MiSTer FPGA Forum

Hi folks !

Here's the new Camputers Lynx 48 and 96K core for the MiSTer-
At the moment it only supports loading through the audio-in port. If your I/O Board does not have an audio input, you will not be able to load any program.( by the moment ... )

Enjoy, feedback appreciated.

Regards.

Thanks for the update.
It boots up and looks good.
Sadly, I can't test any further unless I can find some .wav files. Do you know if there is a tap to wav converter for the Lynx computer?

Sure: Here...
https://github.com/RW-FPGA-devel-Team/lynx2wav

Works great ! , it loads everything as TAPE 5.

Swell, I always wanted to try one of these crazily-named machines Looking forward to a tap-capable version.

Also hoping it supports/will support 15khz video output?

ron wrote: ↑Sun Aug 30, 2020 6:45 pm Sure: Here...
https://github.com/RW-FPGA-devel-Team/lynx2wav

Works great ! , it loads everything as TAPE 5.

Thanks, I was able to convert and load a few tap files. I'm probably doing something wrong with the conversion or loading.

Update: I figured I was doing something wrong when some games wouldn't load.
Load Machine Code Games:
Tape 5
MLOAD "<Game Name>"

Load Basic Games:
Tape 5
LOAD "<Game Name>"
Run

Here is a video of me loading Muncher and Racer.
https://youtu.be/N-lcurTjV-8

What was the killer app for the Lynx?

Did it have one?

The 2 games demonstrated are not the best, probably coded in Basic.

I had a Lynx around the 2000s but the software was so rare it was not worth me keeping it a sit could not hold my interest. I had most of the 80s machines available in the UK but sold them for this reason.

The Vic20 is the best of the early bunch in my opinion. C64 the best of the mid period with BBC close behind. I was never a Spectrum fan, the sound was too poor to grab my attention.

Jet Set Willy running on FPGA with 96K config.
Wav created with Lynx2wav by rampa as TAPE 3. ( Seems to be multiload )
Works fine !
New alpha to test.

@Vic20-Ian, you are correct; the two in the video are basic programs. I'm still figuring out the system. There doesn't seem to be much information online about the Lynx computer.

Now that I know a bit more about converting tap2wav and how to load basic and machine code programs, I'll make a few more videos.

Vic20-Ian wrote: ↑Mon Aug 31, 2020 11:07 am The Vic20 is the best of the early bunch in my opinion. C64 the best of the mid period with BBC close behind. I was never a Spectrum fan, the sound was too poor to grab my attention.

I'd count C64 as "early" period. VIC20 came out in 1981 I think & C64 in 1982, so not much between them. C64 is still my favourite computer of all time, Commodore computers were the best till the early 90's IMHO. If BBC hadn't had Elite it'd have been way lower down in my estimation! MSX were good machines, Atari made a few that were ok too.

That Lynx case looks great. This is one of very few machines from the era I haven't owned. I look forward to trying future versions.

ZigZag wrote: ↑Mon Aug 31, 2020 1:48 pm VIC20 came out in 1981 I think & C64 in 1982, so not much between them.

Apart from price. The difference was rather substantial. When it comes to early and affordable micros I think Atari 400/800 was the best choice.

C64 was probably the best of the pre-Amiga lot, but it wasn't flawless - particularly let down by the chunky gfx with weird colours. Overall most of them had some weak/strong points and had solid fanbases. It's especially unwise to dismiss ZX Spectrum, only on the basis of weak hardware. In my book it's a very close second with C64, because of its astonishing software library.

But that's probably a conversation for a separate thread

I love all the old 80's computers. Just my personal favourite was c64, it was a pioneer. ZX Speccy had simplistic charm, a really British ingenuity where they know they can't afford good h/w but do great things with limited means.

I did sneak a small statement in at the end of my last post in a feeble attempt to make it seem relevant to the topic .

I'm playing "Gobble De Spook" and "Centipede." I'm not familiar with the Lynx PC. Do these games seem too fast?
I also had an issue with Twinkle (1983)(Gem Software). The player ship drifted to the left and continued to fire, and you don't seem to have any control over your ship.
https://youtu.be/6q29A4LWhng

New alpha 03 with video corrected.
Now colours are better.
Enjoy !

Here is release lynx48_200909
https://github.com/RW-FPGA-devel-Team/MiSTer_lynx48

In the same core you can change from 48K model, 96K model or 96K model with Scorpio ROMS.

What is working.

- CPU.
- Lynx 48/96/96+scorpion
- Sound.
- Screen.
- Keyboard.
- Tape loading.
- support for 96 and scorpion ROM.
- Joysticks.
- CRTC M6845

Keys

- F11 - Reset
- F8 - Level9 adventures palete fix.

Tape conversion

At the moment, the only way to load audio is via audio in. To convert .tap files to wav files (the same tyou need to load on a real Lynx)

lynx2wav (Unix) (https://github.com/RW-FPGA-devel-Team/lynx2wav)
Mike's lynx utilities (Windows) http://retrowiki.es/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=200036021

Thank you for the update.

Update:
Looks Nice on my PVM 15KHz.
The screen rolls on my CRT-TV via component input.

This is very cool - I've not had a chance to check it out yet but thanks very much in advance. For me the Mister is perfect for this sort of system since it would be very cool to try it since I remember seeing adverts for them back in the 80's but have never actually been anywhere near one. Same for the Elan.

NML32 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 09, 2020 8:03 pm The screen rolls on my CRT-TV via component input.

Same here on my CRT TV via DV+RGB :/ How do you connect to the PVM?

akeley wrote: ↑Thu Sep 10, 2020 8:09 am

NML32 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 09, 2020 8:03 pm The screen rolls on my CRT-TV via component input.

Same here on my CRT TV via DV+RGB :/ How do you connect to the PVM?

VGA to BNC

Excellent, I still have my old Lynx 96 up in the loft. I'll have to dig out my tapes.

I shall put the kettle on while I wait the screen to refresh, or shall i just bank switch to Alt. Green.

Is there no further development of Lynx core?
I've not been able to load a single file. Get as far as tape file header and no further.
Can't work out why

I completely missed this one also. Be great to get this cleaned up and added into main. Does it support ADC?

Moondandy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 12:34 pm I completely missed this one also. Be great to get this cleaned up and added into main. Does it support ADC?

I believe it does support ADC. I’m not at home to verify that it does. I have it marked as supporting ADC on my Google Sheet.

NML32 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 1:29 pm

Moondandy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 12:34 pm I completely missed this one also. Be great to get this cleaned up and added into main. Does it support ADC?

I believe it does support ADC. I’m not at home to verify that it does. I have it marked as supporting ADC on my Google Sheet.

I think I managed to get it to load some games via the ADC a few months ago. ISTR you have to know the tape speed and file type before you can load a file.

D.

Supports ADC only at present

NML32 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 31, 2020 7:55 pm I'm playing "Gobble De Spook" and "Centipede." I'm not familiar with the Lynx PC. Do these games seem too fast?
I also had an issue with Twinkle (1983)(Gem Software). The player ship drifted to the left and continued to fire, and you don't seem to have any control over your ship.
https://youtu.be/6q29A4LWhng

Tried loading a WAV file or two now and again, followed @NML32 video, followed @Ron's instructions but still nothing

EeDee wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 9:36 pm

NML32 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 31, 2020 7:55 pm I'm playing "Gobble De Spook" and "Centipede." I'm not familiar with the Lynx PC. Do these games seem too fast?
I also had an issue with Twinkle (1983)(Gem Software). The player ship drifted to the left and continued to fire, and you don't seem to have any control over your ship.
https://youtu.be/6q29A4LWhng

Tried loading a WAV file or two now and again, followed @NML32 video, followed @Ron's instructions but still nothing

I followed my video and was able to load and play Muncher.
@EeDee I sent you a PM.

Thanks for your help @NML32

I just discovered this.
For loading I tried "Oh Mummy".
As a Linux used I ran "./lynx2wav -5 Oh\ Mummy\!\!\ \(1983\)\(Gem\ Software\)\(GB\).tap ohmummy.wav"
Volume was 80% (I had success with that on the Otic core) and I use the normal Linux play command with headphones socket connected to audio-in.
TAPE 5 first on all attempts.
Did MLOAD"" and it showed a file name but didn't load.
Did MLOAD"OH MUMMY" and it got to the end and said, "Bad Tape".
Changed volume to 75% and it worked!

ponder wrote: ↑Sat Sep 11, 2021 10:49 am I just discovered this.
For loading I tried "Oh Mummy".
As a Linux used I ran "./lynx2wav -5 Oh\ Mummy\!\!\ \(1983\)\(Gem\ Software\)\(GB\).tap ohmummy.wav"
Volume was 80% (I had success with that on the Otic core) and I use the normal Linux play command with headphones socket connected to audio-in.
TAPE 5 first on all attempts.
Did MLOAD"" and it showed a file name but didn't load.
Did MLOAD"OH MUMMY" and it got to the end and said, "Bad Tape".
Changed volume to 75% and it worked!

Hi, take a look on this thread at RW: http://www.retrowiki.es/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=200036503

Best Regards, ron.

No need, it worked. I was just pointing out my process.
Now I just have to figure out how to get a loud and clean enough output to save successfully

Actually I think the problem is with the input on the computer line-in picking up noise from the motherboard (integral audio). I've also tried a USB sound device for input but it's really cheap so I don't think it's good enough.