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From: herman@corpane.UUCP (Harry Herman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Questions about HP48SX ROM revisions.
Message-ID: <1871@corpane.UUCP>
Date: 30 May 90 12:12:31 GMT
References: <1990May28.143516.459@uoft02.utoledo.edu>
Organization: Corpane Industries, Inc., Louisville Ky
Lines: 40


I have had my HP48 since mid April, and it is a Rev B ROM.

I have seen a lot of people asking if HP will offer ROM upgrades,
but so far, HP has remained silent.

To find out the Rev. level, you have to do the following:
   1) Turn the calculator on.
   2) Hold down the ON button and press the D button (4th button, top
      row).  Then release both buttons.  This puts you in a testing
      mode that can be used to test the hardware.
   3) Press the button with DROP/CLR above it.  This is the last button
      on the row with the Enter button.  This should display a HEX
      address and some HEX data on the top row of the screen.
   4) Press the EVAL button.  This will display "Version HP48-x" on the
      top line, where x is the revision level (A, B, C or whatever).
      This will only display for 2 seconds before the HEX dump line
      comes back.  If you want to see it again, push EVAL again, or
      you can hold the EVAL button down.
   5) To return the calculator to normal operation, hold down the ON
      button and press the C button (top row, third button).

This is all documented in an addendum that came with the calculator
that lists known problems by rev. level.  There are only 6 problems
listed, and all but two only apply to rev A.  The others are listed
as applying to revs A,B,C and A,B,C,D respectively.

HP has a free bulliten board for people interested in the HP48.  The
phone number is (503) 750-4448, and it supports 300-2400 baud, and
they have some lines that support 9600 baud V.32.  The phone number
also comes with the calculator.

Even though the bug sheets mention rev levels through D, I have not
seen anybody here or on the HP bulliten board claim to have an rev.
levels higher than B.


					Harry Herman
					Corpane Industries, Inc.
					(A U. of Toledo alumni)