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- Archive-name: hp/hp48-faq/part1
- Last-modified: 12/12/1994
- Version: 3.01
- Posting-Freqency: every 14 days or so
-
-
- *********************************************************
- HP 48 S/SX/G/GX Frequently Asked Questions List
- *********************************************************
- PART 1 of 4: Common Questions: Sections I - III
-
- Currently Maintained by: Keith Maddock (madd0118@nova.gmi.edu)
- Originally Compiled by: Darryl Okahata
-
- The purpose of this FAQ is to provide answers to commonly asked
- questions about the Hewlett Packard 48 family of scientific calculators.
- This list contains information which has not necessarily been verified,
- and is not guaranteed to be correct, or even reflecting reality. :-) It
- has been compiled from various postings in comp.sys.handhelds and
- comp.sys.hp48 as well as other sources. In particular, some parts were
- taken from older HP 48SX "FAQ lists".
-
- For some questions, there may be different answers for each
- calculator (G/GX vs. S/SX). In this case S/SX specific information is
- preceded by an SX: on the left margin of the first line of each S/SX
- specific paragraph. G/GX information is denotated by a GX: in the same
- place. If a paragraph has no notation, then it is valid for all
- versions.
-
- You should be able to find the latest version of the FAQ at the
- following locations:
-
- cbs.cis.com : /pub/hp48g/uploads/48faqxxx.zip or
- /pub/hp48g/documentation/48faqxxx.zip
-
- ftp.stud.fh-heilbronn.de : /pub/hp48/info/FAQ/48faqxxx.zip or
- (caution: slow line!) /pub/hp48/incoming/48faqxxx.zip
-
- The FAQ is also available over the WWW in a hypertext form. The URL is:
- http://kahless.isca.uiowa.edu/hp/faq/faqindex.html
- There are also links at this location to other HP48 WWW resources.
-
- Please send any comments or suggestions to:
- Keith Maddock madd0118@nova.gmi.edu
-
- *********************************************************
- Table of Contents:
- *********************************************************
- Key: ! =new Q/A + =revised answer
-
- Part 1:
- I. Misc. Questions
- 1.1 I'm a novice, and I have some questions. Where should I start?
- 1.2 What Usenet Newsgroups are there for the HP 48?
- ! 1.3 What are some good FTP sites for the HP48?
- ! 1.4 Are there any good WWW links for HP48 stuff?
- 1.5 What are good places to buy HP48's and accessories?
-
- II. Questions about ROM versions
- 2.1 What does the SX/GX have that the S/G doesn't?
- 2.2 What is the difference between the HP 48G/GX and the HP 48S/SX?
- 2.3 How can I tell what ROM revision I have?
- 2.4 What bugs exist in the various versions of the HP 48?
- 2.5 What is new with the revision "J" ROM? (S/SX)
- 2.6 What happened to ROM revisions "F", "G", "H", "I", "O", and "Q"?
- 2.7 Can I upgrade my HP 48S/SX?
- 2.8 Can I upgrade my buggy GX to the latest ROM revision?
- 2.9 What's the latest ROM version?
- 2.10 Why would I buy a S/SX rather than a G/GX?
-
- III. Questions about the Operating System / Using the HP
- 3.1 I typed 'RULES' on my G/GX and got a crossword puzzle! What does it
- mean? (GX)
- 3.2 Why does my HP 48 occasionally "freeze" for a moment?
- 3.3 What do I do if my HP 48 locks up?
- 3.4 My HP 48 seems to take longer to turn on and off. What's going on?
- 3.5 What are all the different ON-KEY combinations and what do they do?
- 3.6 What are the different interactive self-tests?
- 3.7 I can't account for some of the RAM in the HP 48! and
- When I clear my memory, I don't have 32K free! Why?
- 3.8 What are the best methods for dealing with libraries?
- 3.9 Why does (1/3)*3 equal 0.999999999999?
- 3.10 Why does my HP say that 0^0=1?
- 3.11 If I add two temperatures like 34 deg.F and 11 deg.F, I get 504.67
- deg.F. Why don't I get 45 deg.F?
- 3.12 How can I add my own units? What's the 1_? unit for?
- 3.13 I want `pi' to be a numeric value, not a symbol. What's happening?
- 3.14 What are those little numbers near the top of my screen and how do I
- get rid of them?
- 3.15 What tricks are there for manipulating matrices?
- 3.16 Can I use my HP48 as a remote or phone dialer?
- 3.17 I could speed up my HP-28S. How can I speed up my HP 48?
- 3.18 What is the hidden directory and how do I access it?
- 3.19 How can I recall one object from a memory archive?
-
- PART 2:
-
- IV. Questions about cards, data transfers, batteries, hardware
- 4.1 Can I upgrade my S or G to more than 32K ram?
- 4.2 How can I get/build a cable for my HP48?
- 4.3 Why doesn't the I/R port work farther than a few inches?
- 4.4 Can my HP48 talk to my HP100LX via Infrared?
- 4.5 I downloaded a program to my HP, and when I ran it, it put a string
- on the stack like "HPHP48-.......". What's wrong?
- 4.6 Why does XRECV not work sometimes? (GX)
- 4.7 What do the funny symbols \->, \GS+, etc., mean?
- 4.8 What are the pinouts for the HP 48 serial connector?
- 4.9 Is there any information on interfacing to the HP 48?
- 4.10 How can I transfer programs/data from my HP-28S to my HP 48?
- 4.11 Can I use rechargeable batteries with the HP 48?
- 4.12 How can I tell, from within a program, if the battery is low?
- 4.13 My RAM card was plugged into the calculator when I changed the RAM
- card battery, yet I lost all the information on the card. What
- happened?
- 4.14 Why do I get an "Invalid card data" error when I merge a RAM card?
- 4.15 I've heard that other manufacturer's RAM cards will work with the
- HP 48. Is this true? Will it work?
- 4.16 Why does the HP 48SX display flicker slightly?
- 4.17 I broke the LCD screen is there an easy way to get another?
-
- V. Questions about programs
- 5.1 Where can I get programs and information for the HP 48SX?
- 5.2 What are the Goodies Disks and where do I get them?
- 5.3 How do I get access to the HP Calculator BBS?
- 5.4 What are files that end with ".zip", ".Z" or ".z"?
- 5.5 What is a "ship" file?
- 5.6 What is \->ASC or ASC\->?
- 5.7 How can I get \->ASC and \->ASC?
- 5.8 What is the HYDE library, and how do I get rid of it?
- 5.9 What is the Minehunt game, and how do I use it?
-
- VI. Questions about programing and advanced user functions
- 6.1 I've heard the names "RPL", "Saturn", "STAR", "Voyager", "GL", etc..
- What do they mean
- 6.2 Is there a C compiler for the HP48?
- 6.3 Why do SysRPL programs run faster than UserRPL programs?
- 6.4 How do I know what library ID number to use for my program?
- 6.5 What information is there on the internals of the HP 48?
- 6.6 Are there any viruses for the HP48?
- 6.7 How do I store fields of variable length string data in a compact,
- rapidly accessible manner that does not require the overhead of
- storing strings in lists?
- 6.8 What is "Vectored Enter", and how do I use it?
- 6.9 What is "WSLOG"?
- 6.10 What are SYSEVALs?
- 6.11 What are some useful SYSEVALs?
- 6.12 What are LIBEVALs?
- 6.13 What are some useful LIBEVALs?
- 6.14 What is the format of a GROB object?
-
-
-
- *********************************************************************
-
- PART 3:
- * Appendix A: ASC\-> and \->ASC functions:
- * Appendix B: Using non-HP RAM cards in your HP 48SX:
- * Appendix C: What's new in the HP 48G/GX
- * Appendix D: The EquationWriter Bug & Rev J Bugfix
- * Appendix E: Compact Data Storage:
- * Appendix F: Various useful functions
- * Appendix G: Rotation rate to angular frequency conversion bug
- ! * Appendix H: How to make a Serial Cable for your HP48
-
- PART 4:
- + * Appendix I: HP48 "BEST PROGRAMS AND WHERE TO GET THEM" LIST
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- I. Misc. Questions
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 1.1 I'm a novice, and I have some questions. Where should I start?
-
- Start by perusing the HP 48 manuals. You'd be amazed how many
- questions can be answered if you read the manuals.
-
- SX:Earlier HP 48S/SX manuals came in two volumes. The first volume
- dealt with operating instructions, and the second volume dealt with
- programming. Later HP 48S/SX manuals combined these two volumes
- into one.
-
- GX:HP 48G/GX models come with a one-volume owners manual that covers
- all of the non-programming aspects of the calculator. An Advanced
- User's Reference (AUR) is available that covers programming aspects.
- It is highly recommended. They also come with a Quick Start Guide,
- a guided tour of some of the HP48's capabilities.
-
- Also, look over the section "Answers to Common Questions", in
- Appendix A of the manual. If you have a two-volume manual, it will be in
- volume II.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 1.2 What Usenet Newsgroups are there for the HP 48?
-
- comp.sys.hp48 -- Primary newsgroup
- comp.sources.hp48 -- For HP 48 programs. (This newsgroup
- is moderated by Chris Spell -- send
- submissions to hp48@seq.uncwil.edu.)
- (this newsgroup has been dead for a
- few months now )
- comp.sys.handhelds -- Occasionally, HP 48 information is
- posted to this newsgroup.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 1.3 What are some good FTP sites for the HP48?
-
- Many HP48 programs can be found on the following FTP sites:
-
- wuarchive.wustl.edu : /systems/hp/hp48
- cbs.cis.com : /pub/hp48g
- hpcvbbs.cv.hp.com : /pub
-
- For a list of other HP48 FTP sites, see appendix 1 of
- appendix I (HP48 Best Programs and Where to Get Them List)
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 1.4 Are there any good WWW links for HP48 stuff?
-
- Rather than list out a long list of HP48 related WWW resources
- I am instead including a list of a few WWW pages around the net
- created by various people that include links to all sorts of
- WWW resources. From these pages, you can access all the best
- of the HP48 related WWW resources.
-
- Jeffrey Thieleke
- http://kahless.isca.uiowa.edu/hewlett_packard.html
-
- Jeffrey E. Sawdy
- http://www2.ncsu.eud/eos/users/j/jesawdy/mosaic/hp48.html
-
- Matthew Cravit
- http://www.interaccess.com/users/cravitma/Hp48_index.html
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 1.5 What are good places to buy HP48's and accessories?
-
- Educalc:
-
- Educalc carries a complete line of HP calculators and accessories.
- They also sell used HP48 S and SX's, and buy them as trade ins.
- To get a free catalog, call them.
- Phone #'s:
- Toll Free Order: (800) 677-7001 \___ Orders and Customer Service
- Toll Order: (714) 582-2637 / 8-5, M-F, West Coast Time
- Credit Card Order: (800) 535-9650 ext. 9162 (all hours, all days)
- FAX orders: (714) 582-1445
- Technical Support (714) 582-2637
- "Para ayuda en EspaƱol - pregunte por Irma"
-
- Elek-Tek:
-
- Elek-Tek seems to only carry HP name brand products. Their prices may
- be slightly cheaper than EduCalc, but they don't carry non "HP brand"
- products (such as RAM cards), that are much cheaper than HP brand ones.
- Toll Free: (800) 395-1000 Order: (708) 677-7660
- Fax: (708) 677-7168 Fax Orders: (708) 677-1081
-
- Office Max:
- Toll Free: (800) 788-8080
-
- Office Depot
-
- Executive Photo and Electronics:
- 120 West 31st St., New York, NY 10001-3485
- Tel: 800-223-7323 or 212-947-5295 Fax: 212-239-7157
- Supposedly has different prices for 48 depending on country
- of manufacture....
-
- Calculators Inc., Minneapolis, MN (612) 866-8908
-
- Carrington, (800) 982-3731
-
- Global Connections Incorporated (formerly Connection Point, Inc.)
- 50 South River Street, Suite 105, Janesville, WI 53545
- (608) 752-9548 (608) 752-1537
-
- Bristol, UK - Decimal Business Machines Ltd:
- "at Three Queens' Lane. They're on 0272 294591/5."
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- II. Questions about ROM versions
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 2.1 What does the SX/GX have that the S/G doesn't?
-
- SX: The HP 48S is the same as the HP 48SX except that the HP 48S does
- not have the two expansion slots of the HP 48SX. This means that
- the HP 48S cannot be expanded and can only access 32K of memory,
- versus 288K for the HP 48SX (two 128K RAM cards). (Actually, there
- are now third-party RAM cards that contain 256K or 512K on a single
- card -- this memory is accessed via a bank-switching mechanism.)
-
- GX: The HP48G is the same as the GX except for two differences. The GX has
- the 2 expansion ports, and also has 128K RAM built in, where the G only
- has 32K.
-
- If you plan on heavily using your calculator, you will probably find
- that 32K is not enough memory.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 2.2 What is the difference between the HP 48G/GX and the HP 48S/SX?
-
- The HP 48G and the HP 48GX calculators are, basically, slightly
- faster (by 40%) versions of the HP 48S and HP 48SX calculators, with
- more features, such as 3D-plotting and a new forms-based interface.
- Much of the HP Solve Equation Library card is now built-in. See
- Appendix C for a detailed list of features.
-
- Note, however, that the HP 48G/GX is different from the HP 48S/SX in
- a number of significant areas:
-
- 1. The HP 48GX comes with 128KB RAM, as opposed to 32KB RAM in the
- HP 48SX. The HP 48G still has 32KB RAM, however. The HP 48G/GX
- also has twice the ROM (512K), compared the HP 48S/SX (256K).
- 2. Much of the HP 48G/GX internals have changed, compared with the
- HP 48S/SX. Unfortunately, this means than many programs written
- in assembly language or System RPL won't work on the HP 48G/GX.
- This is especially true of any program that tried to access the
- display memory directly.
- 3. The HP 48G/GX CPU runs at 4MHz, instead of the 2MHz used with
- the HP 48S/SX CPUs. However, due to various overhead (memory
- bank switching, etc.), the speed increase between the G/GX and
- S/SX is less than 2X. G/GX throughput is approximately 40%
- faster.
- 4. Port 2 of the HP 48G/GX can access up to 4MB, in 128K chunks
- (done via bank-switching).
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 2.3 How can I tell what ROM revision I have?
-
- GX:Type the command "VERSION". Note that this command is not part of
- any key or menu, and so you must spell it out.
-
- Type #30794h SYSEVAL. It returns a string, "HPHP48-x", where x is your
- ROM revision. This works for both SX and GX.
-
- SX:1. Turn the calculator on (press ON and then release).
- 2. Press ON again, and hold it down.
- 3. While holding down the ON key, press and hold down the "D" key (the
- fourth white key in the top row).
- 4. While holding down the "D" key, release the ON key.
- 5. Release the "D" key. The display should be blank, with the
- exception of three vertical lines (one down the center, and one
- down each of the right and left sides).
- 6. Press the backspace key (it says DROP and CLR over it). A
- meaningless string of digits should appear in the top line of the
- display (mine says "705D9:1B8DA178E5A111B6" -- yours may be
- different).
- 7. Press and hold down the EVAL key. It should say:
- Version HP48-*
- Copyright HP 1989
- where the * is an uppercase letter (A, B, etc.) indicating
- the ROM version.
- 8. Release the EVAL key. Hold down ON and hit "C" (the third
- white key in the top row. This is a general reset
- operation that returns the calculator to normal from the
- diagnostic stuff (which is where ON-D puts you).
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 2.4 What bugs exist in the various versions of the HP 48?
-
- Confirmed
- Version(s) Bug
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- A DEFINE rounds numbers in user-defined functions if STD
- is not the current display mode.
-
- A KGET on a zero length file from another machine will
- cause the calculator memory to be cleared.
-
- A NXEQ from the Graphics Environment with flag -3 set (SYM
- off in Modes) can overwrite the current equation with a
- number.
-
- A Displaying the clock in 24-hour format causes the
- one-digits for minutes to be incorrect in the alarm
- catalog.
-
- A,B,C INV returns an incorrect result if used on an 8x8 or
- larger matrix. To get around this problem, divide the
- identity matrix with the matrix to invert.
-
- A,B,C,D Entering a symbolic complex number in polar form like
- '(A,<B)' (where < is really the funny little angle
- symbol), gives an expression in A and B that is wrong
- (the A and B are interchanged so A is the angle and B is
- the magnitude).
-
- A,B,C,D If the clock is displayed during an ARCHIVE via RS-232,
- there is a chance (not 100%) that calculator memory will
- be cleared, after the transfer. The workaround is to
- turn the clock display off before doing the transfer.
- Should memory be cleared, you will have to restore the
- contents of memory from the archive.
-
- A,B,C,D TRNC and RND allow for an array in level 2 and a
- symbolic in level 1 of the stack. This allows you to put
- an array in a symbolic. Example:
-
- [ 2 3 ]
- '7/8'
- RND
-
- returns 'RND(UNKNOWN,7/8)'
-
- A-E There's a bug in the EquationWriter that is "fixed" in
- the Rev J ROM. See the appendix titled "The
- EquationWriter Bug & Rev J Bugfix" for details.
-
- E,J BESTFIT: Occurs when a two dimensional array is stored in
- '\GSDAT' (SigmaDAT). Pressing the BESTFIT softkey
- multiple times will leave a lot of useless reals on the
- stack.
-
- K First HP 48G/GX released; includes various bugs affecting
- ports. Therefore, version K was built only into HP 48G units.
-
- K,L,M,P XROOT Function fails when used with list processing unless
- X=Y. It does not corrupt memory. Fix: Preced any XROOT
- which will use list processing with a SWAP
-
- L Second HP 48G/GX released; fixed the port bugs. This ROM
- version is that present in the 2,000 HP 48GXs sold at the
- ASEE conference for $90 apiece.
-
- L,M HP 48GX may lose all User memory when: clock is
- displayed, a library object is be stored in user memory,
- and a RAM card is lugged in to port one and merged with
- User Memory. If all four of these conditions are present
- and the calculator is turned on when the clock is being
- updated by the system, a loss of all User Memory may
- occur.
-
- FIX: Just type the following in on your calc:
- << RCLF -> f << -40 CF OFF f STOF >> >> 91.3 ASN
- Turn on USER mode
-
- L,M EquationWriter/Character Picker Bug: If the size of the
- equation is greater than the regular size of the screen,
- calling the Character Picker in Equation Writer will
- garble the screen.
-
- M EVALing a tagged object which contains an operator (+, -,
- *, /, etc) as the second or subsequent character will
- leave an External and System Binary on the stack, as
- well as the original object.
-
- L,M,P SigmaDAT: Put a NON-MATRIX in '\GSDAT' (SigmaDAT), run
- STAT graphical apps, edit \GSDAT. Causes a crash.
-
- L,M,P XRECV: XRECV will fail or cause memory lost if the amount
- of free RAM left is not about twice the size of the
- expected file. Fix: see FXREV on GD 9 by Joe Horn.
-
- L,M,P RREF does not transform the matrix into Row Reduced Echelon
- Form correctly if the first column of the matrix consists
- entirely of zeros.
-
- L,M,P,R portnum: { dir ... var } RCL/EVAL fails if portnum >= 2
-
-
- L,M,P,R Rotation rate to angular frequency conversion bug
- See Appendix G for complete write-up.
-
- M Fixes a variety of other bugs, and includes a new display
- with better contrast.
-
- M,P,R Repeated executions of FFT or IFFT can cause memory loss
- The FFT and IFFT warmstart problem is caused by a CPU
- return stack overflow during interrupt handling. The
- problem can only occur when the argument to FFT or IFFT
- is an MxN matrix with both M > 1 and N > 1. The vector
- argument case is immune to this problem.
-
- FIX: To compute the FFT of a matrix without risking
- warmstart, expand the matrix into its row vectors using
- ->ROW, compute the FFT of each row vector, collect the
- results into a matrix using ROW->, expand the matrix into
- its column vectors using ->COL, compute the FFT of each
- column vector, and finally collect the results into a
- matrix using COL->. Except for less precision, this is
- the same result as would be obtained by applying FFT on
- the original matrix. Use the same procedure with FFT
- replaced by IFFT to compute the IFFT of a matrix.
-
- Here are program examples implementing the "matrix FFT"
- and "matrix IFFT":
- MFFT << ->ROW FFTLP ROW-> ->COL FFTLP COL-> >>
- MIFFT << ->ROW IFFTLP ROW-> ->COL IFFTLP COL-> >>
- FFTLP << -> n << 1 n START n ROLL FFT NEXT n >> >>
- IFFTLP << -> n << 1 n START n ROLL IFFT NEXT n >> >>
-
- M,P BESTFIT: Occurs when a two dimensional array is stored in
- '\GSDAT' (SigmaDAT). Pressing the BESTFIT softkey
- multiple times quickly can cause a warmstart, or SigmaDAT
- to be erased. This occurs sometimes just by pressing
- BESTFIT repeatedly, regardless of /GSDAT content. This bug
- can also be triggered by pressing the BESTFIT softkey quickly
- after pressing any other key. Simply pressing MODL then
- BESTKEY quickly will trigger the bug.
-
- M,P,R Eqwr/Eqlib interaction bug: If you pick an equation from
- the EQ library, enter solver for that equation, enter an
- algebraic on the stack like 'X^2', and press the down
- arrow key to view algebraic in EquationWriter, the name
- of the equation will appear in the EquationWriter along
- with the unassociated algebraic.
-
- P PROOT: If you put a matrix of coefficients on the stack
- and press PROOT repeatedly, you will get a warmstart
-
- A-R MatrixWriter Bug: This shows up when deactivating and
- reactivating any of the two direction movement fields.
- If you do this, the active matrix field won't move as
- it's supposed to. For example: Launch the matrix writer
- (check that your GOFORWARD field is activated). Enter [1]
- [ENTER]. The active matrix field moves forward as it should.
- Deactivate the GOFORWARD field and activate it again. Now
- enter [2] [ENTER] [3] [ENTER]. The digits should show up on
- the same row, but they don't, 'cause after you deactivated
- and reactivated the GOFORWARD field, the active matrix field
- stops moving according to the movement fields.
-
-
-
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 2.5 What is new with the revision "J" ROM? (S/SX)
-
- The revision J ROM has a faster equation writer, as well as some bug
- fixes. Scrolling of graphics is also faster.
-
- One "problem" is that the revision J ROM changed some undocumented
- ROM entry points, which broke those programs that used them. If you
- have a Rev J ROM, you will not be able to run some old programs.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 2.6 What happened to ROM revisions "F", "G", "H", "I", "O", and "Q"?
-
- These versions either were never released to the public, or were
- skipped over.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 2.7 Can I upgrade my HP 48S/SX?
-
- When the G/GX first came out, HP had a trade in program. This is no
- longer in operation. You can either try to sell you S/SX privately,
- or you can trade it in at EduCalc. They will give you $50 credit
- for a S, and $95 credit for an SX. You have up to 45 days after you
- purchase your G/GX from them to send in you S/SX.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 2.8 Can I upgrade my buggy GX to the latest ROM revision?
-
- As far as I know, not any more. They had a program a in early '94, but
- it is over now. Contact the following for more info:
-
- Hewlett-Packard Corporation
- Calculator Support
- 1000 NE Circle Blvd
- Corvallis, OR 97330
-
- Phone (503) 757-2004 option 1
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 2.9 What's the latest ROM version?
-
- Revision R is the latest ROM version of the G/GX series.
- Revision J is the last ROM version of the S/SX series.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 2.10 Why would I buy a S/SX rather than a G/GX?
-
- Here's the Top 12 reasons to buy a S/SX instead of a G/GX:
- (thanks to all who contributed)
-
- 1) May be slightly cheaper, having only 32k ram.
-
- 2) It isn't THAT outdated.
-
- 3) You can run neat emulators like x48
-
- 4) So what if it's a little slower?
-
- 5) You didn't need all those useless equations, graphics
- capabilities, and math and science functions anyways!
-
- 6) If you break it, you're out less money!
-
- 7) You like seeing how much you can fit into 32k ram.
-
- 8) You like slow file transfers, using Kermit instead of Xmodem.
-
- 9) You want to be able to use all those lists of SYSEVALs for the SX.
-
- 10) You like having only 3 ports available max. 33 is ridiculous!
-
- 11) Since it doesn't have a built in equations library it is less
- likely to be banned on tests.
-
- 12) Only wimps need GUI's, dialog boxes, and choose lists.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- III. Questions about the Operating System / Using the HP
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.1 I typed 'RULES' on my G/GX and got a crossword puzzle! What does it
- mean? (GX)
-
- [From Joe Horn:]
-
- Many commercial programs (like Windows) have similar hidden screens
- that list the program's design team. Since they are always so cute
- and well hidden, they are often referred to as "Easter eggs". The
- RULES command on the G/GX is one such example.
-
- Try using the RULES command. The names you see are as follows:
-
- /----------------------\
- | M G |
- | P DIANA |
- | CHARLIE X B D |
- | BILL U N TED A |
- | O A L N ALCUIN |
- | B I JIM V |
- | RON S E |
- \----------------------/
-
- ALCUIN was the HP-internal code name of the HP 48G during
- development, because Alcuin was Charlemagne's teacher, and
- Charlemagne, as you remember, was the code name of the 48SX.
-
- The other names in the "Easter egg" above belong to:
-
- BILL Wickes (list processing; "Father of RPL")
- CHARLIE Patton (RPL operating system)
- TED Beers (parameterized outer loop; interactive stack; key handling
- system; high-level display management; input forms)
- DIANA Byrne (project manager; plotting; graphics)
- GABE Eisenstein (EquationWriter)
- BOB Worsley (I/O)
- PAUL McClellan (unit management; math)
- CLAIN Anderson (product manager; marketing)
- DENNIS York (manager)
- JIM Donnelly (EQ LIB; list processing; variable tic logic; developer
- support)
- MAX Jones (menu system; editing)
- DAVE Arnett (hardware)
- DAN Coffin (manuals)
- RON Brooks (marketing)
-
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.2 Why does my HP 48 occasionally "freeze" for a moment?
-
- The HP 48 must occasionally do "garbage collection" to free up
- unused memory, and it is this garbage collection that is causing the
- momentary "freeze". "Garbage collection" is where the HP 48 scans
- through memory, looking for objects that are no longer used.
-
- Using less stack supposedly makes garbage collection go faster.
-
- To force a garbage collection, you can use the syseval #05F42h or
- the SysRPL command GARBAGE. (see q/a # 6.10 for syseval info)
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.3 What do I do if my HP 48 locks up?
-
- NOTE: If you have it, read the sections in the GX manual starting
- on page 5-16, "Special Memory Operations", and "Testing Calculator
- Operation" on page A-9.
- NOTE: under most circumstances, your calculator should never lock
- up. Some earlier versions of the G/GX do this due to bugs. Of
- course, depending on the program being run, it may appear to lock
- up, but pressing the "ON" key usually interrupts whatever the
- calculator is doing. If it does lock up, this is usually caused by
- a buggy assembly-language or system RPL program, and, chances are,
- the memory contents of your HP 48 are gone (as in "destroyed",
- "terminated", "wiped out", "deleted", etc.).
-
- First, check the batteries to make sure that they are installed
- correctly.
-
- Next, try is pressing the "ON" key again and again very RAPIDLY.
- The operative word here is "rapidly". It's possible to write a
- program that can only be interrupted during a very narrow window,
- and so you must press the "OK" key again and again very rapidly to
- interrupt the program. If the calculator doesn't respond within ten
- or so seconds, go on to the next step.
-
- Press "ON-+" a couple of times, just in case the LCD display
- intensity was turned down. Here, "ON-+" means:
-
- 1. Press and HOLD DOWN the "ON" key.
- 2. Press and release the "+" key, WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE "ON" KEY.
- 3. Release the "ON" key.
-
- If this doesn't work, the next thing to try is ON-C. This is a
- "warm-start" or "system halt". Note that this will CLEAR the
- stack. Here, "ON-C" means:
-
- 1. Press and HOLD DOWN the "ON" key.
- 2. Press and release the "C" key, WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE "ON" KEY.
- 3. Release the "ON" key.
-
- If this does not work, it is possible that the HP is not responding
- because it is not accepting input from the keyboard. It is possible
- to execute a system halt without the keyboard using the hidden
- reset button.
-
- The reset button is hidden under one of the two upper rubber feet on
- the bottom of the calculator (it's under one of the two feet near
- the serial connector and I/R port). Note that the location of the
- reset button (under which foot) varies from calculator to
- calculator. If you gently pull out the rubber feet, you'll notice
- that there is a small hole under each foot. The reset button is
- located in the hole that has an "R" next to it. Once you've located
- the correct hole, you press the button by GENTLY sticking an unbent
- paper clip, into the hole with the "R" next to it. Hold for one
- second and remove.
-
- The next thing to try is a complete memory reset. Depending on the
- state of your calculator, this may or may not preserve the contents
- of memory. At the very least, even if the contents are preserved,
- the contents of the HOME directory will probably be moved into a new
- directory below HOME (HOME will be empty with the exception of this
- new directory); you'll have to manually move the items back into
- HOME.
-
- To perform a complete memory reset, press ON-A-F. This means:
-
- 1. Press and HOLD DOWN the "ON" key.
- 2. Press and HOLD DOWN THE "A" key, WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE "ON" KEY.
- 3. Press and HOLD DOWN THE "F" key, WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE "ON" AND
- "A" KEYS.
- 4. Release all of the keys.
- 5. At this point, the calculator will ask you if you want to
- recover memory. Answer "yes" to this question. Note that this
- can take a long time. If you answer "no", all of memory will be
- cleared (the old contents will be lost).
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.4 My HP 48 seems to take longer to turn on and off. What's going on?
-
- The usual causes for this are RAM/ROM cards and libraries. When you
- turn the calculator on, it checks RAM (the more you have, the longer
- it takes), and checks to see if any libraries need initializing.
-
- Also, having a lot of alarms can supposedly also cause this.
-
- *****************************************************************
-
- 3.5 What are all the different ON-KEY combinations and what do they do?
- [Note: this answer written by a member of the HP48 team in Corvallis]
- --begin quote-- (formatted for this document)
- [ON] In most cases, this will move you to, or toward, the stack
- environment.
-
- [ON]+A+F This is the manual Coldstart. It will break out of
- _almost_ any hung program, and offer you the dreaded
- option... Try to recover memory? Note that this is your
- next-to-last resort in a lock-up, so don't give your
- machine this three-fingered salute unless you really want
- to possibly clear memory.
-
- [ON]+B This is the Oops! key for [ON] codes. For many [ON]
- sequences, this cancels the operation, so long as you press
- the B before releasing the [ON] key. Try it sometime, if you
- must, just so you remember it. It can be a life-saver, in
- case of an accidental [ON]+A+F in process, or even
- accidentally hitting [ON] during a plotting routine.
-
- [ON]+C This will initiate a Warmstart. You'll lose the stack, but
- it will often get you out of a locked up program with memory
- intact.
-
- [ON]+D Enters interactive test mode. I won't even atempt to catalog
- the various tests and odd jobs available from here. Back up
- your own machine and play around. Exit this test mode with
- Warmstart, [ON]+C. [Note: See 3.6 for a list of the
- interactive tests]
-
- [ON]+E Starts a looping self-test mode. Kinda dull after the first
- five minutes, but it keeps a rather solid tempo. Exit with
- Warmstart, [ON]+C.
-
- [ON]+4 Cancels repeating alarms.
-
- [ON]+1 Screen dump utility.
-
- [ON]+[+], [ON]+[-] Adjusts display contrast.
-
- [ON]+[SPC] Initiates Coma Mode and clears Warm Start Log. In Coma
- mode, all the clocked activity is halted. The battery
- power drain as basically the few nanoamperes necessary to
- sustain your RAM contents. The Warm Start Log is a
- nearly bullet-proof area of memory which keeps track of
- the last four hazardous events. View it using the
- command, WSLOG. This log is one of the few things not
- cleared by a Coldstart. But it is cleared by [ON]+[SPC].
- Enter Coma this way if you want to clear the Warm Start
- Log, if you are planning to study crystal healing in
- Tibet for a few years and want to keep your pirated
- version of Tetris alive, or you just have a low power
- fetish. Exit Coma mode with the [ON] key (tough to
- remember, huh?), and plan to find your stack cleared out.
-
- Two additional notes on this Coma stuff. First, I'm not gonna try to
- list the log codes in WSLOG. Sorry! Second, if your machine is on,
- and you drop the batteries out, you will _usually_ end up in a coma
- mode to preserve power. WSLOG will not be cleared. Instead, you will
- find a code 1 entry there. Some people are paranoid and want to be
- in Coma when they change batteries, just in case they have a sudden
- emergency call from the Prime Minister and don't get back to their
- battery change for a half hour. If you are one of these... shall I
- say, weenies? No, that would be unprofessional ...users, then I
- recommend you use the [ON]+[SPC] entry route, rather than the
- kamikaze method of dropping batteries with the machine running.
- Myself, I just turn the machine OFF, like the manual says.
-
- Now, a Coma story... sort of. During the G/GX development, I
- maintained a small number of units on which I changed ROM chips as
- incremental code releases came out. This was so folks like Bill
- Wickes and Jim Donnelly could have fully-real hardware to test,
- instead of just the EPROM handsets some of you may have seen. We
- always backed up anything of importance in the machine before we did
- this. But I got into the habit of using [ON]+[SPC] before I opened
- up the calculator. Better than half of the time, I could remove the
- batteries, open the case, desolder the old surface-mounted ROM chip,
- solder down a new chip, and reassemble the machine... with all of RAM
- intact! When I pressed [ON], I'd come right back up with no Try to
- Recover Memory? prompt. Pretty good, huh? The folks who put that
- mode into the machine certainly weren't in a coma.
- --(end quote)--
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.6 What are the different interactive self-tests?
-
- Pressing ON-D enters the interactive self test function of the HP48.
- When you first press ON-D, you will see 3 vertical lines, one on each
- side of the screen and one in the middle. The tests are as follows:
- Press ON-C to exit.
-
- [A] Displays CPU speed
- [B] LCD test. Press Enter to cycle through the tests
- [C] Internal ROM test
- [D] Internal RAM test
- [E] Keyboard test. Starting with [A], press all the keys in order,
- left to right, top to bottom. If all goes well, it will say
- KBD1 OK
- [F] Partial Keyboard test
- [G] ESD test monitor. Battery status is shown by bars.
- [H] UART loop-back test
- [I] Wired UART echo
- [J] Shows whats plugged in. Press any key a few times
- [K] Test RAM cards in ports
- [L] Blanks display
- [M] Sends system time from IR port
- [N] Receives system time from IR port (have another HP send it)
- [O] IR loop-back test
- [P] IR UART echo
- [S] Shows test start time
- [T] Shows test fail time
- [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z] Looping test
- [ENTER] Initialize test tims
- [DEL] Test summary
- [<-] (backspace) Enters memory scanner (SX)
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.7 I can't account for some of the RAM in the HP 48! and
- When I clear my memory, I don't have 32K free! Why?
-
- The HP48 S/SX/G have 32K base memory, and the GX has 128K. However
- not all this memory is available to the user. The operating systems
- uses memory for system variables, flags, fonts, last stacks, last
- arguments, last menus, and such. It also can be any one of a number
- of things:
-
- 1). Enabling the use of LAST STACK, LAST ARG, LAST CMD, etc., uses
- up extra RAM, as the calculator has to keep track of the last
- stack, arguments, command, etc.. This is particularly important
- with LAST STACK if you have a large/complex stack, as the HP 48SX
- has to keep enough information around to recreate the stack after
- each operation. You can clear out these variables by pressing ON-C
- (but also note that this will clear out the stack, the graphics
- PICT, etc.).
-
- 2.) From William Wickes, a member of the HP 48 development team:
- Here's a candidate for "most obscure way to use up memory on the HP 48SX."
- When a program executes DOERR with a string argument, the string and hence
- the program too if the string is embedded in the program are referenced
- for the sake of the ERRM command. Thus if you purge the program, the
- memory used by the program is not reclaimed until the ERRM reference is
- updated to a new string. If the string is in a port, you will get
- the Object In Use error if you try to purge the library or backup object
- containing the string.
- A system halt prior to a PURGE will not help unless the object is in
- port 1 or port 2 (it will reclaim memory held by a successfully purged
- but still referenced object). For port 0 objects, the only way to
- break the reference is to execute DOERR again with a new string.
-
- 3.) Occasionally, I have had problems with libraries disappearing, but
- still taking up memory. I found that an "ON-A-F" reset will cause these
- libraries to re-appear. If you still cannot account for a large chunk of
- memory, I would suggest a hardware reset, after backing up your memory.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.8 What are the best methods for dealing with libraries?
-
- To install a Library:
- 1. Download it into a variable of the calc.
- 2. Place the library on the stack.
- 3. Type the number of the port in which you want to store the
- library in. 0 is appropriate if you do not have any expansion
- cards.
- 4. Press STO to store the library in that port.
- 5. Turn the calculator off and then on, or press ON-C, to finish
- installation of the library.
-
- NOTE: sometimes you have to purge the variable containing the library
- before storing it in a port, if you are low on memory. As well, if
- you have FXRECV installed. Just type a port number, hit FXRECV and
- the library will automatically go into the specified port. All you
- have to do then in turn the calc off and then on to complete
- installation.
-
- To delete a Library:
-
- Say you have library 1234 in port 0 than you want to delete.
-
- 1. Goto directory that the library is attached. Usually HOME.
- 2. Enter :0: 1234
- 3. Press ENTER or type DUP
- 4. Type "DETACH"
- 5. Type "PURGE"
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.9 Why does (1/3)*3 equal 0.999999999999?
-
- This is due to the way numbers are typically represented by
- computers and calculators. There are infinitely many numbers, like
- `1/3' and `pi', that cannot be exactly represented internally (their
- decimal representations go on forever, and oftentimes cannot even be
- represented as a fraction, as in the example of `pi'). As a result,
- any calculations that use these numbers are bound to be off.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.10 Why does my HP say that 0^0=1?
-
- Some claim that 0^0 is defined as 1, some claim it is indeterminate.
- The HP mathematicians decided to use the definition. Here is some
- more concrete info shamelessly lifted from the Sci.Math-FAQ:
-
- Q: What is 0^0 ?
-
- A: According to some Calculus textbooks, 0^0 is an "indeterminate
- form". When evaluating a limit of the form 0^0, then you need
- to know that limits of that form are called "indeterminate forms",
- and that you need to use a special technique such as L'Hopital's
- rule to evaluate them. Otherwise, 0^0=1 seems to be the most
- useful choice for 0^0. This convention allows us to extend
- definitions in different areas of mathematics that otherwise would
- require treating 0 as a special case. Notice that 0^0 is a
- discontinuity of the function x^y.
-
- Rotando & Korn show that if f and g are real functions that vanish
- at the origin and are _analytic_ at 0 (infinitely differentiable is
- not sufficient), then f(x)^g(x) approaches 1 as x approaches 0 from
- the right.
-
- From Concrete Mathematics p.162 (R. Graham, D. Knuth, O. Patashnik):
-
- "Some textbooks leave the quantity 0^0 undefined, because the
- functions x^0 and 0^x have different limiting values when x
- decreases to 0. But this is a mistake. We must define
-
- x^0 = 1 for all x,
-
- if the binomial theorem is to be valid when x=0, y=0, and/or x=-y.
- The theorem is too important to be arbitrarily restricted! By
- contrast, the function 0^x is quite unimportant."
- Published by Addison-Wesley, 2nd printing Dec, 1988.
-
- References:
-
- H. E. Vaughan, The expression '0^0', Mathematics Teacher 63 (1970),
- pp.111-112.
-
- Louis M. Rotando & Henry Korn, "The Indeterminate Form 0^0",
- Mathematics Magazine, Vol. 50, No. 1 (January 1977), pp. 41-42.
-
- L. J. Paige, A note on indeterminate forms, American Mathematical
- Monthly, 61 (1954), 189-190; reprinted in the Mathematical
- Association of America's 1969 volume, Selected Papers on Calculus,
- pp. 210-211.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.11 If I add two temperatures like 34 deg.F and 11 deg.F, I get 504.67
- deg.F. Why don't I get 45 deg.F?
-
- This occurs with the S/SX only. This behavior changed in the
- G/GX. With the G/GX, adding 34 deg.F and 11 deg.F will give 45
- deg.F using TINC and TDELTA. However, the G/GX will only add or
- subtract temperatures if the units are the same; it is now an error
- if they are not.
-
- If the units attached to the number consists only of a temperature and
- nothing else, operations are done using an absolute temperature scale
- (relative to absolute zero). If the units consists of a temperature
- and something else, such as degrees/minute, the operation will not be
- done using an absolute temperature scale.
-
- It also does not make any physical sense to add two temperatures. You
- can't add a cup of water at 20 degrees C to a cup of water at 30
- degrees C and end up with two cups of water at 50 degrees C.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.12 How can I add my own units? What's the 1_? unit for?
-
- [Note: Some later editions of the G/GX series manuals have some
- similar information on this subjet on pages 10-14 and 25-15.]
-
- Another feature is the generic unit, 1_?. It seems to be intended
- as a generic unit, to allow you to make new units not based
- upon any of the built-in ones. You could use it to create a
- conversion utility for currencies or bits and bytes. [Before you
- create either, check the FTP sites to see what others have done in
- this regard.]
-
- Here's an example. Convert this using ASC\-> and save it as 'sample'.
-
- "69A20FF78E000000005046F6E6574750ADA209C2A2C2A2070000F368B01B2130
- E20005046F6A756E650ADA20339201000000000000210C2A20F000046F6E6574
- 768B01B2130640005086F6D6562750ADA20339200000000000000510C2A20F00
- 0046F6E65747C2A20B0000D696E686B0168B01B2130B5000303435453047A204
- 7A20C2A20F000046F6E65747ADA209C2A2C2A20F000046F6E6574768B01B2130
- B213047A20C2A20F000046F6A756E6ADA209C2A2C2A20F000046F6A756E668B0
- 1B2130B213047A20C2A20F000086F6D65627ADA209C2A2C2A20F000086F6D656
- 2768B01B2130B2130B2130F0DA"
-
- This is a sample directory with a custom menu. Enter the directory
- and press the CST key. Here you will see three units (truncated to
- fit the softkeys): donut, dozen, and homer. A dozen is defined as
- 12_donut, and a homer is a rate of 1.5_donut/min (not part of the SI
- system). These units may take SI prefixes described on page 10-5 of
- the User's Guide, so you may convert the value of 3_MW*h/kdonut into
- units of erg/mdozen using CONVERT, for example. The items in the CST
- menu have the usual abilities of unit menu objects as described on
- pages 10-2 and 10-3 of the User's Guide. These units can be used for
- math operations described on page 10-7 of the User's Guide, such as
- adding 2_donut to 1_dozen.
-
- Example: At your power plant, you have four control room operators
- who have a combined consumption rate of 2.28 homers. How many donuts
- will they use in 5 minutes and 17 seconds?
-
- Step 1: Enter the rate.
- 2.28 [homer]
-
- Step 2: Enter the time.
- right-shift UNITS [TIME]
- 5 [min]
- 17 [s] +
-
- Step 3: Multiply the time by the rate.
- x
-
- Step 4: Convert to dozens.
- CST left-shift [dozen]
-
- And the answer is a little over 1.5 dozen.
-
- [If you know more about 1_? and what it can do, please let the FAQ
- maintainer know!]
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.13 I want `pi' to be a numeric value, not a symbol. What's happening?
-
- You are using "Numeric Constants Mode". To turn this mode on or off:
-
- SX: Type "-2", then "SF" (w/o the quotes). This turns the numeric constants
- mode on. To turn it off, type "-2" "CF". (again, no quotes)
-
- GX: Go to the MODES menu (press green/right-shift MODES). Hit the key for
- FLAG submenu. Toggle the 02 flag, "Contant -> symb", to turn on and
- off.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.14 What are those little numbers near the top of my screen and how do I
- get rid of them?
-
- The little numbers are "user flags". When you or a program sets any
- of the user flags 1 through 5, little numbers corresponding to the
- set flags are displayed at the top of the screen.
-
- The HP uses negative flags for setting various modes and functions,
- while positive flags were reserved for the use of the user. To set a
- user flag type the number, then SF. To clear a user flag type the
- number, then CF.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.15 What tricks are there for manipulating matrices?
-
-
- SX: You can build up a matrix by rows using \GS+
- You can take a matrix apart by rows using \GS-
- These two commands (\GS is Sigma (Greek E)) add and subtract rows
- from the SigmaDAT Statistics matrix. \GS+ takes a vector row and
- adds it to SigmaDAT, and \GS- takes the bottom row away from
- SigmaDAT. \GS+ is accessible from the STAT menu with its own
- softkey. \GS- can be obtained by pressing left/shift /GS+, or by
- typing it in at the command line.
-
- GX: The GX has many matrix functions built in. See Appendix C.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.16 Can I use my HP48 as a remote or phone dialer?
-
- There are numerous programs available for remote control. See
- Appendix I for recommendations.
-
- To make phone dialing tones, you need to produce two simultaneous
- tones. The speaker in the HP48 is not good enough to support the DTMF
- (dual tone multi frequency) tones that are used to dial. (They're a
- combination of two tones at the same time.)
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.17 I could speed up my HP-28S. How can I speed up my HP 48?
-
- You can't, really. Unlike the HP-28S, the clock speed in the HP
- 48SX is hardwired to 2 MHz, and to 4MHz in the 48GX.
-
- However, in some cases, you can speed up the HP 48 by turning off
- the display refresh, which supposedly takes up about 11% of the CPU
- time. Detlef Mueller <detlef@mwhh.hanse.de> submitted a program to
- comp.sources.hp48 that turns off the display refresh. Look in the
- various HP 48 archives for a copy.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.18 What is the hidden directory and how do I access it?
-
- The "hidden directory" is a subdirectory of the HOME directory.
- It is created on startup, and it contains variables with your
- alarms and user key configurations. You can use the hidden
- directory to store whatever you want, however you CAN NOT ORDER
- the contents of this directory, as this causes memory loss.
-
- The name of the hidden directory is a null character, '' .
- The only way to get a null character is to use a syseval.
- You can use the following program to access the hidden
- directory: Comments:
- << HOME (changes to home dir)
- #15777h (syseval to get null character)
- SYSEVAL (returns '' to stack)
- EVAL >> (changes to hidden dir)
-
- To exit the hidden directory, use HOME or UPDIR. This will
- return you to the HOME directory.
-
- Also, by putting the null character as a part of your HOME
- custom directory, you can switch right into the directory
- by pressing the softkey.
- Note: The SysRPL command NULLID returns a null character to
- the stack; it is the sames as #15777h SYSEVAL.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- 3.19 How can I recall one object from a memory archive?
-
- [Joe Horn]
-
- There is a little-known method of recalling objects from within
- archives. Just make a list representing the PATH to the object, and
- tag the *list* with the port number. Then hit RCL or EVAL.
-
- For example, if your archive in port 1 is called BKUP, and it
- contains a directory called GAMES which contains a program
- called REVERSI, you can run the game directly (without having
- a separate copy of REVERSI stored anywhere!) by:
-
- :1: { BKUP GAMES REVERSI } EVAL
-
- Or, you can RCL instead of EVAL, and it'll be pushed onto the stack.
-
- NOTE WELL: This method only works in ports 0 and 1 in a GX. It works
- on any port in the SX.
-
- ANOTHER NOTE: This method works with directory objects stored as
- backup objects, as well as with the results of the ARCHIVE command,
- because they are both really the same thing.
-
- ******************************************************************
-
-
-
- END PART 1 OF 4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- --
- madd0118@nova.gmi.edu ------><------ Keith D. Maddock
- "Of course I'm crazy, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong. I'm mad but not ill"
- Freightliner Corp, Portland, Oregon/GMI Engineering & Mgt Inst: So2,ME-Auto
- comp.sys.hp48 FAQ Maintainer (GX-R), Eagle Scout, Delta Tau Delta EI-B, :-)
-