especially with the 128 KB model, and CP/M could be used with the optional 5.25" disk-drive and 96 KB or better models. However, the Lynx had no great success outside Great Britain. The designer of the Lynx is John Shireff, an ex-drummer. Some hardware devices on the bus had potentially contentious outputs. This meant that you had to be quite brave if you wanted to program in assembly language - if you made a mistake, you could damage the hardware itself. This was highlighted in the user manual! Camputers ceased trading in 1984. Several companies expressed an interest in buying the business, and in November, 1984, a firm called Anston Technology took over. A re-launch was planned but never happened, and in June, 1986 Anston sold everything - hardware, design rights and thousands of cassettes - to the National Lynx User Group. The group planned to produce a Super-Lynx but was too busy supplying spares and technical information to owners of existing models, and the project never came into being. --- Contributors: John J. Diamond (editor), Richard Hince