41: Worth getting a card reader?

[Sylvain Cote]

(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

Definitively, I use my card readers all the time.

(02-19-2021 08:11 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  Also not sure if there's a simple method of backing up and restoring the user key assignments

As Thomas has written, WSTS & RSTS are the functions to do this.

(02-19-2021 08:11 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  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 ... alarm catalog

Nop!

(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 and do not forget that the card reader has HP-67/97 compatibility functions allowing it to run most the programs written for 67/97 with some caveat identified in the users manual.

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

Yes but you have no choice, rechargeable batteries do not have enough power to drive the card reader for any serious reading/writing session.
I always bring with me a spare battery holder with Alkaline batteries that I swap with my NiMh battery holder when I use my card reader.

Over time I have build an "on the road" kit for my 41 that fit inside a HP-97 soft case:

• 41CX-HN with fully charged N NiMH 500 mA/h batteries, Card reader, NoV-64d, double-XMEM & IR module.
• 41CL with fully charged N NiMH 500 mA/h batteries, serial port, Time module & 2 x free port
• 82240B IR printer with 4 x AAA Eneloop Pro batteries and paper roll in it.
• PIL-Box, short USB cable & 82160A HP-IL module
• 41CL update serial cable & USB-Serial adapter
• Spare alkaline battery sets: AAA & N
• Set of QRG
• Set of overlays
• Card holders (x2, 80 blank cards)
• One extra paper roll
• new small USB-NoV programmer (recent addition)
  

(02-19-2021 08:11 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  Do you find that the number of blank cards required to make it useful is far greater than with a 65/67/97?

That is easy to calculate, each card can store 32 registers (16 registers per track).
Do CAT 1, takes the number of bytes shown with your program END, divide it by 7 then by 32 and you have the number of cards needed for your program.