U46837@UICVM.uic.edu (02/20/91)
Upon reading the info on using S-C 32K ram cards, I bought one (for $29.95) to
play with, being that I'm a hardware hack. In my intial experimentation using
it as merged memory, it seemed to work. When I turned the 48 on about an hour
later, I got a some kind of "BAD CARD DATA" message, and it no longer worked.
Today, I tried to RE-MERGE the card using new AAA batteries and failed.
I then powered off the 48, reinserted the card, powered the 48 on, did [ON][D]
to do the "SYSTEM OPERATIONS" check and then pressed [K] and [L] (I think) to
see what external devices are attached to the ports and do the external RAM
check. My 48 recognized the RAM card in the port and gave me a 32K RAM OK
message, even though I could not merge it again.
With this in mind, I do not beleive that the Smith-Corona 32K RAM CARD should
be used as a reliable data storage device. At best, it's fun to play with if
you're into hardware and you like to cannibalize parts. I'm not denying that
it's possible to find a S-C card that will indeed work with the 48. I do not
find that the S-C card is as reliable as a card manufactured for HP48 use, such
as a HP card or a CMT card.
Though, as an exercise in futility at least, I will try to make my S-C card
work with the 48 by messing around with the hardware (mostly the various
voltage levels) and see what happens. I'll also see what happens with those
"ESD" bars on the HP's battery indicator as the supply voltage is varied.
I just have to find time.
Sincerely, EUG :-) <u46837@uicvm>akcs.xymox@hpcvbbs.UUCP (Kelvin Chang) (04/10/91)
Excuse my lack of info, but what is a CMT card and how expensive is it and where can I get one? Kelvin