[comp.sys.handhelds] HP 28/48 FAQs -- Monthly Posting.

smithj@jacobs.cs.orst.edu (Jeremy Smith) (04/05/91)

                 28/48 FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
                 about the HP 28C, HP 28S, and HP 48SX.

  This file, FAQ2848, is posted monthly on comp.sys.handhelds and will
be available on the archive sites listed below.  Any additions and
corrections please email to smithj@jacobs.cs.orst.edu.

HP 28 stuff:
============
- To find out the version of your HP 28C execute HEX then #A SYSEVAL. 
  It will be 1BB or 1CC.

- The version of your HP 28S is 2BB

HP 48 stuff:
============
- To find out the version type ON-D, Backspace, EVAL.  Type ON-C to get
  back to the real world.  Also << #30794h SYSEVAL >>

- Type ON-x as follows: press ON, press x, release ON, release x.

- Flag 19 determines whether 2D makes a vector or a complex number

- MEM invokes garbage collection (memory cleanup).  Garbage collection
  occurs automatically at intervals causing the 48 to pause for a
  moment.  Use less stack to make it faster.

- ON-C gets all memory back, except variables.  PICT, last stack, last
  arg, the stack, etc all use up memory.

- See manual (II) p627 for \Ga and other characters preceded by \.

- Vectored ENTER means that \GaENTER and \GbENTER are executed as
  follows: (long story, Bill Wickes article available from archive sites
  soon)

- Stopping TAYLR gone mad; ON-C halts any operation & doesn't erase
  variables.

- The pinouts for the serial port are (looking at the it end on, screen
  facing up) 1-Field Ground 2-Receive 3-Send 4-Signal Ground, and
  connect to pins 1, 2, 3, 7 on standard db25 pin RS232 connector, or
  nothing, 2, 3, 5 on a db9 pin connector.  The 48 pins are 2mm apart.

- SAD, CHIP48, Tetris, are available at the archives sites listed below.

- Press \pi \->NUM to get pi.  Same for e, i, MINR, MAXR.

- Use \->ASC to post binary objects.  \->ASC available as file
  ascii.encode.Z from the wscott@ecn.purdue.edu mail server.

- Chip48 is a machine language program which interprets Chip8, a game
  language used on small systems in the 1970s.  Chip8 games appear as an
  undecipherable string on the stack, but can be run using the Chip48
  interpreter.

- PC is DTE, modem is DCE.  Use null modem &| gender bender.

HP 28 and 48 stuff:
===================
- Flickering display - caused by fluorescent lights.

- Split a matrix in rows by using \Gs-

- Build a matrix from rows by using \Gs+

- Your calculator is very accurate, but not infinite.  Don't expect
  'SQ(\v/2)' to be exactly 2.

- Mind the values of your symbolic, constant, function evaluation flags.

- The 28 speed nybble has a value 0-f (default 7) which can be changed
  by software; the 48 is 'hard-wired' to top speed - 2MHz and cannot be
  changed.

- Transmitting data from the HP28 to the HP48 is done with INPRT which
  comes with the HP48 cable.  INPRT is available from the archives.

General stuff:
=========
- HP's calculator BBS: (503) 750-4448 @ 2400 baud N81, and (503) 750-
  3277 @ 9600 baud N81.  Also (from Internet sites): >telnet
  hpcvbbs.cv.hp.com

- Ftp sites: (Source of lots of articles, information and neat public
  domain HP 28 & HP 48 programs) (type >ftp site name (or IP address),
  login as anonymous, password your return address, cd directory, ls to
  see files, set binary, get filename to transfer file to your system)

   Site Name           IP address     directory                    (Key Files)
   -----------------   ------------   ----------------------------------------
   calvin.stanford.edu 36.??.??.??                               (hp48archive)
   faui43.informatik.uni-erlangen.de 131.188.34.43 games gnu hp28 irc iso lisp
   funic.funet.fi      128.214.6.100  pub/misc/hp48sx pub/misc/hp28s
   gmuvax2.gmu.edu     129.174.1.8    new/hp48sx
   hpcvaaz.cv.hp.com   15.255.72.15   pub
   hpcvbbs.cv.hp.com   15.255.72.16   pub                             (readme)
   max.ee.lsu.edu      130.39.128.96              unix lharc source, hp48sx sw
   plains.nodak.edu    134.129.111.64                comp.sys.handhelds, hp-28
   vega.hut.fi         130.233.200.42 /pub/misc/hp48sx/asap/chip48-2.25-bin.Z
   wuarchive.wustl.edu 128.252.135.4  /systems/hp48sx

- Handhelds Mailing list:              (forwarded to comp.sys.handhelds)
  To join mailing list send message
     SUBSCRIBE  HANDHELDS  your_real_name
  To abdicate from mailing list send message
     UNSUBSCRIBE  HANDHELDS   or   SIGNOFF HANDHELDS
  to MAILSERV@GAC.EDU (Internet) or MAILSERV@GACVAX1.BITNET (Bitnet)
  To post a message for the mailing list, send it to
  HANDHELDS@GAC.EDU (Internet) or HANDHELDS@GACVAX1.BITNET (Bitnet)

- Handhelds mail server:
  To: wscott@ecn.purdue.edu
  Subject: HP-MAIL-SERVER     (The subject must be exactly as shown)
     send HELP INDEX          (help on using this server + index of files)
     HP28                     (HP 28 files)

- How to ftp through BITftp:  Send the message 'HELP' to BITFTP@PUCC
  (Bitnet) or to BITFTP@PUCC.Princeton.edu (Internet).  It sends you
  everything you'll need.

- HP 48sx and accessories available by mailorder from:

     EduCalc Mail Store  (714) 582-2637             Elek-Tek  (708) 677-7660
     27953 Cabot Road                               7350 North Linder Avenue
     Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 USA                      Skokie, Illinois 60077
     (800) 677-7001 fax: (714) 582-1445   (800) 395-1000 fax: (708) 677-7168
     HP 48sx $279.95                                         HP 48sx $249.00
     (orders outside USA: +714 582-2637)
                                        Surveyors Supply Co.  (919) 362-7000
     Calculators, Inc.                  Hwy 64 at Salem Street  P.O. Box 809
     Minneapolis                                              Apex, NC 27502
     (612) 866-8908                      (800) 334-0095  fax: (919) 362-7077
     HP 48sx $248.50                                         HP 48sx $269.95
--
Jeremy |-) Smith
smithj@jacobs.cs.orst.edu

justice@dao.nrc.ca (Gerald Justice) (04/07/91)

	I couldn't access the hp48sx directory at calvin.stanford.edu
	due to the protection they have set, which means that there isn't
	much point in listing this site.

A question about one of the acronym's used:
	Something called SAD is supposedly available on the various ftp
	sites but for the few sites that I have recently gotten lists for
	there is no file with the three letters "sad" in it (in either case).
	What is SAD?

Some suggestions for the monthly FAQ:
	Can an acronym list and glossary be compiled?  I will volunteer,
	but I don't yet know what they all are.  Here are a few of the ones
	I have spotted:
		RPL
		STAR
		ML
		MLDL
		IPDL
		Voyager
		Saturn (Assembler)
		ASC->
		->ASC
		ASC format
		ASAP format
		AG mnemonics
		areuh (assembler)
		SASS
		SAD

	An list of the non-standard programming methods of the HP48sx.
	(IE anything that is not documented in the HP manual set or the
	HP Programmer's Reference).  I just want to know what the
	alternatives are and what tools exist not a detailed explanation
	of how each is used.  (At least I don't want that yet.)
	For example, I have at least figured out that there are two
	methods:
		sysevals
		machine code
	Please remember that we beginners don't yet have all this stuff
	figured out.  Once we get a glossary and a list of packages or
	programming possibilities we can start to focus on what
	interests us.  I know there is technical documentation out there
	but the overview is missing.  How do I know that I want a STAR
	assembler rather than the Voyager package (are they even
	alternatives for doing the same thing)? etc.


Just getting started,
Gerald Justice
justice@dao.nrc.ca