PIL-Box and HP-71b

[J-F Garnier]

Physically, yes, you can connect the PIL-Box, the 41CX and the 71B in the same loop, for instance without an extra cable:
PIL-Box --> 71B --> 41CX --> return to PIL-Box

From the functional point of view, you must know that the HPIL protocol is driven by one controller (usually a calculator 41/71/75) and one or several devices.
The point is that only ONE controller must be active at a time.
The 71B can release control for other controllers in the loop, and becomes a device, by using the CONTROL OFF command. CONTROL ON puts back the 71B as the active controller.
Unfortunatly, the 41C (as the 75C) can't release control, it is always the loop controller.
So the only operating configuration is: 41CX (as controller), the 71B (as device - using CONTROL OFF) and any other devices (such as the PIL-Box/ILPer system).
To use the 71B as controller, you must disconnect the 41CX from the loop.

J-F