website/content/museum/camputers-lynx.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Camputers LYNX	Computers	Home Computer	United Kingdom	1982	Zilog Z80A	name image logo company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos hardware screenshots emulators links docs oc_id source LYNX /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx128_system_s2.jpg /media/museum/logos/camputers_lynx_logo.gif /companies/camputers Camputers label value NAME LYNX label value MANUFACTURER Camputers label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN United Kingdom label value YEAR March 1982 label value END OF PRODUCTION June 1984 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE Lynx Basic, machine code monitor label value KEYBOARD Full-stroke keyboard, 57 keys label value CPU Zilog Z80A label value SPEED 4 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR Motorola 6845 (CRT controller) label value RAM 48 kb, 96 kb or 128 kb depending on models (max. 192 kb) label value ROM 16 kb (48K version), 24 KB (96K and 128K versions) label value TEXT MODES 40 x 24, 80 x 24 label value GRAPHIC MODES 256 x 248, 512 x 480 label value COLORS 8 label value SOUND one voice beeper label value SIZE / WEIGHT 32 x 20 x 7 cm / 2 kg label value I/O PORTS 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 value OS CP/M optional label value POWER SUPPLY External PSU label value PERIPHERALS floppy disk unit label value PRICE 48k : £225 (UK, 82)\ 96k : £299 (UK, 82)\ 128k : £345 (UK, 82) photos hardware software emulators links docs 170 title subtitle text image LYNX RANGE #1 Three computers of the Lynx range /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx_3models_s1.jpg title subtitle text image LYNX RANGE #2 Apart from the Lynx label, the Lynx 48, Lynx 96 and Lynx 128 are exacly alike on the outside. /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx_3models_s2.jpg title subtitle text image LYNX 96 /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx96_system_s1.jpg title subtitle text image SIDES VIEW /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx128_sides_s1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR CONNECTORS 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 /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx128_rearside_s1.jpg title subtitle text image LYNX LABELS On top: Kynx 96 label\ On bottom: Lynx 128 label with handwritten serial number. /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx128_labels_s1.jpg title subtitle text image LYNX IN BOX Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx-128_inbox.jpg title subtitle text image LYNX IN USE The game played here is a PacMan clone called Gobble Spook /media/museum/photos/camputer_lynx-gobbler_1.jpg title subtitle text image LYNX 96'S NEURONS 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. /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx96_mainboard_s1.jpg title subtitle text image LYNX 128, MORE NEURONS... 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. /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx128_mainboard_s1.jpg title subtitle text image ENGLISH & FRENCH MANUALS /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx_manuals_s1.jpg title subtitle text image OTHER ENGLISH MANUALS Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx-128_manuals.jpg title subtitle text image LYNX DOS MANUALS Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx-128_dosmanuals.jpg title subtitle text image OEIL DE LYNX N°1 "Oeil de Lynx" was the french magazine dedicated to the Lynx. Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture /media/museum/photos/camputers_lynx_oeildelynx.jpg title subtitle text image THE MAN BEHIND THE LYNX 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... /media/museum/photos/lynx_48_shireff_1.jpg title subtitle text image FLOPPY DISK UNIT The case contains the disk drive and its PSU but not the FDD interface wich is connected to the expansion connector of the computer. /media/museum/hardware/camputers_lynx_fdunit_s1.jpg title subtitle text image BOXED Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture /media/museum/hardware/camputers_lynx-128_disk-drive_box.jpg title subtitle text image PARALLEL PRINTER INTERFACE & DISK INTERFACE Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture /media/museum/hardware/camputers_lynx-128_parallel-and-disk.jpg title subtitle text image PRINTER INTERFACE This interface was delivered with a standard Parallel printer cable /media/museum/hardware/camputers_lynx_printerinterf_s1.jpg title subtitle text image SERIAL PRINTER PACK This pack was comprised of a serial cable and a printer driver in a cassette tape. /media/museum/hardware/camputers_lynx_serialpack_s1.jpg title subtitle text image JOYSTICK INTERFACE This interface was connected to the Lynx's expansion connector and allowed two standard joysticks to be connected. /media/museum/hardware/camputers_lynx_joyinterf_s1.jpg title subtitle text image LYNX GAMES Some Lynx games published in the UK by Camsoft /media/museum/software/camputers_lynx48_softboxes_s1.jpg title url platform text CamLynx http://www.emu-france.com/?page=fichiers&idMachine=93 MS DOS Emulator made by Paul Robson in 2000 title url platform text PALE http://heraclion.users.btopenworld.com/palelynx.htm Windows Basic 48k Emulation with tape support title url text Camputers Lynx Info http://www.camputerslynx.info/ Website dedicated to the preservation of all things Camputers Lynx related title url text Futurman's Camputers Lynx 128k Site http://futurman.club.fr/flhp/lynx/index.htm French website with some info title url text PALE Lynx emulator http://heraclion.users.btopenworld.com/palelynx.htm Lynx emulator website title url cover text USER MANUAL http://www.camputerslynx.info/technical.html /media/museum/docs/couvs/camputers_lynx_user-manual_1.jpg [**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 url cover text MANUEL D'UTILISATION (FRENCH MANUAL) http://memo5.dyndns.org/Manuels/Ordinateurs/Camputers/ /media/museum/docs/couvs/camputers_lynx_manuel-d-utilisation_1.jpg [**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 url cover text EXTRACT FROM LYNX 128 KB MANUAL http://www.camputerslynx.info/technical.html /media/museum/docs/couvs/vide.gif [**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 url cover text LYNX DOS MANUAL http://www.camputerslynx.info/technical.html /media/museum/docs/couvs/camputers_lynx_dos-manual.jpg [**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 :** 158 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230608215653/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=158 2023-06-08

The Lynx 48 was a competitor of the Sinclair Spectrum and the 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.

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Contributors: John J. Diamond (editor), Richard Hince