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From: akcs.gak@hpcvbbs.UUCP (Eric Gakstatter)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Re: CMT RAM card - deficient?
Message-ID: <27c1bd7f:1758.10comp.sys.handhelds;1@hpcvbbs.UUCP>
Date: 20 Feb 91 00:40:05 GMT
References: <153@caspian.dde.uucp> <27c1b440:1758.9comp.sys.handhelds;1@hpcvbbs
Lines: 46

Additionally, CMT has also responded to questions regarding warranty
coverage, static protection and mechanical fit.

Warranty coverage. All CMT cards for the HP-48SX purchased will have a
one year warranty as of 2/20/91. For those concerned about CMT's
liability statement, it is a standard statement that protects CMT from
incurring liability due to malfunction. For example, if you are using the
HP-48SX with a CMT RAM card to store REALLY important data and that data
is lost for some reason, CMT is not liable for the cost of recovering the
data, etc. What the CMT warranty covers is the card itself. If the card
malfunctions, CMT will repair or replace the card.

Static charge and mechanical fit. Yes, CMT cards fit more tightly, but
this will not cause damage to the HP-48SX connector. The connector in the
HP-48SX is designed with plastic bars between each connecting spring so
that the springs can not be depressed far enough to cause any damage. If
the card is too thick, it won't fit the connector. I would try to
illustrate in this message with ASCII graphics, but this editor would
send me to my grave. If you are interested in a simple graphic of this,
dial up the CMT BBS at 503/758-1419.

CMT uses the same connector as HP does for its card tester and it has had
hundreds of cards inserted without a single failure. All of the 48's used
in testing and development have had hundreds of cards installed and
removed without a problem. CMT has tested individual cards for over 1,000
installations with no failure that wasn't cured by cleaning the contacts
with a cotton swab moistened(not soaked) with isopropyl alcohol. However,
CMT does recommend that users minimize the number of insertions/removals.
This applies to all connectors of this type, not just CMT's.

For static charge protection, the CMT card uses tranzorbs. A tranzorb is
a high speed transient absorber that is used to help protect the card's
circuitry from transient voltage spikes. The shutter is patented by EPSON
(I believe) so CMT chose to use tranzorbs for ESD protection. Transzorbs
have proved to be very effective. 

CMT believes they have done their homework on these matters. They have
produced and tested 1,000's of cards and not experienced an ESD or
mechanical problem. As you may know CMT is not new to this kind of
technology. They have produced reliable modules for the HP-41, 71 & 75.

CMT does recommend that when the card is not in the HP-48SX that you
store the card in its ESD protection bag and that you keep your fingers
away from the gold connectors. This is really no different than the
normal precautions that you would take with any circuit board. CMT feels
that the card connectors and the CMT memory cards are quality products
that should bring you years of use.