TI-58C Clone

[Pierre]

Since Miroslav Nemecek created the ET-58 I dreamed of it.
But no marketing prevented me from getting one.
And I couldn't find anyone competent in electronics to produce one.
And finally... it arrived!
Even more beautiful than I expected!

I will now have to write a manual... (the one in Czech is not within my reach).
The ET-58 is a clone of the TI-58C with many features as already attested by the indications on the keyboard...
In addition to the 2nd and INV functions of the original TI, a 3rd function allows to discover a multitude of additions such as x!, hex, bin, oct, sinh, cosh, tanh...
And OP 16 displays 999.99...

This gem is marketed by Pajenicko.cz at the price of 799 Czk. (31,51€ / $34.07)
With the shipping costs of 275 Czk (10,84€ / $11.73) it will have cost me 1074 Czk. (42,35€ / $45.80)
Order placed on 10/22/2024, shipped on the 23rd and arrived in France on the 28th!

The Pajenicko.cz site is multilingual and the manager responds quickly to messages and with efficiency and friendliness.
(To change language click on the flag at the top right)

I am super satisfied !!!

[AnnoyedOne]

I knew someone who used a TI-59 in school. He also had all the accessories. Well off parents I assume.

Anyway I've lusted after a TI-58C/TI-59 ever since but they tend to be long dead or in poor condition. Perhaps this is the answer It'd be even nicer if it was in a case and not just a PCB.

A1

[vaklaff]

Pierre, thanks for letting us know. Just to make it clear, did it arrive already built or as a set of components and you had to build it yourselves afterwards?

[Ren]

I guess since your original 58C is still working, there's no need to use its keyboard on the the ET-58...

[Johnh]

That looks like fun!

TI58 got me through my degree and into my first job, and expired after about a decade.

It had a great range of features, greatly enhanced by the ROM module which set it up to do such things as Matrices, Solve ,Integrate maybe complex numbers and a few others. That put its functionality definitely on a par with contemporary HP"s.

I'm pretty sure whoever wrote my final-year structures exam in 1982 didn't intend me to solve the simultaneous equations on a calculator program!

Reading the site, it looks like they may have built that functionality into the clone.

[Pierre]

(10-28-2024 06:50 PM)vaklaff Wrote:  Pierre, thanks for letting us know. Just to make it clear, did it arrive already built or as a set of components and you had to build it yourselves afterwards?

The site only sells in kit form.
But I cheated ...
I have been in contact for a few years with Miroslav who knows the manager of Pajenicko.cz and asked him if he sold the demonstration ET-58,the one in the photo on the site...
(Don't tell anyone...)
I am totally incapable of doing a clean soldering without destroying the circuits ... so this arrangement was necessarily ideal for me.

[Pierre]

(10-28-2024 07:05 PM)Ren Wrote:  I guess since your original 58C is still working, there's no need to use its keyboard on the the ET-58...

The TI-58C still works but the keyboard bounces a little... old fault of these machines...
And the ET-58 has many possibilities that the TI-58C does not have...

[Pierre]

(10-28-2024 07:37 PM)Johnh Wrote:  That looks like fun!

TI58 got me through my degree and into my first job, and expired after about a decade.

It had a great range of features, greatly enhanced by the ROM module which set it up to do such things as Matrices, Solve ,Integrate maybe complex numbers and a few others. That put its functionality definitely on a par with contemporary HP"s.

I'm pretty sure whoever wrote my final-year structures exam in 1982 didn't intend me to solve the simultaneous equations on a calculator program!

Reading the site, it looks like they may have built that functionality into the clone.

I have already tested the presence of the Master Library module in the ET-58.
The subroutines seem correct (those I have started to test)

[Thomas Klemm]

(10-28-2024 07:37 PM)Johnh Wrote:  It had a great range of features, greatly enhanced by the ROM module which set it up to do such things as Matrices, Solve ,Integrate maybe complex numbers and a few others.

You may want to check: TI-58/59 Linear Equations.

[toml_12953]

(10-28-2024 08:11 PM)Pierre Wrote:  

(10-28-2024 07:37 PM)Johnh Wrote:  That looks like fun!

TI58 got me through my degree and into my first job, and expired after about a decade.

It had a great range of features, greatly enhanced by the ROM module which set it up to do such things as Matrices, Solve ,Integrate maybe complex numbers and a few others. That put its functionality definitely on a par with contemporary HP"s.

I'm pretty sure whoever wrote my final-year structures exam in 1982 didn't intend me to solve the simultaneous equations on a calculator program!

Reading the site, it looks like they may have built that functionality into the clone.

I have already tested the presence of the Master Library module in the ET-58.
The subroutines seem correct (those I have started to test)

Does it allow you to load other modules?

[HP67]

(10-28-2024 06:50 PM)vaklaff Wrote:  Pierre, thanks for letting us know. Just to make it clear, did it arrive already built or as a set of components and you had to build it yourselves afterwards?

It shows as out of stock now, as I check.

Depending on what's involved (through hole vs SMT) I might be able to build a kit for you if that was what was behind your question. I don't have SMT tools but I can do through-hole.

[Pierre]

(10-29-2024 02:25 AM)toml_12953 Wrote:  Does it allow you to load other modules?

Having the ET-58 only since yesterday... and knowing it from a theoretical point of view for a long time... I would say NO!
But (according to the manual in Czech) it contains 50 PGMs:
the 25 basic MLs plus 25 other programs :

ML-01 Diagnostics
ML-02 Determinant matrix
ML-03 Addition and multiplication of matrices
ML-04 Complex Arithmetic
ML-05 Comprehensive functions
ML-06 Complex trigonometric functions
ML-07 Calculation of a polynomial
ML-08 Function zero crossing
ML-09 Simpson's function integral
ML-10 Simpson's Discrete Integral
ML-11 Solving triangles given by sides
ML-12 Solving triangles defined by angles
ML-13 Circular arc
ML-14 Normal distribution
ML-15 Random Number Generator
ML-16 Variation, permutation, combination, factorial
ML-17 Sliding diameter
ML-18 Compound interest
ML-19 Installments
ML-20 Day of the week, days between dates
ML-21 HI-LO game
ML-22 Current and savings account
ML-23 DMS operations
ML-24 Unit Conversion 1
ML-25 Unit Conversion 2
and...
ML-26 Arithmetic of fractions
ML-27 Astable generator with 555 circuit
ML-28 (EE-07) Ratio conversion
ML-29 (EE-11) Reactance LC
ML-30 (EE-12) Series/Parallel Impedance Conversion
ML-31 (EE-13) Active filter
ML-32 (EE-14) Passive low pass
ML-33 (EE-15) Signal convolution
ML-34 (EE-17) Discrete Fourier Transform
ML-35 Ohm's Law
ML-36 Serous and parallel ordering
ML-37 (AV-23) Time zone conversion
ML-38 (MU-06) Shell sorting
ML-39 (MU-09) Factorization
ML-40 (MU-21) Arithmetic with variables
ML-41 (MU-14) Interpolation
ML-42 (MU-16) Finding the minimum and maximum
ML-43 Checksum
ML-44 (LE-09) Codebreaker game
ML-45 (LE-12) Acey-Deucy game
ML-46 (LE-13) Craps game
ML-47 (LE-14) Game Landing on Mars
ML-48 Game Nim
ML-49 Measurement of reaction time
ML-50 (LE-20) Game Naval battle

[Pierre]

(10-29-2024 07:15 AM)HP67 Wrote:  

(10-28-2024 06:50 PM)vaklaff Wrote:  Pierre, thanks for letting us know. Just to make it clear, did it arrive already built or as a set of components and you had to build it yourselves afterwards?

It shows as out of stock now, as I check.

Depending on what's involved (through hole vs SMT) I might be able to build a kit for you if that was what was behind your question. I don't have SMT tools but I can do through-hole.

For a personal fabrication you have all the diagrams, assembly instructions, ... on

http://www.breatharian.eu/hw/et58/index_en.html

The list of necessary components is at the bottom of the page.

[Pierre]

(10-29-2024 07:15 AM)HP67 Wrote:  It shows as out of stock now, as I check.

Sorry, it's a bit my fault...
I was too communicative in wanting to share my enthusiasm !

[HP67]

(10-29-2024 07:55 AM)Pierre Wrote:  

(10-29-2024 07:15 AM)HP67 Wrote:  It shows as out of stock now, as I check.

Sorry, it's a bit my fault...
I was too communicative in wanting to share my enthusiasm !

Not at all! Thanks for posting this

[vaklaff]

(10-29-2024 07:15 AM)HP67 Wrote:  Depending on what's involved (through hole vs SMT) I might be able to build a kit for you if that was what was behind your question.

Thanks for the offer! I haven’t made my mind yet. Funnily enough, just few months ago I bought some soldering equipment from the very same pajenicko.cz with the intent to improve my next to nonexistent skills, having this set in mind as a training field. IIRC, it’s recommended for kids around 12 years old. Can’t be that hard, can it? Maybe I’ll give it a try during the Christmas vacation.

[HP67]

(10-29-2024 09:03 AM)vaklaff Wrote:  

(10-29-2024 07:15 AM)HP67 Wrote:  Depending on what's involved (through hole vs SMT) I might be able to build a kit for you if that was what was behind your question.

Thanks for the offer! I haven’t made my mind yet. Funnily enough, just few months ago I bought some soldering equipment from the very same pajenicko.cz with the intent to improve my next to nonexistent skills, having this set in mind as a training field. IIRC, it’s recommended for kids around 12 years old. Can’t be that hard, can it? Maybe I’ll give it a try during the Christmas vacation.

Through-hole is not difficult at all. The main thing is to remember that the component leads (wires) must be hot enough to melt the solder. A common mistake at the beginning is to melt the solder on the tip of the soldering iron and then drip it onto the joint. This doesn't work and is called a cold solder joint. When done that way, the solder doesn't bind to the metal. If the leads from the component are hot enough to melt the solder you get a good physical and electrical connection.

There is a balance there though, since you have to get the wire hot enough that solder will flow, yet not burn up the component. So good solder and tools help a lot.

Check the eevblog site for millions and millions of helpful threads.

Have fun!

[HP67]

(10-29-2024 07:49 AM)Pierre Wrote:  

(10-29-2024 07:15 AM)HP67 Wrote:  It shows as out of stock now, as I check.

Depending on what's involved (through hole vs SMT) I might be able to build a kit for you if that was what was behind your question. I don't have SMT tools but I can do through-hole.

For a personal fabrication you have all the diagrams, assembly instructions, ... on

http://www.breatharian.eu/hw/et58/index_en.html

The list of necessary components is at the bottom of the page.

Hah! Czech instructions

Thanks for the link

[vaklaff]

(10-29-2024 09:12 AM)HP67 Wrote:  Through-hole is not difficult at all. The main thing is to remember that the component leads (wires) must be hot enough to melt the solder. A common mistake at the beginning is to melt the solder on the tip of the soldering iron and then drip it onto the joint. This doesn't work and is called a cold solder joint. When done that way, the solder doesn't bind to the metal. If the leads from the component are hot enough to melt the solder you get a good physical and electrical connection.

There is a balance there though, since you have to get the wire hot enough that solder will flow, yet not burn up the component. So good solder and tools help a lot.

Check the eevblog site for millions and millions of helpful threads.

Have fun!

Heh, will do, sir! Over the years I’ve managed to fix a thing or two but nothing of substance. This set (and later maybe agarza’s creations) is a different thing. So far my theoretical preparation consists of watching https://youtu.be/3UbfrPSnIpI before sleep :-)

[AnnoyedOne]

(10-28-2024 07:47 PM)Pierre Wrote:  The site only sells in kit form.

Unfortunately that's a deal breaker for me Due to age related issues I can no longer solder things. I did for decades so I know how...

So my search for a decent emulator (not a simulator) continues. And yes Pierre I've tried yours.

A1