HP-12C+ (2022 version)

[AnnoyedOne]

Although I have no real use for it I purchased a (2022 version) HP-12C+ "new" (open package) cheap (about 1/3 of new) online.

You can read more about this version here.

https://web.archive.org/web/202303262239..._new_HP12c

Like the HP-15C CE it is based on the Atmel/Microchip ATSAM4LC2CA SoC and not the Atmel AT91SAML128 the 2008 HP-12C+ (and HP-15C LE) uses. The HP HP-12C+ SDK thus won't work with it. It also uses a different programming cable (the same USB one as the HP-15C CE vs the older serial one).

No MPN as far as I can see but the package has "HP-12c #INT" on it. The barcode (UPC?) is 0 88698 00012 0.

L/NO. 9CJ251 (no serial number) (2022, week 51?)

Mine contains the following firmware (it uses the same viewing mechanism as the HP-15C CE -- that is g-ENTER-ON then 2 from off)

CHE--d1d1h
2015-01-30
C 2008 hP

I have dumped that to a file using SAM-BA v2.18 in a WinXP SP3 virtual machine (VM). [I used Win7 SP1 for my HP-15C CE.]

If Moravia updates the firmware (hint hint!), as they have for the HP-15C CE, I may be able to save/restore its memory using VoyagerSave.

A1

PS: Warning - Many online stores are still selling the single CR2032 cell HP-12C. I'm not certain what CPU those use (I know what is claimed on Wikipedia). The HP-12C Platinum also uses a single CR2023 battery. The (6502 based) firmware in those is not updatable. If you care what you're buying check carefully before parting with your money.

PPS: A far as I know the latest HP-12C manual (PDF) is edition 5 from April 2008 (most sites, including HP's, have edition 4 from 2005). It does not admit to updatable firmware etc but does show two CR2032 batteries and the 6-pin programming (POGO) connector in appendix E. However I did find "HP-12C Calculator - Performing the Self Test.pdf"

at

https://hpofficesupply.com/wp-content/up...f-Test.pdf

and it documents the (1.L 2.C 3.H) menu that is available at power-on in the HP-12C+ and HP-12C Platinum (plus the HP-15C LE/CE).


PPPS: Interestingly the dumped firmware image contains

Code:


0123456789ABCDEF
2 0 0 9 - 0 6 - 0 1 
  C   2 0 0 8   h p 
1.L 2.C 3.H

[AnnoyedOne]

I found this (old) thread

https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-19620.html

and was curious about f-ENTER-ON and the 2022 HP-12C+. So I connected my HP-15C CE programming cable to my PC to see what would happen.

To my surprise my PC made a "device recognized" sound just like it did with my HP-15C CE with the new firmware. So I tried VoyagerSave and it didn't save anything.

So clearly the 2022 HP-12C+ has some USB functionality of unknown kind.

PS: I had to remove both CR2032 batteries from the calculator to have it power off.

PPS: I found the obsolete HP-12C+ SDK on archive.org. It only contain two programs (one a PC emulator) and nothing USB.

[ctrclckws]

(08-11-2024 04:32 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  So I connected my HP-15C CE programming cable to my PC to see what would happen.

I actually took a recent 12C, and installed the 15C CE firmware on it.
That 12C is now in 16C emulation mode (patched for DEC display issue).

[Uwe-001]

(08-10-2024 04:22 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  The HP-12C Platinum also uses a single CR2023 battery.

My HP-12C Platinum has two CR2032 batterys and a lock screw for the battery cover.

[AnnoyedOne]

(08-12-2024 05:28 PM)Uwe-001 Wrote:  My HP-12C Platinum has two CR2032 batterys and a lock screw for the battery cover.

Must be a newer model. Serial number? Firmware version?

Quote:In 2022, alongside the latest revision of the original 12C, Moravia and Royal also released a mostly cosmetic update of the 12c Platinum, with the words "Hewlett-Packard" removed from the frontplate, subtle adjustments to the layout and contact information on the rearplate, and a screw added to the battery compartment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP-12C#HP_.../_Prestige

[Uwe-001]

(08-12-2024 05:43 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  

(08-12-2024 05:28 PM)Uwe-001 Wrote:  My HP-12C Platinum has two CR2032 batterys and a lock screw for the battery cover.

Must be a newer model. Serial number? Firmware version?

My 12C Platinum:
ChE - - 564Ah
UEr 02
C 2004 hP

L/NO. 9CJ310

Purchased at Amazon in Q1/2024

[AnnoyedOne]

Thanks for that.

2004 firmware (maybe) in a 2024 unit? Perhaps. My HP-12C firmware is dated 30th Jan 2015 which is almost 10 years old.
Maybe Moravia will update it so VoyagerSave works (per the HP-15C CE).

[Divasson]

Platinums are not updatable, have no connectors and use a different processor. The calculator has not evolved since then. (All evolution has been on the 12c, which is fully hardware compatible with the HP15c. In fact the development of the HP15c was tested on a HP12c with overlay).

[AnnoyedOne]

(08-13-2024 06:36 PM)Divasson Wrote:  Platinums are not updatable...

I know. I have a 2022 HP-12C that is (if Moravia releases an update).

(08-13-2024 06:36 PM)Divasson Wrote:  In fact the development of the HP15c was tested on a HP12c with overlay.

Interesting. The same hardware base to my knowledge.

[AnnoyedOne]

I'm not sure why Divasson posted* the above (again) about the HP-12C Platinum. I already stated that I don't have one (Uwe-001 does). He's 100% correct though which I already knew before I purchased my 2022 HP-12C (non-Platinum).

https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-22...#pid189931

I decided against buying a Platinum to round out my Voyager collection for a number of reasons (one being that they're not firmware updatable). They're not the same calculator. The Platinum, although nearly identical in appearance/operation, is different. A re-imagining of the HP-12C by HP in 2003 for whatever reason.

My 2022 HP-12C was hard to find but I got lucky. Few sell them (new or otherwise).

It is unfortunate that HP produced so many versions of the HP-12C. Confusing at best. A side effect of their longevity (40+ years) I guess.

A1

* The second (identical) post by Divasson has since been deleted. Perhaps it was in response to another poster. I've no idea since nothing was quoted.

[rprosperi]

(08-14-2024 01:11 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  ...A re-imagining of the HP-12C by HP in 2003 for whatever reason.

The 12CP was created to add a near-12C financial calculator with algebraic operation to the product lineup as the EU market (for financial use at least) were not willing to adopt RPN-based models. Since grafting-on algebraic features was no longer feasible (Nut CPU development was all done in assembler) they chose to reimplement the machine from scratch in C on a readily available and cheap CPU, and so.... that's why while it is very similar, the internal math and results are not identical.

[AnnoyedOne]

(08-15-2024 01:49 AM)rprosperi Wrote:  The 12CP was created to add a near-12C financial calculator with algebraic operation to the product lineup as the EU market (for financial use at least) were not willing to adopt RPN-based models

They couldn't think "backwards" (RPN) huh? :-)

Thanks for the info!

A1

[msmiley78]

(08-12-2024 01:53 PM)ctrclckws Wrote:  

(08-11-2024 04:32 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  So I connected my HP-15C CE programming cable to my PC to see what would happen.

I actually took a recent 12C, and installed the 15C CE firmware on it.
That 12C is now in 16C emulation mode (patched for DEC display issue).

I just did the same thing with an HP-12C that I found on FB Marketplace that had double CR2032 Batteries and pogo pins and hoped it would load, and it did, so now it has the HP15C CE and HP-16C Firmware running on it with TheCalculatorStore's HP-16C Overlay! Fantastic!!!!

[pat_art]

(08-12-2024 01:53 PM)ctrclckws Wrote:  I actually took a recent 12C, and installed the 15C CE firmware on it.
That 12C is now in 16C emulation mode (patched for DEC display issue).

How do I know which HP12C model can be flashed with the HP15CE firmware?

[ctrclckws]

(10-31-2024 06:32 PM)pat_art Wrote:  

(08-12-2024 01:53 PM)ctrclckws Wrote:  I actually took a recent 12C, and installed the 15C CE firmware on it.
That 12C is now in 16C emulation mode (patched for DEC display issue).

How do I know which HP12C model can be flashed with the HP15CE firmware?

Two CR-2032 batteries is one check. I think the manufacture date on the one I converted was 2018.
9CJ8250... serial number.
So that means most newer ones.
Not the Platinum models, though.

[AnnoyedOne]

(10-31-2024 06:32 PM)pat_art Wrote:  How do I know which HP12C model can be flashed with the HP15CE firmware?

As ctrclckws already said

• Two CR2023 coin cells (originals have three LR44's and later ones a single CR2032).
• Manufactured after 2015. The serial number indicates this. The firmware date too---maybe.
• A 6-pin "POGO" connector in the battery compartment.
  

The latest hardware also has no Hewlett-Packard on the front bezel, is "Made in Philippines", has a screw on the battery cover and the package says distributed by Moravia.

See the photos in the link in the first post.

A1

PS: Just to add to the confusion (the HP-12C has been sold for 43+ years and there are many hardware variants) there's the Rogue HP-12C sold only in Brazil to my knowledge. It looks very similar but is "Made In China" and has a different serial number format. Seemingly Platinum-like hardware and although it does have a 6-pin programming connector in the battery compartment it likely requires a proprietary programmer (not serial or USB).

https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-22313.html

So far I have haven't seen any of these in the wild or on eBay but it is possible that they exist. I was not aware of these when I bought my 12C+.

[Idnarn]

Photo of the back of my HP 12C Platinum with the battery bay door removed:

https://imgur.com/a/THVCFOS

It has:

• 2 cells
• Screw on door
• Empty placeholder where pogo connector usually is
  

[Idnarn]

Divasson, 15C overlay?

HP 12C "Gold" calculators (as they're called on Amazon.com listings) sell there for about $35. Flash 15C firmware and get a poor person's 15C? Even after HP 15C CE production finishes...

[Steve Simpkin]

(11-03-2024 05:16 AM)Idnarn Wrote:  Divasson, 15C overlay?

HP 12C "Gold" calculators (as they're called on Amazon.com listings) sell there for about $35. Flash 15C firmware and get a poor person's 15C? Even after HP 15C CE production finishes...

Yes, perhaps using the HP-15C overlay available here:
https://www.thecalculatorstore.com/p/hp1...calculator?

And the HP-15C CE firmware available here:
https://hpcalcs.com/download/

[AnnoyedOne]

(11-03-2024 05:57 AM)Steve Simpkin Wrote:  ....HP-15C overlay available here

(08-13-2024 06:36 PM)Divasson Wrote:  All evolution has been on the 12c, which is fully hardware compatible with the HP15c. In fact the development of the HP15c was tested on a HP12c with overlay.

https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-22...#pid190278

A1