HP49G+ Firmware

May 2005                                                

Type:                     Firmware

Version:                 2.00

Build:                     v.50

Date:                      5 May 2005

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows ME, Microsoft Windows XP

Description:

This package contains the latest version of the HP49G+ ROM (v.50).

This new version now offers:

• Increased number of usable screen lines for graphing and general work

• Added SD card format functionality in file manager

• Added FAT32 support for SD cards

• Added HP equation library

Undocumented Updates:

• A completely rewritten Keyboard Handler to reduce the number of Missed Keystrokes

• Much better support for the full 80 Line Screen (Includes the Status Area)

• Compatibility for 1GB SD Flash Cards (FAT32)

• Alarms Improved

• Many Other Bug Fixes

• ROM v2.00 is 128KB larger than ROM v1.23

• The Equation Library can be deleted.  They are made up of two User Libraries (226 & 227) in Port 2

Geocalc Software - Bug Fixes

September 2004 (v3.1 Date Revision only)

• Level Module - ADJ2 [HP49G, HP48GII, HP49G+ only].  Fixes R->I bug and allows adjustment to process.

August 2004 (v3.1 Date Revision only)

• Coord Module - Store Point, Follow On.  Fixes VTYPE error and allows to record a new point.

• Coord Module - M->PT (CDS Matrix to Pts) [HP49G, HP48GII, HP49G+ only]. During point storage and overwriting an existing point, fixes point storage number.  eg ".2" and not ".2.000"

July 2004 (v3.1 Date Revision only)

• Coord Module, Transfer a TXT file from a PC to a HP48 or HP49.  Now includes compatibility to upload an ASCII coord file using the new Windows based "HP48, 49 Calculator Connectivity Kit" instead of the old DOS based "Kermit" software.  Supports file downloads up to 1700 points in a single ASCII file for the HP49G+.

April 2004

• From Close Module, Data Entry, going to the View menu, exiting out returns you to Data Entry page 2 of 2, rather than page 1 of 2.

• From Coord Module, Coord Input, entering a coord for the first time, the default point number is “1” and not “1.000”

Geocalc Software - Enhancements

May 2005 (v3.2 Version Update)

• Allows compatibility with Firmware Update version 2.00

• v3.2 created to allow single version with HP49G, HP48GII, HP49G+

July 2004

• From Coord Module, Coord Input - Default Point number, Easting and Northing option removed because of customer request.  Entry lines are now blank.  No need to erase the last entries when entering new coords.

April 2004

• Implementation of the KEYTIME Feature (Missed Keystrokes)

What is this about "Missed Keystrokes"?  I'm glad you asked.

I'll try my best to explain it in basic terms:

The HP49 series (HP49G, HP48GII & HP49G+) are quite smart calculators.  They have a feature built into the keyboard called the "Anti-Bounce System".  This feature effectively determines weather keys have been pressed one or more times relative to a delay parameter calculated via the clock.

All the older model calculators such as the HP48 series never had this problem.  When a key was detected as down, the system waits 1/10 of a second, checking the key, in order to ensure that they were not bouncing.  This is one of the reasons why the HP48 was going slower when a key was pressed.

On the HP49, the anti-bounce system is different.  When the system detects a key as down, it puts the entry into the keyboard buffer, and saves the current time into a special variable.  If the system detects a key as down, before entry into the keyboard buffer, it performs a calculation.  This calculation being:  { (current time - saved time ) > constant }.  If the equation is true, it means that the key has been pressed twice, otherwise it means the key just bounced (and the key is not entered into the keyboard buffer).

You can adjust the constant using the KEYTIME command.  A valid number between 0 and 4096 is required.  For example if you set KEYTIME to 4096 and press the same key fast, you will see that you cannot get anymore than 2 valid key presses per second.  Set the KEYTIME to 0 and you get every key press.  The default value is 1365.  You'll need to experiment with this to find what works best for you.

I have added a routine to page 2 of 2 of the SETUP Module as an easy way to change this number.

Why did HP create this feature?  

Good question!  The new models operate at vastly higher speeds and can detect changes to the nth of a second.  We all use our calculators at different speeds.  Some of us are as slow as turtles while some of us are as super fast as the hare.  Some of us use our calculators delicately and some of us with brute force. 

Tell me, have you often wondered why it's possible to change the double click speed of your mouse on your PC?  I assume it's for the same reason!

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