Does anyone else check to see how long is left on the video as soon as Steve sounds confident he’s fixed it? If it’s more than a couple of minutes left, my soul dies a little
Like imagining Esher's guy continually pushing a boulder around an impossible structure, I'd feel cheated if Steve fixed it within five minutes. I'm always here for the long haul
The Atari Lynx 2 does have stereo sound through the headphones output. The metal shield can easily be removed by bending the pins on the bottom of the PCB (the side you soldered on). The screen is not very good, but it can be a backlight problem. It is a small fluorescent tube that dims with age. But, like you said, the are very good LCD mods out there. Have fun with your Lynx!
@@Okurka. Yeah, unless there's been a lot of work that didn't make it into the video, it seems a bit of a cop out to just throw in a cheap amplifier board like that, and the poor display has a few possible causes which can be nice and simple to sort out, just giving up and fitting an IPS mod, again, bit of a cop out.
@@StezStixFix Don't forget to check/fix or mod the Headphone(jack) if possible. At least my guess would be the Headphone still does not work at the moment?
@@StezStixFix if you're able to get around to it, i'd like to see you model & print the battery cover. i think that kind of thing would really fit well with your videos 👍
Couldn’t sleep. Gf woke to me watching something at 3am. ‘What ya watching?’ she logically asked. ‘I’m watching this bloke from Manchester (?) fix broken electronics. He has a thing called Dave and sings a song each time.’ I think she’s spent the last week questioning a few things.
i still think there are 3 steves fix it steve , voice over steven and singer steve who in the weekends does appearances at parties as a elvis interpreter
Oscilloscope: to make it easier for you, you should limit the frequency range to the range analog should have (everything below 50 kHz should do). You scope is trying everything all over the place. Limiting the range, and maybe the voltage, will result in more "knowing" what's going on, instead of guessing 🙂. Nice video, as usual!
This is the model I bought, sold as no power. Turns out the seller bought it as no power intending to fix it, but he didn't own any games. That was the whole problem, as you said, you need a game to turn it on lol.
Shhh'shh don't tell everyone.. 🙄🤪😇 Known about this one for about 10 year's which is as long as I've owned a Lynx model 1. Bought it to try and fix it.. but it just needed a Game to work. Model 1 though has x2 different lengths off screws though.. Watch when re assembling. I didn't this know back then 😭 ...
Back when I was in high school, a good friend of mine went to an auction and bought a Model I Lynx as “not working” because it wouldn’t turn on. It never sold and nobody else made an offer, so he bought it for $1 USD. He gave it to me after I told him it probably just needed a game (he knew I’d better appreciate it than he would, being an Atari item). Did just that and it came right on, no problem at all.
Hi Steve, I think you might be wrong about it being mono. The pot is stereo, two inputs and two outputs, so likely stereo. The amplifier just merges the left and the right audio into single speaker, but headphones are stereo.
nice fix. And it shows that sometimes there are even simpler solutions to some problems. Instead of butchering off that stupid cover, you just installed a new amplifier. Great idea and it worked like a charm. Great job fixing this and I am 100% for a screen mod on this one.
This brings back memories! still remember getting my Lynx from Dixons in the early 90s. I've got an early 80s Yamaha CS01 synth with a slider fault and battery 'spring' connector broken if you fancy a challenge
Dude! I dunno if it's normal for electronics repair technicians to come up with solutions like yours to get problems fixed, such as your sound problem there, but it's super impressive!
Fantastic video. Love the Lynx!! I bought one on the first day it was available from Toys "R" Us for one reason..."WAR BIRDS" A combat flight sim on a portable gaming system was astounding at the time. Love the music and sound it makes. Even now I sometimes leave a Lynx on just to hear the demo music. My favorites are "Blue Lightning" and "Zarlor Mercenary" just for the opening music.
Haven't read all of the comments, but the Lynx mk II actually does provide stereo through the headphone jack. And in fact, both of the channels are merged at the headphone jack so that you hear both channels on the speaker output on the console. With headphones plugged in, it shuts off the audio to the speaker. So you might have to double check your audio inputs to that installed amp to be sure you have both channels working. There is a dedicated diagnostic cart for the mk II model that better checks this.
@@StezStixFix I think you should definitely do more console mods... Legal ones obviously 😅 There are rich veins of mods you could mine for endless hours of future content. Maybe even a new parallel channel called 'StezStix Mods' perhaps
Also, you can run two of those mono amp boards, as it does have a stereo output to the volume pot (two ins and outs) The headphone jack has a switch which disconnects the speaker, and also combines both audio outputs to the speaker. If you poke around you can figure this out with continuity.
You've come such a long way Steve. All of your skills are so well developed that I would trust you over my local repair shop any day. Love your videos and your songs. They require their own skill set. Great work all around.🙂
Ive wanted a Lynx 1 for as long as i can remember (well since i played and borrowed (!!!) A mates in the late 80s). Brilliantly underrated machines. But costly even broken.
What resourcefulness! Great job, Steve! I still have my Lynx II that I bought new back in the day that has a power issue atm, you’ve inspired me to finally give it a go
I liked this one a lot as someone who got a lynx from a flea market one time and no luck seeing the screen or hearing volume I feel vindicated by Steve fixing (hopefully) both problems I had through proxy I guess? Great video as always!
Brilliant fix on the sound! In a previous video, I remember you fixing a dim screen by replacing a capacitor. Maybe revisit the capacitors and see if a faulty one might be causing the bad picture?
The Lynx 2 has one of the very first backlights which is a neon tube. The tubes fail and were very difficult to see even when new. So yes it could be the capacitor for the neon tube or just change the screen and have the weakness of the Lynx fixed with a modern solution.
Love your determination. I think your channel should be required viewing for some of our younger generations who give up at the first opportunity. To marks 👍🏼
Atari Lynx 2 is stereo I think. You could link both audio channels to the headphone socket. Although you'd also have to rely on the audio jack cutting out the amplifier to the speaker. Hang on, wonder if the headphone socket is buggered and causing the amplifier to be switched off. Did you check the headphone socket for serviceability? The Lynx 2 screen was way better than the original but it was using 1990's technology.
once again simplicity wins the day for this case its modding a chip for a better amplifier instead of trying to get that metal cover off. (safe to assume the actually problem is hiding under that ofcoarse) and i totally agree that needs a mod to make the screen more visible and 3d print a battery cover
Oh man, I had a Lynx 2. It was also my favourite toy to not play games with. I'd just discovered Command and Conquer at the time and I was playing I was an engineer or a commando all the time. The Lynx was either my hacking device or my C4. And now you got a story from my childhood nobody wanted.
The original screen is absolutely gash in the Lynxs' It will be awesome with a replacement : ) Great job on the amp swap, those boards are a better pick these days, especially with a new speaker too. Well done
There's a really good Lynx 2 IPS screen replacement mod from Benn Venn. I know Mark Fixes Stuff did a video on that a while back. I did it on my own Lynx 2 and it's really 1) simple, and 2) beautiful.
Great video, Steve. Enjoyed that, and love your way of approaching these things. Keep up the good work, as your videos help me in a variety of ways. Cheers!
Get yourself a small amp for tracing audio, very handy in situations like this, and they are cheap! So you can test 1st stage and 2nd stage audio output, you were watching me type.
You may have already checked - but if the previous owner recapped the board, they may have installed the wrong capacitor around the audio amp IC's (which were the ones you pointed out). A wrong cap there can cause the audio to stop working.
Nice fix Ste, but I do wish you would cut the mod wires rather than wiggle them until they break - you are potentially going to break more tracks that way.
I think you put the amplifier on the copper shield without any isolation, thats a risk of shorting connections. Also, the amplifier on the board is still connected to the speaker terminals(and amplifier), better to connect the amplifier output directly to the speaker
Why not cut the wire to the right length once you soldered the one end Ste? I feel wiggling the wire to break it once soldered at the other end could pull the track off the board.
I'm abit surprised or confused that the volume control not working was to do with the wires, from the fact of that at 21.30 onwards (after you had completed the wiring) you was moving the volume control and it worked. Or in other words the volume worked before changing the speaker, so I assumed it was surely going to be something to do with the change of speaker. Bit strange that you had to move the wire to a different spot for the volume to work, even though (at 21.30) the volume also worked at first before you moved it.
Was out in my Beat t shirt today, the full set of the t shirt, blue Harrington, bleachy jeans and a nice pair o' Dr Marten cherry shoes... never gets old :)
19:05 I don't know the circuitry of the Lynx, but I know that older sound processors can have multiple signals for different sounds. For example, one channel may have keyboard/piano sounds while another has percussion. Fed into a mono speaker to try to emulate a larger or fuller sound stage. This sounds like it's getting all of the instruments though. 21:55 Very nice, simple to work with and functional. I do wonder if that single ground could have been used to somehow mount the new amp to that copper shield. Probably a little over engineered, but a fun Idea.
Does anyone else check to see how long is left on the video as soon as Steve sounds confident he’s fixed it? If it’s more than a couple of minutes left, my soul dies a little
Ya because he never fixes it lol
It makes me happy when there's still loads more to watch!
Everytime... and then laugh that he put it back together 😂😂
Like imagining Esher's guy continually pushing a boulder around an impossible structure, I'd feel cheated if Steve fixed it within five minutes. I'm always here for the long haul
yes
The Atari Lynx 2 does have stereo sound through the headphones output. The metal shield can easily be removed by bending the pins on the bottom of the PCB (the side you soldered on). The screen is not very good, but it can be a backlight problem. It is a small fluorescent tube that dims with age. But, like you said, the are very good LCD mods out there. Have fun with your Lynx!
This comment needs some more thumbs so Steve sees it!
Right, idk why he didn't look for schematics on the internet; the audio section on it is fairly easy to understand.
@@Okurka. If Steve was really stuck, I'm sure he would have looked. I think it makes the video more interesting through the process of discovery.
@@mattbowd He didn't even discover the original amplifiers.
@@Okurka. Yeah, unless there's been a lot of work that didn't make it into the video, it seems a bit of a cop out to just throw in a cheap amplifier board like that, and the poor display has a few possible causes which can be nice and simple to sort out, just giving up and fitting an IPS mod, again, bit of a cop out.
Definitely looking forward to seeing the screen mod.
I've ordered one from China, so hopefully it won't take too long to arrive!
@@StezStixFixAwesome. I'll put on the notification and can't wait what's it gonna look like!!!
@@StezStixFix Don't forget to check/fix or mod the Headphone(jack) if possible.
At least my guess would be the Headphone still does not work at the moment?
@@StezStixFix if you're able to get around to it, i'd like to see you model & print the battery cover. i think that kind of thing would really fit well with your videos 👍
Everyone is pro china when they need the parts otherwise whine about aliexpress/temu etc (cough racist)
Couldn’t sleep. Gf woke to me watching something at 3am. ‘What ya watching?’ she logically asked. ‘I’m watching this bloke from Manchester (?) fix broken electronics. He has a thing called Dave and sings a song each time.’ I think she’s spent the last week questioning a few things.
Lol, now you put it like that 😂
Nice to finally see Voice Over Steve on camera. Always knew he'd be shortshaved...
🤣
i still think there are 3 steves fix it steve , voice over steven and singer steve who in the weekends does appearances at parties as a elvis interpreter
I'm impressed by the casual time travel, not even referenced, where a younger Steve steps in to finish the job
Did Elvis need an interpreter??? Fanyuvermuge. Well possibly
Nice fix on this one! I just filmed a video fixing some of these too. Really interesting to see how you fixed that sound issue.
By far your best fix yet. In my opinion. Really like to see how you troubleshooted it and persevered
I had a Lynx version 1 and while the screen was pretty low res it was much brighter than that. Have you checked the back light tube still works?
Oscilloscope: to make it easier for you, you should limit the frequency range to the range analog should have (everything below 50 kHz should do). You scope is trying everything all over the place. Limiting the range, and maybe the voltage, will result in more "knowing" what's going on, instead of guessing 🙂. Nice video, as usual!
This is the model I bought, sold as no power. Turns out the seller bought it as no power intending to fix it, but he didn't own any games. That was the whole problem, as you said, you need a game to turn it on lol.
Shhh'shh don't tell everyone.. 🙄🤪😇
Known about this one for about 10 year's which is as long as I've owned a Lynx model 1. Bought it to try and fix it.. but it just needed a Game to work. Model 1 though has x2 different lengths off screws though.. Watch when re assembling. I didn't this know back then 😭 ...
Back when I was in high school, a good friend of mine went to an auction and bought a Model I Lynx as “not working” because it wouldn’t turn on. It never sold and nobody else made an offer, so he bought it for $1 USD. He gave it to me after I told him it probably just needed a game (he knew I’d better appreciate it than he would, being an Atari item). Did just that and it came right on, no problem at all.
I got a Lynx model 1 for cheap on eBay as it wouldn’t turn on. I took a chance and it worked fine. The seller had no games to test it with.
Nice one!!! I like how you filmed the second half of the video 5 years ago.
Also, nice to see happy face! :)
🤣
Thinking about this it means that time is ticking, as it's going to fail again in 5 years time! (LOL).
I fitted a BennVenn screen to my Lynx 2, it's brilliant.
Nice. BennVenn makes good stuff 👍🏼
Love the evolution of your diagnostic skills and technique!
Hi Steve, I think you might be wrong about it being mono.
The pot is stereo, two inputs and two outputs, so likely stereo. The amplifier just merges the left and the right audio into single speaker, but headphones are stereo.
That's correct, it has two audio channels and he connected only one.
nice fix. And it shows that sometimes there are even simpler solutions to some problems. Instead of butchering off that stupid cover, you just installed a new amplifier. Great idea and it worked like a charm. Great job fixing this and I am 100% for a screen mod on this one.
This brings back memories! still remember getting my Lynx from Dixons in the early 90s. I've got an early 80s Yamaha CS01 synth with a slider fault and battery 'spring' connector broken if you fancy a challenge
I remember when the Lynx came out, the ads only showed it from the front and I thought it looked so cool. I had no idea just how huge it is.
Thanks for the video! The sound of paperboy through the fixed lynx made my s21 speakers vibe like when i owned the lynx1
Definitely going to be watching out for a screen replacement/mod video. It’s going to look great!
The strings and bass during the song goes HARD.
Great job! Out of all my retro purchases, I’ll have to say the Lynx was one of those I’m not proud of. It just sits there. 😄
I too have had a lynx in the past and the screen was way brighter than that think you might need to look at the screen could be a backlight issue
Dude! I dunno if it's normal for electronics repair technicians to come up with solutions like yours to get problems fixed, such as your sound problem there, but it's super impressive!
I had one as a kid, it was a lot of fun!
Fantastic video. Love the Lynx!! I bought one on the first day it was available from Toys "R" Us for one reason..."WAR BIRDS" A combat flight sim on a portable gaming system was astounding at the time. Love the music and sound it makes. Even now I sometimes leave a Lynx on just to hear the demo music. My favorites are "Blue Lightning" and "Zarlor Mercenary" just for the opening music.
I had one of these from brand new and I found the screen brightness absolutely fine. No viewing issues at all.
Awesome work, and the Smiths, love it. Well done.
Haven't read all of the comments, but the Lynx mk II actually does provide stereo through the headphone jack. And in fact, both of the channels are merged at the headphone jack so that you hear both channels on the speaker output on the console. With headphones plugged in, it shuts off the audio to the speaker. So you might have to double check your audio inputs to that installed amp to be sure you have both channels working. There is a dedicated diagnostic cart for the mk II model that better checks this.
Love this so much! great fix dude!! I've always wanted to tinker with a Lynx, this is crying out for a screen mod too! :)
Thanks Kip! Yeah, definitely gonna pimp this one!
@@StezStixFix
I think you should definitely do more console mods... Legal ones obviously 😅
There are rich veins of mods you could mine for endless hours of future content.
Maybe even a new parallel channel called 'StezStix Mods' perhaps
I have the bennvenn IPS screen in my lynx 2, and it's a game changer. No soldering required either.
Also, you can run two of those mono amp boards, as it does have a stereo output to the volume pot (two ins and outs) The headphone jack has a switch which disconnects the speaker, and also combines both audio outputs to the speaker. If you poke around you can figure this out with continuity.
I like watching you and my mate vince you guy's are down to earth and smart at what you do.
Cant wait for the mod.
I have 3 old lynx's. None of the screens are that dull.
You've come such a long way Steve. All of your skills are so well developed that I would trust you over my local repair shop any day. Love your videos and your songs. They require their own skill set. Great work all around.🙂
The beats in the disassembly music are worthy of being released as tracks.
Ive wanted a Lynx 1 for as long as i can remember (well since i played and borrowed (!!!) A mates in the late 80s). Brilliantly underrated machines. But costly even broken.
Awesome work there. I can;t beleive you were so shocked that we didn't have a "get in" moment. Do think that screen is on its last legs though.
🤣 I think it's the first time I've been that shocked. I'll revert back to "get in" from now on 😁
Loving the new kick ass repair music it realy gets the soul pumping..
I had one as a kid, loved it. Have one today, still love it 👍
What resourcefulness! Great job, Steve! I still have my Lynx II that I bought new back in the day that has a power issue atm, you’ve inspired me to finally give it a go
Guessing the headphone jack no longer works
I love the Lynx. Such a special machine. I have one with a lovely modded screen.
I liked this one a lot as someone who got a lynx from a flea market one time and no luck seeing the screen or hearing volume I feel vindicated by Steve fixing (hopefully) both problems I had through proxy I guess? Great video as always!
Ive got one of these in my draw havent used it in over 20 years brings back memories
I have so much fun watching you repair this stuff! Cant wait to see the mod and 3d print content. 😁
I felt like a proud parent seeing you do so well.
Excellent work!
Can't wait for the screen mod!
The 3D printer is really exciting! Just imagine the cool repairs you can do!
Ah! The Smiths. Love it. Thank you.
Brilliant fix on the sound! In a previous video, I remember you fixing a dim screen by replacing a capacitor. Maybe revisit the capacitors and see if a faulty one might be causing the bad picture?
The Lynx 2 has one of the very first backlights which is a neon tube. The tubes fail and were very difficult to see even when new. So yes it could be the capacitor for the neon tube or just change the screen and have the weakness of the Lynx fixed with a modern solution.
I use to have this long time ago & the screen does go bright for sure as I remembered.
Awesome as always and adding an amplifier, genius!
Wish I could like it twice for the outro song alone
Love your determination. I think your channel should be required viewing for some of our younger generations who give up at the first opportunity. To marks 👍🏼
Oh man.. This brought back memories. I had one of these when i was about 10 years old. Awsome suff as always dude 👍
Looking forward to that IPS screen replacement video Steve!
Great repair! Looking forward to the screen mod and 3d print!
Hey, I have that exact t-shirt. It was surprisingly expensive for what it is, but it's very nice quality. Probably 100% cotton too.
Ive fixed a few and normally a recap helps brighten the screen up ,or just stick ips screen in
yep, it is amazing
Very nice example of some elegant engineering
I find your videos very fun to watch and funny. It's nice that it is sometimes so hopeless and yet it still works. Keep it up. Peace.
I still have the one I bought new sitting on the shelf next to me with quite a few games, ah the memories of basic low rez gaming on a handheld.
Amazing job. I love your problem solving and troubleshooting.
Atari Lynx 2 is stereo I think. You could link both audio channels to the headphone socket. Although you'd also have to rely on the audio jack cutting out the amplifier to the speaker. Hang on, wonder if the headphone socket is buggered and causing the amplifier to be switched off. Did you check the headphone socket for serviceability?
The Lynx 2 screen was way better than the original but it was using 1990's technology.
once again simplicity wins the day for this case its modding a chip for a better amplifier instead of trying to get that metal cover off. (safe to assume the actually problem is hiding under that ofcoarse)
and i totally agree that needs a mod to make the screen more visible and 3d print a battery cover
It's not under the shield; the audio section is right next to the volume wheel.
09:52 I love the totally OTT soundtrack for something so utterly mundane ;-)
Oh man, I had a Lynx 2. It was also my favourite toy to not play games with. I'd just discovered Command and Conquer at the time and I was playing I was an engineer or a commando all the time. The Lynx was either my hacking device or my C4. And now you got a story from my childhood nobody wanted.
I enjoyed your story and have now left a comment to boost engagement :) You did a few good things with your comment, crapparc.
i love this.. enjoyed every bit of it!!!! please keep creating more videos!!!!
Paper boy?! Looove it! Born 76🇸🇪😂
Born in 76 too
@@chongtak paper boy was the shit.. But imo soo hard! Games these days are so forgivin. Back in the days not so much.. 😋🇸🇪
nice solution, maybe you can repair more items with bypass modules
The original screen is absolutely gash in the Lynxs' It will be awesome with a replacement : ) Great job on the amp swap, those boards are a better pick these days, especially with a new speaker too. Well done
There's a really good Lynx 2 IPS screen replacement mod from Benn Venn. I know Mark Fixes Stuff did a video on that a while back. I did it on my own Lynx 2 and it's really 1) simple, and 2) beautiful.
really great like everytime ! Just a word : it's not a Lynx but a Lynx 2 :) IPS mod and battery mod will be the best for this legend :)
Got to definitely see you and dave hack this thing up. Make me motivated to do the caps and screen replacement on my gbc.
Great video, Steve. Enjoyed that, and love your way of approaching these things. Keep up the good work, as your videos help me in a variety of ways.
Cheers!
You should install the mcwill screen mod, massive difference compared to the original screen
1:00 i remember that with the gba i got years ago, I'm so glad i got the gba sp years later.
Awesome work Steve!!! 👍
Thanks Chris!
I think it’ll be really cool to see the ips screen and you working with a 3D printer im looking forward to it
PAM 8403 5 volt amplifier board 👍🏽
No Blue Lightning, no dice. Good job on saving it.
I had a game gear with Tarzan little did I know how much the game would of been worth 28years later I’m glad I kept it all in its game gear case
some kickass micro soldering skills there !
Get yourself a small amp for tracing audio, very handy in situations like this, and they are cheap! So you can test 1st stage and 2nd stage audio output, you were watching me type.
10:39 -- "We just don't know, do we?" Seventeen minutes left in the video... Yeah, we know. :)
Looking forward to the screen mod video!
I skipped to 3:46, but I still love ya Steve
You may have already checked - but if the previous owner recapped the board, they may have installed the wrong capacitor around the audio amp IC's (which were the ones you pointed out). A wrong cap there can cause the audio to stop working.
Nice fix Ste, but I do wish you would cut the mod wires rather than wiggle them until they break - you are potentially going to break more tracks that way.
I think you put the amplifier on the copper shield without any isolation, thats a risk of shorting connections. Also, the amplifier on the board is still connected to the speaker terminals(and amplifier), better to connect the amplifier output directly to the speaker
I would be happy to see the screen replacement
Why not cut the wire to the right length once you soldered the one end Ste? I feel wiggling the wire to break it once soldered at the other end could pull the track off the board.
I'm abit surprised or confused that the volume control not working was to do with the wires, from the fact of that at 21.30 onwards (after you had completed the wiring) you was moving the volume control and it worked. Or in other words the volume worked before changing the speaker, so I assumed it was surely going to be something to do with the change of speaker. Bit strange that you had to move the wire to a different spot for the volume to work, even though (at 21.30) the volume also worked at first before you moved it.
Was out in my Beat t shirt today, the full set of the t shirt, blue Harrington, bleachy jeans and a nice pair o' Dr Marten cherry shoes... never gets old :)
19:05
I don't know the circuitry of the Lynx, but I know that older sound processors can have multiple signals for different sounds.
For example, one channel may have keyboard/piano sounds while another has percussion. Fed into a mono speaker to try to emulate a larger or fuller sound stage.
This sounds like it's getting all of the instruments though.
21:55
Very nice, simple to work with and functional. I do wonder if that single ground could have been used to somehow mount the new amp to that copper shield. Probably a little over engineered, but a fun Idea.
Faultfinding and solderung skills, outweigh dhaving skills😊
I too cut mine off a week ago. Didnt look as bad asthat man.
Looking forward to the 2nd installment.
Awesome workaround !....cheers.
I really miss that outro from awhile ago, it was a banger.
Definitely want to see a screen mod video, that would be awesome