HP-71B Newbie Questions.

[rprosperi]

1) To use a modern PC to communicate with the 71B (and 41C/75C and other HP-IL controllers) you need to purchase a PIL-Box from Jean-Francois Garnier, here:

http://www.jeffcalc.hp41.eu/hpil/index.html

Sales were suspended during the Pandemic, however there have been reports that sales would be starting again soon.

The PC (Windows) software, ILPer, available here, provides virtual mass storage and printer.

Another version is also available for use under Python on Win/Mac/Linux here, which provides other features as well, including virtual display, virtual plotter, remote device operation from the PC, and more.

2) No, it's not possible to run the F/A module from a RAM module, as the F/A uses 2 ROMs, a Soft-Configured 16K ROM for the LEX files files (which could be stored in an IRAM/RAM module) and also a 32K ROM which is Hard Configured to run at address E0000 (which cannot be installed in any kind of traditional insert-able module).

However a new EPROM device has just been announced that WILL let you install the F/A, and as a bonus, it's a whole lot cheaper (and more interesting) than a RAM module. See details here.