Epson PX-4
Phill Sears
manual. Is it possible to communicate via PC with this machine using a
CPM terminal emulation prog? Is it any good for anything?
Thanks in advance
Phill.
evans_t...@dontbothermewithspam.tesco.net
(Phill Sears) wrote:
>Hello, I'm Looking for any info on the Epson PX-4, specifically the
>manual. Is it possible to communicate via PC with this machine using a
>CPM terminal emulation prog? Is it any good for anything?
>
It's been a while since I fired up either of the Epson laptops here,
but at least for the PX-8, maybe for the HX-n series as well, I think
there was a specialised program called filink, which had a dos
counterpart. You ran both and could transfer files back & forth.
Failing that, any cp/m terminal program - imp, mex, zmp (had zmodem),
qterm, etcetera. I had a rom with one of 'em on it and used that, but
it's been a while. Sorry I don't have a PX-4. Go web trolling for
filink*.*
If you don't want yours I'd be (mildly) interested...to complete the
collection...
Phill Sears
evans_t...@dontbothermewithspam.tesco.net wrote:
>On Sun, 30 Jan 2000 17:46:51 GMT, NoIdontthin...@server.com
>(Phill Sears) wrote:
>
>>Hello, I'm Looking for any info on the Epson PX-4, specifically the
>>manual. Is it possible to communicate via PC with this machine using a
>>CPM terminal emulation prog? Is it any good for anything?
>>
>
>It's been a while since I fired up either of the Epson laptops here,
<---SNIP--->
Thanks for the info, I found a prog after trawling Dejanews
ftp://ftp.epson.com/hxpxqx/ but it won't help as I seem to lack an
OS. As far as I can tell it should live on an EEPROM, there are three
sockets on the machine, only one of which is occupied, with a chip
that says "BCR v6.2 7/92" in felt pen in the middle socket. I can fire
it up, it beeps and then says
"30.5k CP/M 01/30 (MON) 22:54:xx 1/1
C:BCRPXRX
C:BCRPXRX COM"
What do I do now?? whatever I do it doesn't respond. Is this lack of
knowledge on my part or have I got a custom EEPROM?
Phill.
Phill Sears
(Phill Sears) wrote:
Wait a minute, there is a 3.5 mm jack socket on the side that says
BCR. Next to that is another 3.5 socket marked SP. Does this mean that
I have a rom that expects a cassette OS? The mystery deepens.
Phill.
Don Maslin
: On Sun, 30 Jan 2000 23:01:22 GMT, NoIdontthin...@server.com
: (Phill Sears) wrote:
: Phill.
What occupies the space to the right of the display? IIRC, it could be
a MicroCassette Drive, a RAM Disk, or ??? I think that your two jack
sockets are to connect an external cassette drive primarily for data
storage.
Every Epson 8-bit laptop that I have seen has the operating system and
also some applications in EPROM.
- don
evans_t...@dontbothermewithspam.tesco.net
(Phill Sears) wrote:
>On Sun, 30 Jan 2000 23:01:22 GMT, NoIdontthin...@server.com
>(Phill Sears) wrote:
>
>Wait a minute, there is a 3.5 mm jack socket on the side that says
>BCR. Next to that is another 3.5 socket marked SP. Does this mean that
>I have a rom that expects a cassette OS? The mystery deepens.
>
Ok, this is from memory, but here goes.
BCR is for a Bar Code Reader
SP is for a speaker
And from your previous post:
>Thanks for the info, I found a prog after trawling Dejanews
>ftp://ftp.epson.com/hxpxqx/ but it won't help as I seem to lack an
>OS. As far as I can tell it should live on an EEPROM, there are three
>sockets on the machine, only one of which is occupied, with a chip
>that says "BCR v6.2 7/92" in felt pen in the middle socket. I can fire
>it up, it beeps and then says
>
>"30.5k CP/M 01/30 (MON) 22:54:xx 1/1
>
>C:BCRPXRX
>
>C:BCRPXRX COM"
>
I think you are looking a a menu-type system that runs on boot. Try
pressing the escape key and see if you get a cp/m ccp prompt. Faling
that, use the cursor keys and highlight BCRPXRX.COM and press enter
and tell us what happens.
On my PX-8's the rom sockets under the cover on the back are for
option roms; the OS is in a different socket and you can't get to it
unless you remove the bottom of the case. I suspect you have an
option rom, and from the names of the command files it is to run a bar
code reader.
Don Maslin
: On Sun, 30 Jan 2000 23:01:22 GMT, NoIdontthin...@server.com
: (Phill Sears) wrote:
:>On Sun, 30 Jan 2000 23:01:22 GMT, NoIdontthin...@server.com
:>(Phill Sears) wrote:
:>
:>Wait a minute, there is a 3.5 mm jack socket on the side that says
:>BCR. Next to that is another 3.5 socket marked SP. Does this mean that
:>I have a rom that expects a cassette OS? The mystery deepens.
:>
: Ok, this is from memory, but here goes.
: BCR is for a Bar Code Reader
: SP is for a speaker
I believe that you are exactly right, and my external cassette thought
was incorrect.
: And from your previous post:
:>Thanks for the info, I found a prog after trawling Dejanews
:>ftp://ftp.epson.com/hxpxqx/ but it won't help as I seem to lack an
:>OS. As far as I can tell it should live on an EEPROM, there are three
:>sockets on the machine, only one of which is occupied, with a chip
:>that says "BCR v6.2 7/92" in felt pen in the middle socket. I can fire
:>it up, it beeps and then says
:>
:>"30.5k CP/M 01/30 (MON) 22:54:xx 1/1
:>
:>C:BCRPXRX
:>
:>C:BCRPXRX COM"
:>
: I think you are looking a a menu-type system that runs on boot. Try
: pressing the escape key and see if you get a cp/m ccp prompt. Faling
: that, use the cursor keys and highlight BCRPXRX.COM and press enter
: and tell us what happens.
: On my PX-8's the rom sockets under the cover on the back are for
: option roms; the OS is in a different socket and you can't get to it
: unless you remove the bottom of the case. I suspect you have an
: option rom, and from the names of the command files it is to run a bar
: code reader.
My HX-40/PX-4 has two of three EPROM sockets populated. The center socket,
labled Drive B: contains a Basic EPROM while the one further to the right
is the operating system. The socket furthest to the left is labled Drive
C: but is empty.
- don
bma...@iglou.com
>On Sun, 30 Jan 2000 23:01:22 GMT, NoIdontthin...@server.com
>(Phill Sears) wrote:
>Wait a minute, there is a 3.5 mm jack socket on the side that says
>BCR. Next to that is another 3.5 socket marked SP. Does this mean
>that I have a rom that expects a cassette OS? The mystery deepens.
The BCR socket would be for a bar code reader, SP for an external speaker.
That ROM with the name "BCR?????" is probably bar code reading software.
The PX-8 has a third socket for an analog input; it can measure voltages from
0-2vdc.
Net-Tamer V 1.08X - Test Drive
Phill Sears
Thanks guys, I'll let you know what happens, but it's late here now,
I'll post tommorrow.
Phill
Will Rose
: Phill Sears <NoIdontthin...@server.com> wrote:
: : On Sun, 30 Jan 2000 23:01:22 GMT, NoIdontthin...@server.com
: : (Phill Sears) wrote:
: : Wait a minute, there is a 3.5 mm jack socket on the side that says
: : BCR. Next to that is another 3.5 socket marked SP. Does this mean that
: : I have a rom that expects a cassette OS? The mystery deepens.
: : Phill.
: What occupies the space to the right of the display? IIRC, it could be
: a MicroCassette Drive, a RAM Disk, or ???
Or a printer - I can't find my PX-4 reference, so I can't check any
of the others.
: Every Epson 8-bit laptop that I have seen has the operating system and
: also some applications in EPROM.
It sounds as if the system is autobooting a specialised program; if he
takes the C drive ROM out, I expect he'll get a menu, or a CP/M prompt.
Will
c...@cts.com
Phill Sears
I tried hitting the escape key directly after boot and was given an A>
prompt that responds to cpm commands. Thanks for your help everybody,
now I need to re-learn cpm and see if I can load up some software.
When the c:>BCRPXRX is highlighted and return is pressed, this
happens:
A>:C:BCRPXRX
_
_ = cursor
Anyone got any info on burning roms for it?, I've got a C64 and
burner. ;-)
Phill.
Eugen Mezei
How coincidences come. Got today an Epson PX-4 for my collection. :-)
But without any documentation. So I am in the same situation like you.
Anybody out there with manuals or any other information for this 'puter?
Eugen
"Phill Sears" <NoIdontthin...@server.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:38a37857...@news.dtn.ntl.com...
> Hello, I'm Looking for any info on the Epson PX-4, specifically the
> manual. Is it possible to communicate via PC with this machine using a
> CPM terminal emulation prog? Is it any good for anything?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Phill.
pr...@vpop.dtn.ntl.com
pr...@vpop.dtn.ntl.com
it had not been turned into a custom bar code reader like my friend's
Psion II.
Eugen Mezei
I told you about the Epson PX-4 i got some weeks ago. I have buyed a 6V
power supply for it and fired it up. The following happens:
- when I push the power button to ON the LED in the RAM cartridge
inscriptioned LOW BATTERY flashes 1x short
- in the display appears the following:
SYSTEM INITIALIZE
DATE/TIME (MMDDYYhhmmss) 000000000000
I entered the correct date (also tried it with 99 thinking of year 2k
problems) and pressed the enter button but nothing happens. After a while in
the display appears the message BATTERY LOW and the PX-4 disconnects
(display goes blank).
What is going on? Can anybody help me?
Eugen
nob...@nowhere.com
wrote:
Sounds to me like the internal battery is SO low that you oughta let
it sit on the charger for a day, then try again and let us know what
happens. I seem to recall the HX-20 and PX-8 doing exactly what you
describe...
bu...@binah.cc.brandeis.edu
Epson doesn't make the batteries any more, but another company (whose naem I
have forgotten) does. I called a local Epson dealer, and they gave me the
number, when I ran into the same problem with my PX-8.
John Burt
In article <88tvj6$4e0$1...@sun27.hrz.tu-darmstadt.de>, "Eugen Mezei" <me...@gmx.de> writes:
>Hi group,
>
>I told you about the Epson PX-4 i got some weeks ago. I have buyed a 6V
>power supply for it and fired it up. The following happens:
>- when I push the power button to ON the LED in the RAM cartridge
>inscriptioned LOW BATTERY flashes 1x short
>- in the display appears the following:
>SYSTEM INITIALIZE
>DATE/TIME (MMDDYYhhmmss) 000000000000
>
>I entered the correct date (also tried it with 99 thinking of year 2k
>problems) and pressed the enter button but nothing happens. After a while in
>the display appears the message BATTERY LOW and the PX-4 disconnects
>(display goes blank).
>
>What is going on? Can anybody help me?
>
>
>
nob...@nowhere.com
>Your battery is probably not taking charge. You need to replace it. I think
>Epson doesn't make the batteries any more, but another company (whose naem I
>have forgotten) does. I called a local Epson dealer, and they gave me the
>number, when I ran into the same problem with my PX-8.
>John Burt
>In article <88tvj6$4e0$1...@sun27.hrz.tu-darmstadt.de>, "Eugen Mezei" <me...@gmx.de> writes:
>>Hi group,
>>
>>I told you about the Epson PX-4 i got some weeks ago. I have buyed a 6V
>>power supply for it and fired it up. The following happens:
>>- when I push the power button to ON the LED in the RAM cartridge
>>inscriptioned LOW BATTERY flashes 1x short
[ remainder of tale-of-woe deleted ]
Many nicad cells can be rejuvenated with a trick involving steady
nerves, a voltmeter, two bits of wire, and a 12-volt lead acid cell.
If the cell reads extremely low - under .1 volt, and will not take a
charge, it's quite possible that it is internally shorted. I am told
that this is due to small conductive whiskers crystallising in the
paste. These can be removed by the following:
Connect the wires to the + and - terminals of the lead acid cell.
Connect one to a terminal of the nicad. Briefly connect the other.
Brief in this case means for about 1 second. There will probably be a
small spark. Do this a few times with 10 seconds or so inbetween.
Check the voltage. When it reads a normal voltage - 1.4 or so, put it
in the charger. (it's not really charged at this point, you have to
do a normal charge cycle).
I've done this with many, many cells over the years. The success rate
is about 90%; occasionally a cell won't go up to 1.4, or won't take a
charge after the treatment, and those get recycled in the common
sense.
Lee Hart
>>- when I push the power button to ON the LED in the RAM cartridge
> Many nicad cells can be rejuvenated with a trick involving steady
> nerves, a voltmeter, two bits of wire, and a 12-volt lead acid cell...
Your proceedure is sound, though the implementation is a bit drastic.
Nicad cells tend to short out when current continues to flow through
them after they are dead. This happens in series strings; when one cell
goes dead, the others keep current flowing.
You need to remove the short before that cell can be recharged. You can
indeed remove the short with a brief high-current pulse. But you want to
use the minimum amount of energy necessary, because you are also blowing
a hole in the separator between plates. The bigger the hole, the faster
the cell's self-discharge rate, and the more likely it is to short
again.
My method is to put the pack on charge, and check the voltage of each
cell (requires cutting holes in any outside covering). Any that don't
rise above 1v probably have a short.
Use a higher voltage power source that has an output filter capacitor
and is current limited (such as a wall-wart transformer with capacitor).
Momentarily connect this power source to *just the shorted cell* while
watching its voltage.
Each time you connect, the capacitor provides a brief pulse of high
current; then the power source's current limitations limit the current.
If the short doesn't clear, the cell remains at some low voltage. If it
does clear, the voltage will start rising because the pack as a whole is
still on charge.
The Epson PX-4 probably has a main battery pack, and a much smaller
back-up battery, probably 3 nicad button cells, to maintain memory while
the main pack is dead or changed. If the main pack has the shorted
cell(s) they can be temporarily fixed with this proceedure. Capacity
will be reduced, and it is likely to short again if ever allowed to run
down. But at least it works.
If the back-up battery has the dead cell(s), just replace it. Even if
you clear the short, the self-discharge rate will be higher, and it
won't charge or back up the memory properly. If you can't find an exact
replacement, use a cordless phone battery of appropriate voltage.
Good luck!
--
Lee A. Hart Ring the bells that you can ring
4209 France Ave. N. Forget the perfect offering
Robbinsdale, MN 55422 USA There is a crack in everything
phone (612) 533-3226 That's how the light gets in
leea...@earthlink.net Leonard Cohen
Eugen Mezei
positiong: ON and OFF.
Eugen
Eugen Mezei
changed.
Does anybody know where the backup battery is located and how to remove and
change it with new ones?
Eugen
Don Maslin
: Now the PX-4 was more than 1 day connected to the power supply and nothing
: Eugen
It is a cylindrical package of 'A' cell diameter and about 1.5 times as
long and is soldered to the motherboard. Not accessible through any of
the 'hatches' in the case. The battery is composed of four individual
cells in series and is rated at 4.8vdc.
- don
Will Rose
: Also I discovered on the back of the unit a switch labeled BACKUP with 2
: positiong: ON and OFF.
The PX-4 has a couple of internal batteries, as I recall. Either or both
may be dead. Try running it with the backup battery switch to OFF.
Will
c...@cts.com
Eugen Mezei
positive results.
Seems that I need to replace the batteries. Could someone tell me how
exactly I can do this? Which screws remove, etc....
Eugen Mezei
It is labeled: EPSON RB 301 4,8V 90mAh.
As Don Maslin stated it is built of four cells.
Anybody know who produce similar batteries and what are the type-nr. of
them?
Eugen
"Eugen Mezei" <me...@gmx.de> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:894o5u$s3a$1...@sun27.hrz.tu-darmstadt.de...
Lowell Kinzer
It sounds similar to the RB 302 used in the Epson PX-8.
I heartily recommend:
Battery Connection, Inc.
107-B S. Andreasen Drive
Escondido, CA 92029
voice: 760-740-6688
fax: 760-735-8810
WWW: www.batteryconnection.com
I bought replacement batteries for a PX-8, and a couple of its accessories, from
them last July. They removed the original wires and connectors from the old
batteries and installed them on the replacement batteries. All I had to do was
put the new battery packs in the PX-8. The old batteries can be taken in or
shipped to the shop. I dropped them off (I was passing nearby on a road trip)
and had them ship the replacements to my home. Quick turnaround, too. I dropped
off the batteries at the start of a five day trip--the new batteries made it
home before I did!
I thought the cost was reasonable. Here's what I bought, along with the
descriptions on the invoice (I've added the Epson part numbers in parentheses):
Qty.Description Cost
2 4/N700AA/L 4.8V 700MAH NI (RB101 & C20RB) 39.90
1 4/N1100AA/PIN 4.8V 110MAH (RB302) 20.95
1 4/KR1800SC/L 4.8V 1800MAH (RB201) 28.16
The new battery packs have higher capacities than the originals, too.
The folks at Battery Connection, Inc., were friendly and knowledgeable. Service
was prompt and the quality of workmanship was excellent. My only affiliation
with Battery Connection, Inc., has been as a satisfied customer.
Best regards,
Lowell Kinzer
lki...@sciti.com