41: Worth getting a card reader?

[Thomas Okken]

(02-19-2021 08:11 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  Any opinions on whether it's worth getting a rebuilt/refurbished card reader for my 41CX, or are there better options available for about the same price point? I know you can save and load programs or storage registers, but there's no direct integration with Extended Memory. Also not sure if there's a simple method of backing up and restoring the user key assignments or alarm catalog, which would be extremely useful.

The WSTS (Write Status) command saves key assignments, among other things. From the 82104A manual

Quote:Writing Status Cards Status cards can be written using the [WSTSj (write status) function. This function writes the following information to cards:

• Status of flags 0 through 43 (refer to the HP-41C Owner' s Hand-book and Programming Guide, section 14 for information about flags),
• Location of the statistics registers,
• Number of data storage registers currently allocated,
• Key reassignments of any standard HP-41 C functions or reassign-ments of any functions contained in any plug-in application module or other system extension. This does not include reassign-ments of programs you have written and stored in program memory (they are stored with the program), and
• Contents of registers X, Y, Z , T , LAST X, and ALPHA.

But for alarms, and anything in extended memory, you're on your own.

(02-19-2021 08:11 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  Can you use the printer at the same time for full support of 97 programs (which I have quite a few of)?

Yes, the card reader has a notch in the bottom so an 82143A or an HP-IL interface can be plugged in at the same time.

(02-19-2021 08:11 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  Also, how hard is it on the alkaline N batteries?

Not too terrible, but back in the '80s when I actually used this type of system (41C + 82104A + 82143A), I switched to using a rechargeable battery pack, because I was going through the alkalines too quickly for my taste. Your mileage may vary...