41 Series PACs

[Ron]

Do all the application/memory extension pacs work with all the 41's, or are some of them only usable with a particular calc? If the pacs are picky about the calcs, is there a place I can find out what pacs work with what calcs?

Thanx.
Ron

[Randy Smith]

There are certain pacs you don't need to use with certain calcs such as memory or quad memory modules with the CV or CX as they already have the max memory internal. Also, you don't use the extended functions module or the timer module with the CX as it already has the functions internal. There are certain modules that need to have other items to be of any use. The HPIL module is one of those. It is of very limited use without any IL accessories such as the 82162 thermal printer or the 82161 cassette drive. There are others as well that are of only limited use. There are also labeling conflicts within the pacs themselves where some pacs won't work right if you have other pacs or peripherals attached. For example, if you have the HPIL module attached and the print function is not defeated and you also have an 82143 thermal printer attached your calc will most likely lock up if you try to print. This is by no means an exhaustive list just some examples but I hope it helps. Randy

[Thibaut.be]

Well, I can only confirm what you said, but to focus on Ron's question, you have to know that there are 2 main kinds of extensions you can add on a 41 series :

- application pacs, which are software developed by HP that can be used on any 41 (provided for some applications you have enough memory on a C, one ore more memory module smight be needed to run certain application)
- what I call hardware, are extension pacs such as memory modules, xfunction modules, IL modules, that can be plugged harmless to all 41 series, but won't function with all of these are some are redundant (xfuctions for a CX, memories for CV and CX, ...)

[Ion Abraham (New Mexico USA)]

Hello,

I just wanted to make sure I understand a part of your answer to the PACs question. So the memory modules (single or quad) will not increase the available program memory on the HP-41CV and CX?
Also, while I'm at it, I thought I would add that the Math/Stat combination PAC is very similar to the Advantage PAC. I have found the Math/Stat PAC to be the more useful, though I have both PACs plugged into a CX, and have never encountered conflicts.

Ion Abraham
Albuquerque, New Mexico

[Andrés C. Rodríguez (Argentina)]

Memory modules (single, quad, and even the elusive "double" which was not an HP product) are only useable on a HP41C. The -CV and -CX have the maximum RAM on-board already.

Extended Functions (X Functions) module is useable on a -41C and -CV, not in a -CX, which has the extended functions on-board already. The X Functions module also adds some "extended memory"; which is CMOS memory but is addressed not as RAM but more like a "solid state floppy disk", so to speak.

Extended Memory (X Mem) modules are useable on a -41C or -CV with the previous existence of a Extended Functions module; or in a -CX. They add more extended memory registers.

[Thibaut.be]

You're right, no conflict happens between the advantage pac and th ememory module. While the adv. pac present basically a lot of maths programs, quite similar to the math pac, the math pac is more detailed. In addition, th advantage pac show other application.

They can be used together wihtout any problem, provided that if you're working with a C they are installed in the next high position after the last memory module.

[Randy Smith]

If there are any potential conflicts between pacs they are listed in the user's manual for the pac. Such as routines with the same name in different pacs. Randy

[db (la tierra prometeda)]

yes, the quad is contained in the cv, just as the cx is a c with a quad and an extended functions rom (and a time chip). niether a second quad or a second ex. fnc. mod will do you any good. i know at least one program (the matrix one) is different in the math pac from the adventage rom but they have different names so there is no problem there. if you discover that you can't access a program in one module because you get sent to another module that has a different program with the same name then switch thier order. ie. chip in port 1 goes in port 2 and chip in port 2 goes in port 1. that will fix 99% of that kind of problem. i have a couple of roms that have to be in a certain order but thats another problem but you just have to keep the ducks in a row, so it's no problem. isn't 1979 technology wonderful? i've used mine daily for 18 years and although it's still the best there is, it still looses me sometimes.

[db]

ron; to answer your question, the ones by hp were intended to. now the addendums: there are weird bugs like one of the ones that Jedrzejowicz describes as the "fading crash" that "is due to the interaction of the printer with the time module and the extended functions." if you execute "FMT" without having the printer attached and enabled, the display fades out temporarily. both d'zign software and tds produced ROM's for surveying that needed a cx or at least an extended functions chip. i assume "ramss" has the same needs but i dont know. another thing you have to watch out for is rom numbers. if you have two that are the same, the second one (in the 41's order of access) won't be found. this happens when the tds rom and the optical wand are combined; in this case the wand dosn't function. so don't assume that a rom dosn't work with your calcer until you try it alone. there is a list of rom numbers somewhere but i dont remember where. about the list you were asking about; if you make one we will read it.