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From: rrd@hpfinote.HP.COM (Ray Depew x2419)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: I need a serial port connector
Message-ID: <19080004@hpfinote.HP.COM>
Date: 11 Sep 90 15:55:53 GMT
References: <1990Sep1.203648.22242@santra.uucp>
Organization: Hewlett Packard CICD
Lines: 24

> Would someone from HP like to comment on why they came up with a nonstandard
> pin spacing on the serial connector? 

Five bucks says that nobody from the Calculator Gang "would like to comment
on why" they did it!  :-) :-) :-)

I won't even try to answer "why".  But it's not as "nonstandard" as you may
think.  DuPont (USA) makes a metric-spaced series of connectors, and their
4-pin connector fits perfectly.  I would imagine that SIemens, Phillips or
someone in Europe makes a similar, if not identical, series of connectors.

Hmm, next question:  Given the space constraints on the calculator (have
you taken yours apart yet?  (DON'T!) ), what would you define as the "standard"
connector or pin spacing that should be used?  This is the same problem that
Poqet, Atari, Sharp and others have had to face.  There ain't no standard.
The 9-pin DIN is too big and bulky.  All other choices are "nonstandard."


Regards
Ray Depew
HP Colorado IC Division
rrd@hpfitst1.hp.com
Just another satisfied HP-48SX user....
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