HP Forums

Full Version: "Dispute" oder HP-48GX SN
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.

Hi there,

a colleague of mine and I got into a discussion over a serial number on his black LCD HP-48GX. It bears the SN ID3XX... and according to the information given on hpcalc.org the unit should have been manufactured in 1993. However, I doubted this and seem to recall, that the new serial numbers were introduced in 1997 an that therefore his 48GX should have been manufactured in 2003. At least the black LCD would be a strong indication for this later year of production. Can anyone of the HP-48 experts clearify this for us?

Thanks in advance,
Timo

The hpcalc.org article you linked clearly states that the new SN system started in 1997, as you said you recalled. So 2003 is the answer.

I don't remember when the HP 48GX was officially discontinued. My latest one was made in 1997 in Singapore (S/N SG724xxxxx). IIRC, the HP 49G successor appeared in 1998 or 1999.

Regardless of all that, stocks of replacement calculators were made for years after the models were officially discontinued. Most HP calculators since the Pioneers are officially non-repairable and must be replaced to fulfill warranty. Units were made after discontinuance in order to fulfill this HP obligation to "repair" (replace) units that were still under warranty after the specific model was discontinued. For example, I've seen 1997 ID7xxxxxxx HP 42S units, a model discontinued in 1995.

It is likely the unit in question was made as a post-discontinuance warranty-fulfillment unit. Some of these warranty stocks seem to have been released for general sales after the obligation expired. AFAIK, these units did not come with manuals or case. They show up on ebay sometimes.


Edited: 10 Mar 2011, 11:57 a.m.

Hi Timo,

it's 2003 in this case;-)

I bought my HP-48G+ Turbo new in late November 2003 at Dynatech,
and up to then, the HP-48G+/GX units
were regular stock at Dynatech,
not service replacements. They also said they had several in stock.

However at the beginning of 2004, I wanted to buy another new HP-48GX,
but sales seemed to have been very good that stocks were empty then...I should have bought two in the first place.

Regards

Raymond

Quote:
It is likely the unit in question was made as a post-discontinuance warranty-fulfillment unit. Some of these warranty stocks seem to have been released for general sales after the obligation expired. AFAIK, these units did not come with manuals or case. They show up on ebay sometimes.

Mike, you are correct on HP's behavior up to about year 2000. They did in fact support the 42S for five years past the point of discontinuance. It was dropped in 1995 and they continued to build units in Indonesia until year 2000. Sometime in 2002, IIRC, they sold off the remaining service spares for $92 each. Some of us here were lucky enough to grab one or more.

Coming back to the GX, the unit in question was not a service spare as they were actively sold until 2003 when it died a quick death along with the remaining models (including the 32Sii) when they ceased all calculator production internally. The interesting note here is that they had only a small inventory of spares when they did this. I believe they did not make it to the end of the one year warranty period before running out of replacements for the GX and 32Sii. In some cases, I heard they offered cash refunds. So much for the five year service window. Gone. Forget about it. Carly is in the house...

As for the remaining service spares, they did have a bunch of 12C and 48G+'s spares which they sold at auction when they converted just about every thing that wasn't nailed down to generate cash to buy Compaq.

Thanks much for the clarifying historical details, Randy. I incorrectly assumed there was a consistent program for repair spares for all the "non-repairable" Pioneers and HP 48-series machines after discontinuance, and I thought the 48GX was discontinued before 2003. I seem to recall vaguely that this was announced in late 2002, but I'm probably wrong.

With the recent HP 30b, at least it *appears* that HP is returning to a case design that is designed to be opened. (But...I haven't tried to open mine.) It may be that some things are getting better.

Did those "repair spare" HP 42S units that were sold for $92 come with manuals? I suppose all were firmware version C.

Quote:
Did those "repair spare" HP 42S units that were sold for $92 come with manuals? I suppose all were firmware version C.

They certainly did not come with manuals - I got one. They came in an otherwise empty brown box. If you can tell me how to check the firmware version, I will do so.

Quote:
With the recent HP 30b, at least it *appears* that HP is returning to a case design that is designed to be opened. (But...I haven't tried to open mine.)

I've opened my 20b in order to fit a JTAG connector. The calculator cannot be repaired beyond the point of replacing it. Behind the back of the case there is just a heat staked sandwich of board, keys and display.

Hi again,

I did not expect to kick off such a discussion, but thanks for the multiple feedbacks! I certainly do learn a lot here on the forum...

Quote:
They certainly did not come with manuals - I got one...
...tell me how to check the firmware version, I will do so.

That's what I'd heard...no manuals. It makes sense, and for the price, it was a great value even without a manual. Does it have an S/N starting with ID7xxxxxxx?

Here's how to determine firmware revision on some Pioneers:

(For models that don't have keys labeled the same as the HP 42S, use that machine's keys which are in the same physical location.)

0. Turn calculator ON. :-)

1. Push EXIT and LOG at same time.

--Starts step-wise self-tests.

2. Push <- (left arrow).

--Displays HEX firmware debugger.

--Example Pioneer displays show 16 nybbles of memory beginning at location:

-----Nybble 023F1 on HP 42S Rev. A

-----Nybble 023F5 on HP 42S Rev. C

-----Nybble 021E8 on HP 17BII Rev. B

3. Push . (period).

--Executes firmware at location shown.

--Letter that then momentarily appears on LCD at left is the firmware revision.

--Display reverts back to HEX display after a few seconds.

4. Repeat step 3 to see revision again, if desired.

5. Push EXIT and SQRT at same time to exit test/debug mode.

--Harmless "Machine Reset" message appears (no memory loss).



The HP 32SII does not have a similar debugger.

The HP 48SX has a similar debugger, while the HP 48GX does not.

RAM locations can be modified with the debugger. Example: On the HP 42S, changing contents of nybble 40300 from 7 (default) to F will (temporarily) double CPU speed. Value resets to 7 after next machine reset.


Edited: 11 Mar 2011, 2:58 p.m. after one or more responses were posted

Where would one find documentatin on the HP48SX debugger?

Tia,
TomC

Many here are more knowledgeable than I, but to find the 48SX firmware version the method is similar to that described above:

0. Turn calculator ON.

1. Push ON and D at same time.

--Starts step-wise self-tests.

2. Push <- (left arrow).

--Displays HEX firmware debugger.

--Example: HP 48SX Rev. E displays 16 nybbles of memory beginning at nybble 705D9.

3. Push EVAL.

--Executes firmware at location shown.

--Display momentarily shows (for Rev. E example):

----Version HP48-E

----Copyright HP 1989

--Display reverts back to HEX display after a few seconds.

4. Repeat step 3 to see revision again, if desired.

5. Push ON and C at same time to exit test/debug mode.

For the 48GX and most later, type VERSION to get the same info:

-------Version HP48-R

----Copyright HP 1993


Edited: 11 Mar 2011, 12:36 p.m.

Ser # is ID13400073

Firmware is version C, per above instructions.

Quote:
I did not expect to kick off such a discussion...

Not too unusual with this group.

Wow! An HP 42S made in late 2001. That's the latest that I've ever heard about.

These (the replacement units that went on sale as HP "parts") were probably the very last ones made.

Who else has one and can check the SN?

Actual replacement unit, obtained in 2001: ID027027xx

Greetings,
Massimo