Calculator for an electronic engineer

[Joshua Kim]

Hi, everyone!

CASIO fx-61f, the excellent scientific calculator, has the awesome built-in electronic formulas, for example, parallel circuits, and Base converter; DEC, HEX, BIN, and OCT as you can see on its feature.

I have used it since the early '90s. It still works pretty well in my hands every day.  However, CASIO discontinued it long years ago. I asked them which model is its successor, but they have no idea, unfortunately.

Does anyone know another available calculator with similar functionality?  Except for TI-89.

Thanks, Joshua

[Richard Lewis]

Try Swiss Micros they make modern clones of the the classic HP calculators. Would recommend the DM42

[jopil]

Hello Joshua.
I own one DM42 and it is superb.
Fully programmable,
Downloads/Uploads with PC,
FAT storage,
Write your programs on PC and then download them on the unit
and many more...

It is of the RPN kind of programming & calculating (Reverse Polish Notation).
I prefer AOS programming and calculating approach, but RPN is very easy to learn it quickly.

John

[Phillip Stevens]

Richard Lewis wrote:

Try Swiss Micros they make modern clones of the the classic HP calculators. Would recommend the DM42

Richard, I'm going to need to buy one of those Swiss Micros now.

Ignorance was bliss, but now I know. Damn.

 

Joshua Kim wrote:

Hi, everyone!

CASIO fx-61f, the excellent scientific calculator, has the awesome built-in electronic formulas, for example, parallel circuits, and Base converter; DEC, HEX, BIN, and OCT as you can see on its feature. Does anyone know another available calculator with similar functionality?  Except for TI-89.

Joshua,

I'm not sure if 'discontinued' is a problem for you, but I can recommend the HP G48+ on eBay.

Particularly since it has retro-comp aspirations, and since it can talk Z80 (via Kermit).

The only problem I have with it is that its learning curve is so steep, I have to keep looking at the manual every time I pick it up.

For day-to-day I'm very happy with the current generation HP 35s.

Cheers, Phillip

[David Richards]

Hi Joshua, I use a fx-61F daily. Its main use is for hex/decimal conversions. I have simplified the base conversion using a small program:

Casio FX61F Electric Formula 27
Automatic decimal to hexadecimal conversion formula

 

This simple programmed formula will put the calculator into base
n mode and convert the display value into hex when the run
button is pressed, a subsequent press will display the value in
decimal once more.

 

To use for conversion from dec to hex key in the number and
press run, to convert from hex to dec press run and then key in
the number.

 

Programming the Formula:
Mode EXP  (enter learn mode)
Mode 1   (base n mode)
HEX    (convert to hex)
Shift RUN (pause)
Mode 1  (base n mode)
DEC    (convert to dec)
Mode .  (enter run mode)

 

Thats all there is to it, a simple formula to make dec to hex
conversions with minimal key presses.

 

David Richards.
Design Engineer. 

[jopil]

You can also download the apk Free Emulator of DM42
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thomasokken.free42&hl=en
https://thomasokken.com/free42/

Or if you prefer, as I do, the AOS system of TI-59/58 programmable calculators, there is also another very good apk:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.obry.ti5x&hl=en

John

[Richard Lewis]

I have the Swiss Micro DM42 as well as the DM16 which is a clone of the very rare HP-16 programmer's calculator. There is also a free DM42 app for the iPhone (and presumably Android) which I use quite a bit as well. I had both an original HP-42 and HP-48G that turned on and worked after being in a box for 20+ years then promptly stopped working. That's when I accidentally bumped into the Swiss Micro guys and sent them my money. They also sell on Amazon if you want to get it quicker but I ordered directly from Switzerland and had it in a week. They make the calculators in small batches so need to keep checking back if they are sold out. The DM42 is awesome. 

-Richard

[Greg Holdren]

I've been a HP calc fan since 85 with an 11C purchase. Looks like the 16C Richard talks about. Still have it and it works fine. Built like a tank. Next up a HP48G Plus, then HP49 and then now HP Prime. Based on my experience the quality went down the tube at the HP 49 purchase and onward.

Check out the HP20b and HP30b calcs. These run an Atmel AT91SAM7L128 (ARM7) Totally hack able. Old news but maybe of interest to some. HP released a package with details in 2008 and had some code/schematics etc. Has a JTAG and serial pads on it with some other goodies.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_20b

See the re-purposing project to make a WP34S a HP34 clone. I have a HP30 converted with key overlays.

http://www.wiki4hp.com/doku.php?id=20b:repurposing_project

https://commerce.hpcalc.org/34showto.php

Greg

[Richard Lewis]

Started off with a HP-35 that my grandfather gave me when he upgraded (wish I still had it...). Also had a Sinclair Cambridge Programmable which was probably the first thing I owned that could be programmed. Later on owned an 11C (also around '85) and a 15C (which I still have) then the HP-48 (which was a great calculator) and finally a HP49G which was a toy. I use my Swissmicro DM42 everyday. 

Love the HP-35 PC board. Looks like something cooked up on a kitchen table

[David Richards]

My latest favorite calculator is aTI Programmer, just the thing for doing octal conversions on the PiDP8i and PiDP11.

I love the red display David.

[Eric Matecki]

Never heard about Swiss Micros...

I was looking for eons on eBay to find an affordable HP16C in reasonnable shape...

Looks like the DM16L will do the job.

As close to the original as my money permits  :)

[jopil]

 Not to forget of course those two beauties, side-by-side.

A successful revitalization of MK-14 of Cambridge-Scientific (Sir C. Sinclair's) by Colin Philips and a TI-59 programmable, in fully functional mode.
John

[Rick Policy]

Found the DM42 on Amazon, but it’s a little more expensive than buying direct.

https://www.amazon.com/DM42-the-most-precise-calculator/dp/B07B4W13GW/ref=pd_sbs_14_5/141-8470669-6644710?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07B4W13GW&pd_rd_r=ff321b37-52fd-4b1a-ab9b-f21a02076277&pd_rd_w=8NGaZ&pd_rd_wg=qUxh9&pf_rd_p=52b7592c-2dc9-4ac6-84d4-4bda6360045e&pf_rd_r=NHWPVM79MNB6WZ08C7XK&psc=1&refRID=NHWPVM79MNB6WZ08C7XK

[Phillip Stevens]

Rick Policy wrote:

Found the DM42 on Amazon, but it’s a little more expensive than buying direct.

Just ordered one a few minutes ago.

I saw no reason to further enrichen Jeff Bezos, given it is available directly from the manufacturer.

The CHF price looked pretty reasonable, but then the AUD-CHF conversion caused my eyes to water, so I had to close them before I hit buy.

The peril of PayPal.

P.

[Richard Lewis]

I should ask these guys for commission :-)

[Joshua Kim]

Phillip, I am sorry that my question ends up with your ordering the DM42, the posh vivid calculator.  Would you show off once you receive it? For me, ignorance was bliss too.  

Richard let us so wowed to open purse. Thanks, Richard!

Regarding the Casio, the manufacturer Casio stopped manufacturing the fx-61f without a descendant. So I was looking for a new one for future use.

[Ron Pool]

I just ordered a SwissMicros DM16L.  In my order, for where I found out about SwissMicros my entry was "Richard Lewis mentioned this on retro-comp".  I really wanted to go for the DM42, but the 42's lack of selectable word size and complement mode made me pick the DM16L.  But I'll probably eventually give in and order the DM42.

[Jan Schrøder]

I ordered a DM16L.

My old but faithful Casio CM100 disappeared at some point, and the DM16L seems to be a very good replacement.

Looking forward to try some RPN machinery :)

[John Kennedy]

Me too! Curse this group and it's peer pressured purchases :-)

[Ed Thierbach]

Thankfully, I still have my CM100.  My spouse says that once I try RPN, I will not go back.  She's made some attempts to lure me to the dark side, but so far I've resisted. :-)

-Ed-

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[Phillip Stevens]

Joshua Kim wrote:

Phillip, I am sorry that my question ends up with your ordering the DM42, the posh vivid calculator.  Would you show off once you receive it? For me, ignorance was bliss too.

A few weeks have passed and a shiny new DM42 just showed up in my mail-box. I've uploaded a short unboxing video and some format (size shape) comparisons with some of my HP calculators.

https://youtu.be/oKqcaxBhhHk

Stylistically, the DM42 is a mixture of the HP35s and the HP17BII, with the HP35s open base (no fiddle across the bottom), and the HP17BII ^v arrows on the left side and soft menus across the top.

They've got the key-press almost perfect, imho. The closest feeling is the HP48G+. I do miss the beautifully moulded keys on the HP range though. The softly rounded corners on the keys of the HP17BII and HP48G+ work nicely with the slightly heavy key press. I think the sharper corners on the DM42 (they're not sharp, just not as rounded) and definite press would get a little hard on my sensitive EE fingertips after a while. ;-).

1:1 comparison.

• 35s - better injection moulding, but DM42 has better key feel. DM42 display 10x better. 35s keys are quite clicky.
• 17BII - closest format to DM42 (obv., also closest to the original 42). Softer key feel. DM42 display 10x better.
• 48G+ - better injection moulding. Closest key feel between the two, slightly heavier press than others. DM42 display 5x better.

So I was looking for a new one for future use.

Summary, open your wallet. Highly recommended.

Phillip

[Joshua Kim]

What a great review! Thanks for the detailed description.

The DM42 feature on your video looks better than the manufacturer's photo.  

I have shown SwissMicro to others around me, but no one has a real interest.  I am sure the DM42 attracts only a genuine engineer's spirit. :)

Joshua

[Richard Lewis]

David on the EEVblog also did a review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ong91Ji3iDk

Carry mine with me everyday. 

-R

[Nigel Kendrick]

I managed to win a near-pristine TI-84 Plus within a bundle of generic desktop/scientific calculators posted on eBay.I have no historic affinity with the calculator (never had one before) but, hey Z80! I'll pass some time exploring the thing and writing some assembly code.

At tech college (1982-5), I had a Casio FX-570 scientific calculator (https://www.calculator.org/calculators/Casio_fx-570.html) that included radix modes and logical operations, but nothing fancy and it wasn't programmable.

-- Nigel