MacRorie

Right now, I would take any interface that allowed me to use a separate keyboard. It would allow me to use the 8bit without being physically directly in front of it. A regular PC keyboard (PS/2) would allow me to use a MUCH longer cable.

Okay, so here's what happened: Everything works perfectly now. I have it all buttoned up. Looks great! Took me MANY more hours than it probably should have for a couple of reasons: 1. Removing components: The Lynx II mod meant you had to desolder things. The Lynx I mod really should be CUTTING things. Desoldering the PowerModule is kinda silly and pointless. Same with the fuses and the backlight. Snip snip MUCH faster. 2. COUNTING. OMG! COUNTING on that LCD connection point. So much of a pain in the ass. I found out that I was off by one in the 31+ series. Egads. SO, if you are going to do it, COUNT, then a second time, then just to make sure! 3. Not sure if a trace could actually be lifted on the LCD connection. Nonetheless, I thought I had. Turns out you just have to be very very patient and clean it up after a couple of failed tries. 4. I used IDC cabling for the Lynx II mod and it went SO much more smoothly than this one. I tried Cat6 cabling this time and I am going to advocate NO ONE USE it. It is too stiff and, as such, makes things more brittle than they need to be. 5. The instructions for testing the 5V at VCC and Ground are a little confusing. I mean it should be obvious: You cannot test for voltage if there is not a cart in, but it takes a few minutes to parse through that in your head. Also, you have to figure out how to turn the unit on since all of the buttons are not connected. Yes, I know, simple stuff, but things requiring thought lengthen the project. So, once again GREAT MOD. It looks AWESOME VERY VERY awesome. I could install MUTLIPLES now, but the first time is always tough!

Hi, folks! I need to learn some trouble-shooting for the Lynx I (NOT Lynx 2) mod. I have done the Lynx 2 mod with no problems. Went to do the I today and find it to be MUCH more difficult. Not sure why. I finished connecting it all up and all I get is the screen powering on with 'static' and nothing else. I think I lifted a trace on the pin 18. I thought I connected it with the pin point right above it, but apparently not. Also found trying to get solder to hold on the VCC/Ground pads on the LCD itself to be a huge problem. Also, I do not understand how to test for voltage AFTEr you have disconnected things. The instructions say to pull all of the parts and THEN test, but, there is no power, right, so what voltage is being tested? Any tips on figuring out what pin(s) is unconnected would be appreciated.

Folks, I put up a lot of auctions on eBay last night. I am MORE than willing to end them for a trade. I am looking for Jaguar/Lynx games I do not have or some cool Atari 8-bit hardware. I would easily trade for a valid copy of BBS Express Pro (hell, I would give my left arm for the copy I owned 20 years ago, but that is a pipe dream, I am sure!) I have the following for auction: Atari 800/XL/XE disk software Atari 800/XL/XE hardware (some in boxes) Atari ST Software Atari ST Hardware PC-Engine games & PCE Duo TurboGrafx-CD set-up TurboGrafx EverDrive TurboGrafx / Turbo Duo games PC-FX console (in box) PC-FX games PS Vita games PS3 game PSP Movies PSP games eBay Seller: marlin4 For ease of trades, I have attached my collections in excel lists. If you have information about a game I do not have listed (or do have listed) in them, I would be happy to hear about them. For example, some place that one of the games can be ordered from or a game was released but not on the list, etc etc. Thanks and I hope there is something you are looking for here. I started the auctions low, just need to get them out of the attic (to make room for new stuff, really, but I can't collect everything . . . my s.o. tells me this. :-)) Atari Jaguar Lists-May 15.pdf Atari Lynx Lists-May 15.pdf

Thanks for the help. I tried everything and the SIO pass through worked fine, but still not recognition. So, I got a wild hair and put the switch in the middle (sort of between off and on). Lo and behold! It works! So, I will have to replace the switch, but at least it works now!

THAT, good sir, would be AWESOME. No, seriously, I would love to be able to build, buy, borrow, or beg that off of anyone. If there is anything I can do to help make that a reality, I am all for it!

USB interface: http://www.atarimax.com/usbcart/documentation/ Not sure if it meets your requirements, but thought it might be of interest. If ANYONE wants to sell one of those KLH interfaces, I would buy it in a heartbeat. That has been a dream of mine for along time and I am saddened buy the fact that I missed it by so little. I already emailed about them and confirmed they are out of stock. But, if anyone has one, an extra perhaps, that will sell to some one who is going to use it on a "daily driver," I would appreciate it.

It's not my first XF, but it has bee a few years. Let's put it this way: I got the switch loose, so I can turn it off and on, I presume (this assumes that the switch still functions). I try to boot from it, and get no reaction, it just errors out. I try to read a disk from it, not luck. Theses a known good disk. I do not even get a flicker on the access light when I try to do any of this. The motherboard of the unit DOES have what looks like patching on the SIO ports. IIRC those were notorious for failing and it looks like the prior owner may have wired them up. There could have been a crack in the motherboard during shipping (the cause of the stuck switch as well I am thinking). If there is anyway I could test the SIO ports, that might help me rule out some problems (because if the SIO ports have failed, this would explain the lack of access lights on trying to boot it/access it). Thanks for the help and I am open to anything.

Yes, no result. Get Error 138 from SDX when I try to read the disk.

Hello folks, I have a question for y'all: I acquired an XF551 that--for various and sundry reasons--does not power on. The power switch was jammed up and I got that to actually operate (I think) now, but when I try to turn it on, I only get a *brief* power flash and then nothing. This power flash happens when I turn it OFF. Any suggestions? How to troubleshoot, etc? Should I replace the switch? If so, any suggestions? What is the switch type called? I am headed to Fry's today for other reasons, but if I knew what the switch was called, I could buy a replacement and see if soldering a new one helps. OR, is there any way I could temp rig it to "always on" and see if it is the switch or something else more dire? Thanks -Mac

Hello folks, Well, I have been looking for a Black Box for quite awhile, would love one with a floppy board with it while i am at it. Additionally, would like to get the XF551 Dual drive upgrade kit if someone has one. PM with info. (I called CSS directly today and was told they do not have any). Thanks

Thanks to 1050, I had some known good 200MB carts to try out on the drive/MIO combo. Neither worked. I have to assume either the drive is bad or the MIO is bad. I am not sure what else to think (or try) for the matter. Thanks for all the help, though. -Mac

Ah, makes so much sense now. That's a username! PM sent!

Drat & Double Drat!

The *real* question is where can you purchase an IDE+2?

The SyQuest is ongoing. I have been out of town for awhile and am now back and starting to get time to dedicate to projects. I got some 200MB carts from 1050 (THANKS! I have not forgotten to go get you some 44MB carts), but need to test them out and see if they work. I have a sneaking suspicion either the MIO is funky or the drive it, but this will let me rule at least part of it out. I did get the EEPROM for the ROM upgrade, so I will probably do that as a matter of course--especially if the SyQuest test fails. Thanks for the reply. I wish I could get a BB w/floppy. I have wanted one of those ever since they came out. Now that I can actually afford one, of course, they re no where to be found. Curses! -Mac

Looks quite cool. Am a big RTS fan, look forward to seeing it.

Well, here's the deal: I have this Epson dual floppy drive that I want to purpose for just this thing. It decreases the footprint and, well, kinda looks cool as well. I mean, I could do two, but this seems more streamlined.

Many years ago, I had a XF551 that I had upgraded to be able to be both a 5.25" drive and a 3.5" drive. I seem to recall I had to install a switch to go between them, but I could be wrong. I also seem to recall having to piggyback a ROM onto of another ROM on the motherboard. I know CSS had a much nicer version as well. My question is this: Can this still be done? If so, where might I find available parts? Thanks -Mac

I saw this for auction and was curious if anyone has played with it? Think it would work with a BB or MIO? Speaking of Black Boxes . . . does anyone have info on if/where they might be obtained? I have always wanted one. I am knee deep in an MIO-SyQuest project right now,but figured since I was posting any way. Anyhoo: experiences with this: http://preview.tinyurl.com/lx4ml4m

I used the 1025 all through college. A tank, really. It does not, however, have lowercase descenders on the characters (g, y). It is tractor-feed only, though, so there's that.

They had a Lynx in the box with 15 boxed games, but a) they all looked like the US versions and (this is the kicker) b) they wanted 224000 Yen for it. It made the 198000 Yen Japanese Vectrex look like a steal in comparison.

I recently picked these up at Super Potato in DenDen. Was wondering if anyone else had seen the like? Are there other ones like these produced for the Japanese market? Both carts are flat, box boxes are large format, both manuals are fully japanese versions. Anyhoo, thought they were cool (and reasonably priced at about 2100 Yen) and thought I would share.

Well, that has not worked from the start. As I have been using different media [some confirmed good] (fixed and removable) then I am fairly certain, I can rule the media out. When you say software, do you mean formatters or firmware? If you mean formatters, which ones do you suggest (besides the old ICD HDFMTPHX?) BTW, I must say THANK YOU to every one on the forum and the thread, this has been very helpful. I have the eprom for upgrading the MIO prom. I need to be away from my set up for a bit, but I will log in every so often to read messages. The first thing I will do upon return is burn the eprom and see if that solves/changes things. I will also try out any different physical formatters. Thanks -Mac

I have some spare parts from when I installed the LCD mod on my Lynx II. Do you need the screen parts? PM me what you need, and I will see what I have.