transferring HP48 program cards to HP50G

[STEPHEN MENDES]

I have several of the "Pocket Professional" cards for HP48.... from da
Vinci Technologies Group Inc. & Sparcom Corp.

Spice 48
Math Pro
EE Pro

How can I get these programs on HP50G..... is it possible ?

I would particularly like to use the Spice 48.....
or perhaps there is an even better version of Spice for
HP50G ?????????

Anybody know ?

[PremiumBlend]

Hello Stephen,

You can begin your search for answers at

http://fixunix.com/hewlett-packard/390387-sparcom-cards.html.

Regards,

Mark

[John H Meyers]

On Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:35:50 -0500, Stephen Mendes wrote:

> I have several of the "Pocket Professional" cards for HP48....
> from da Vinci Technologies Group Inc. & Sparcom Corp.
>
> Spice 48
> Math Pro
> EE Pro
>
> How can I get these programs on HP50G..... is it possible ?

Binary program files for HP48 series do not run on HP49/50 series.

Generally, a recompilation from "source" is necessary,
plus possibly needing repackaging into library form.

One such "converted" Sparcom pack (not on your list) is shown here:
http://www.hpcalc.org/search.php?query=sparcom

A short while ago, someone posted a link to a large zip file,
supposedly containing all the manuals for the Sparcom packs.

The zip file also contained dumps of all the libraries,
but they are in HP48 series binary format,
as would have been found in the original cards
(a simple "hack library" command is able to recall
libraries from read-only ROM cards).

If the family of the late author permitted one pack
to be converted and offered on www.hpcalc.org,
they might give permission for others,
but I don't recall reading whether that had been determined.

> perhaps there is an even better version of Spice for HP50G

http://www.hpcalc.org/search.php?query=spice
It's curious that all of those are for HP48 series.

Better luck here?
http://www.hpcalc.org/search.php?query=circuit+simulator&hp49=1

I am meanwhile off to look for a "dinner simulator,"
as all the genuine original sources
seem to have closed up for the evening.

[r->] [OFF]

[STEPHEN MENDES]

Thanks for your detailed reply..... and I hope you found dinner
somewhere last night

Here are 3 related questions:

1. Is it true that ALL the plug-in cards for HP48 used binary code not
compatible with HP49/50 ?

2. Are there any sources still selling new HP48GX ?

3. Are repairs (screen change) available on HP48GX ?

Somebody just gave me one more card NAVCOM 48 which is
HP-48 Marine Navigation Library written by Applied Programing Systems

This person has an HP-48GX with an LCD that has gone black (I
understand it is a fairly common problem with older LCD's)

They wanted to buy my last working HP-48GX but I refused to sell it
for any amount of money..... however, I would still like to advise
them of their options.

[John H Meyers]

On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:52:05 -0500, Stephen Mendes wrote:

> Is it true that ALL the plug-in cards for HP48
> used binary code not compatible with HP49/50 ?

Programs call most functions using direct ROM addresses.

Due to extensive recompiling and reorganizing of ROM,
most (though not all) HP48 series ROM addresses
are different from HP49/50 series ROM addresses,
even for the identical functions.

Even some library functions have different "function numbers"
in each series.

That's why HP48 series programs, in executable form,
are nearly 100% incompatible with HP49/50 series,
even if the "source" can potentially be directly recompiled
(which is very often possible, but not always).

Many an older contributed program or "library" has been "ported"
from one series to the other, by decompilation/recompilation,
but this often requires
the extensive work of a human brain to perform;
it is sometimes easy, and other times tricky,
depending on the nature of the original program or library.

> Are there any sources still selling new HP48GX ?

Is there still any unmined gold in California?

Maybe, but probably takes a lot of prospecting to find,
as of this date -- try eBay, or hpmuseum.org sales listings.

> Are repairs (screen change) available on HP48GX ?

If you are a screen transplant surgeon,
and can find a better screen in an otherwise dead carcass.

Perhaps there are also "screen rejuvenating" operations,
e.g. to reverse effect of long-applied pressure, or whatever.

> Somebody just gave me one more card NAVCOM 48 which is
> HP-48 Marine Navigation Library written by Applied Programing Systems
>
> This person has an HP-48GX with an LCD that has gone black (I
> understand it is a fairly common problem with older LCD's)
>
> They wanted to buy my last working HP-48GX but I refused to sell it
> for any amount of money..... however, I would still like to advise
> them of their options.

Emulators of HP calc series also exist for various platforms;
for example, I have a very old WinCE organizer which,
thanks to C.G., runs EMU48 and makes a perfect HP48GX,
and even does things which my original could never do,
such as fit into my shirt pocket :)

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