HP 82208A/C Serial Interface Kit

[JurgenRo]

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

[Giuseppe Donnini]

Version C was a newer version of the same kit, released about the same time the G/GX came out.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.

[Dave Frederickson]

(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?

[Giuseppe Donnini]

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.
  

Worked like a charm.

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.

[asciacca]

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.