SwissMicros: it's time for the DM16L

[walter b]

The DMxxL display seems to feature only 110 pixels horizontally. Can anybody confirm or deny?

d:-?

[Marcus von Cube]

(12-17-2015 02:56 PM)walter b Wrote:  The DMxxL display seems to feature only 110 pixels horizontally. Can anybody confirm or deny?

It looks more like 96 pixels (DM-41L, 12 Characters in alpha register, each (5+3) pixels wide.)

[walter b]

Hmmh. My DM16L displays up to 10 digits plus a sign. Each digit takes 5 horizontal pixels. The inter-digit interval looks like 7 pixels. I can't see the left and right edges of the dot matrix. Assuming constant intervals, this would result in 5 7 + 11 *, i.e. 132 pixels maximum. If the dot matrix would end with the rightmost digit, it would be 125 pixels wide. The 110 pixels I claimed earlier were determined by analysing the aspect ratio of the DM41L display on Swissmicros' photograph. I doubt, however, they use different LCDs in their larger calculators. Strange.

d:-?

[dxaren]

Just received my DM16L.

Build quality is OK (actually better than OK!).
Well, somewhat stiff keyboard and slightly thin blue printing, but that's nothing to worry about.

A nice piece to play with during my christmas days off from work.
It's going to be fun!!!

Thanks, SwissMicros!

/ Lars B
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Please VOA, please BBC, please Deutche Welle....
Don't surrender the shortwave bands to China Radio International !

[jjohnson873]

I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents and questions into this thread on the DM16L. Now that this calculator has been out for nearly seven years, I thought it may be a good time to see how users like this Swiss Micros version, versus the HP16C. I'm a bit surprised that SM didn't upgrade the firmware, in the last seven years, to show the instruction mnemonics for key functions.
Since the HP16C is still selling on TAS for unobtainian prices, I was thinking of just ordering the SM version. Does anyone have any feedback on the key functions after a few years of using the DM16L? Any contrast or comparison to the original HP16C versus the DM16L. I do prefer the slanted keys on the original HP16C, but the prices for the original HP version are too rich for me.
Of course I can always just use my WP34S, but all of those wonderful keys on the DM16L may be buried a level down on the WP34S in X.FCN list. I must admit that I need to play more with my WP34S to understand the HP16C functions and how to access all of them.
~ Jim J. ~

[Dave Britten]

I have serial number 00079, and while I admittedly don't use it a ton, the keys are working fine as far as I can tell (same for my DM41L). They have a shorter throw and require a little bit more force than a "real" 16C, but I don't find them at all unpleasant to use. Mine wobbles a bit on the desk - not sure if the case is deformed or if the rubber feet aren't even. LCD quality was a little spotty on these early units, and mine has developed a couple of extremely tiny black spots, as well as a very thin blackened strip along part of the top edge. Again, nothing major, and I think I read this only affected early units. The big advantage of the DM16L is that it's much faster than the visibly sluggish HP 16C.

I have one of the PX-15C kits on the way right now. There's also a PX-16C and PX41C available, so depending on how good the tiny keys are (I'll report back once I have mine built), this might be a viable option for those that like kit-building, as the cost is around half the Swiss Micros versions when outfitted with the aluminum faceplates and bumper.

[Sylvain Cote]

My DM16L serial number is 00117, board revision is 2015R6 without piezo, again an early unit.
The original LCD had the bleeding issue, it had been replaced and has been spotless ever since.
Keyboard is harder to press than my HP-16C but very usable. (not like the previous generation of the DM42, where the keys were unusable)
I normally use the DM16L at work and the HP-16C at home.
Both have been used almost daily since I got them. (1983 for the HP-16C & 2016 for the DM16L)
Sylvain

[Sylvain Cote]

This is what I have on the SwissMicros Voyager calculators ...

DM1X / DM1XCC credit card size models introduction date:

Code:

Model : Intro.Date : LPC1115 Last Firmware  : LPC1114 Last Firmware  : Note
DM10  : 2012-??-?? : 2021-08-31 DM10_32.hex : 2019-06-05 DM10_29.hex : 
DM11  : 2012-03-22 : 2021-08-31 DM11_32.hex : 2019-06-05 DM11_29.hex : 
DM12  : 2012-03-14 : 2021-08-31 DM12_32.hex : 2019-06-05 DM12_29.hex : 
DM15  : 2012-02-06 : 2021-08-31 DM15_32.hex : 2019-06-05 DM15_29.hex : 
DM16  : 2012-02-06 : 2021-08-31 DM16_32.hex : 2019-06-05 DM16_29.hex : 
DM41  : 2015-04-19 : 2021-08-31 DM41_32.hex : 2019-06-05 DM41_29.hex :

DM15 / DM15CC Special Firmware Version

Code:

LPC1114 DM15_M1B_29.hex & DM15_M80_29.hex
LPC1115 DM15_M1B_32.hex & DM15_M80_32.hex

DM1XL Voyager size models introduction date:

Code:

Model : Intro.Date : LPC1115 Last Firmware  : Note
DM10L : 2020-01-08 : 2021-08-31 DM10_32.hex : Limited Edition, 100 units made
DM11L : 2016-01-?? : 2021-08-31 DM11_32.hex : 
DM12L : 2016-02-?? : 2021-08-31 DM12_32.hex : 
DM15L : 2015-08-30 : 2021-08-31 DM15_32.hex : DM15_M1B_32.hex & DM15_M80_32.hex
DM16L : 2015-12-04 : 2021-08-31 DM16_32.hex : 
DM41L : 2015-12-04 : 2021-08-31 DM41_32.hex :

DM1X / DM1XCC credit card size board list: (MCU = Microcontroller, BR = Board Revision)

Code:

Year :   MCU   : BR : RTC : Piezo : Note
...
2012 : LPC1115 : 12 : no  : no    : 
...
2013 : LPC1115 : 15 : yes : no    : 
2014 : LPC1115 : 16 : yes : no    : Latest board revision that I know of
...

DM1XL Voyager size board list: (MCU = Microcontroller, BR = Board Revision)

Code:

Year :   MCU   : BR : RTC : Piezo : Note
...
2015 : LPC1115 :  6 : yes : no    : 
2016 : LPC1115 :  7 : yes : yes   : 
2016 : LPC1115 :  8 : yes : yes   : Latest board revision that I know of
...

[Garry Lancaster]

(02-17-2022 04:57 PM)jjohnson873 Wrote:  Does anyone have any feedback on the key functions after a few years of using the DM16L? Any contrast or comparison to the original HP16C versus the DM16L.

I've had a DM16L for a couple of years now (it was in fact my first HP-related calculator). I use it daily and find the keyboard really nice on the whole. My only issue has been the ON button which has slowly sunk lower and lower over time, and is a bit awkward to activate now. But all the other keys are fine.

I have actually just bought (and awaiting delivery of) an original USA-made HP16C for silly money on an auction site, having recently acquired a (somewhat cheaper) HP12C and started to realise what the fuss was all about over HP keyboards But the DM16L is certainly pretty good, if not perhaps quite as responsive as the original Voyagers.

[Eddie W. Shore]

(02-17-2022 06:20 PM)Sylvain Cote Wrote:  My DM16L serial number is 00117, board revision is 2015R6 without piezo, again an early unit.
The original LCD had the bleeding issue, it had been replaced and has been spotless ever since.
Keyboard is harder to press than my HP-16C but very usable. (not like the previous generation of the DM42, where the keys were unusable)
I normally use the DM16L at work and the HP-16C at home.
Both have been used almost daily since I got them. (1983 for the HP-16C & 2016 for the DM16L)
Sylvain

I just got a new 16L and the LCD has a slight bleed on it (thankfully it does not block the display) - the serial number is 04215.

[Dave Britten]

I got my PX-15C kit in the mail today and put it together during lunch. The buttons are, of course, tiny, but the response is good. It feels sort of like mini TI-59 keys, but without all the bounce and response issues. No two-key rollover though. All in all, a nice kit, especially with the aluminum panels and plastic bumper.