+- HP Forums (https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum)
+-- Forum: HP Calculators (and very old HP Computers) (/forum-3.html)
+--- Forum: General Forum (/forum-4.html)
+--- Thread: HP 82208A/C Serial Interface Kit (/thread-13576.html)
HP 82208A/C Serial Interface Kit - JurgenRo - 09-02-2019 08:54 PM
Google does not reveal any content information about these kits. Does any of you know the difference between the A and C versions? And, what is the difference between the kit "for IBM computer" and "for DOS computer"?
Thank you and kind regards,
Jürgen
RE: HP 82208A/C Serial Interface Kit - Giuseppe Donnini - 09-02-2019 10:09 PM
Version C was a newer version of the same kit, released about the same time the G/GX came out. The contents of the box are exactly the same, namely:
- 1.5-meter cable,
- 9-pin to 25-pin adapter,
- 5 1/4" and 3 1/2" disks with PC software,
- Installation instructions.
But version C-disks contained a whole lot more software: whereas version A contained 9 programs, version C contained 30 programs (including 2 games), 4 grobs, and 5 animations. It also included updated versions of programs which would otherwise not run on the G/GX series (like the stopwatch, for instance).
I guess the change in the title from "IBM and IBM-compatible" to "DOS-compatible" just reflects the fact that by 1993, it was no longer common practice to refer to the original IBM when talking about PCs.
RE: HP 82208A/C Serial Interface Kit - Dave Frederickson - 09-03-2019 02:35 AM
(09-02-2019 10:09 PM)Giuseppe Donnini Wrote: But version C-disks contained a whole lot more software: whereas version A contained 9 programs, version C contained 30 programs (including 2 games), 4 grobs, and 5 animations. Later editions of version C also included updated versions of programs which would otherwise not run on the G/GX series (like the stopwatch, for instance).
Anybody have a copy/image of either/both discs and the manual?
RE: HP 82208A/C Serial Interface Kit - Giuseppe Donnini - 09-03-2019 04:55 AM
Look here for version C: https://www.hpcalc.org/details/3733
[HP-82208A does not contain any software that is not also included in version C.]
Note, however, that these files will not directly install on a modern 64-bit PC.
I myself used the following workaround:
- I mounted an empty virtual RAM drive with a size of (1024*1024*1000[!]=) 1474560 bytes,
- copied everything to that drive,
- then mounted it as a floppy disk drive in DOSBOX,
- and finally installed everything from there.
The installation program asks for the type of calculator (S/SX or G/GX), and also allows selective installation of individual programs or program groups.
There are only two version-dependent programs, though:
- the stopwatch library STPWATCH.LIB,
- and the command catalogue USAG (present in the HP-28, but left out in the HP-48 in order to save ROM space for more important code)
Four other programs are completely left out in the G/GX version, because their respective functions are considered built into the G/GX. This is not exactly true, however, and these programs remain interesting even for G/GX users. They are:
- SUITE3D by Charlie Patton, which is the User RPL ancestor of the G/GX's 3D plotting engine.
- EZPLOT by Diana Byrne, which even foreshadows some ideas later implemented in the HP-38G (like automatic plot redrawing while scrolling).
- CEIGEN
- GAUSSELM
As for the manual, there is none; only an instruction sheet which tells you how to insert a floppy disk, read text files, and run INSTALL.EXE. However, every program is accompanied by its own manual in form of a (well-written) TXT file; and there is a substantial README file for the whole kit.
RE: HP 82208A/C Serial Interface Kit - asciacca - 07-01-2020 06:06 PM
The major difference between the IBM compatible A version and the DOS compatible C version of the 82208A software is that the A version supports RS232 ports 1-4, COM1-4 and BIOS ports which has allowed it be used with USB devices as contrasted against C version which only support RS232 ports 1 and 2. This is what makes the C version only DOS compatible.