The Museum of HP Calculators

HP Forum Archive 15

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OT: PRM-85 Goodness
Message #1 Posted by Howard Owen on 2 Dec 2005, 6:22 p.m.

Just got my PRM-85 programmable ROM card for the HP Series 80. THe "SuperROM85" that comes with it is a 27512 EPROM containing the following:

    Advanced Programming
    Assembler
    Service-85
    Program Development
    Mass Storage
    Matrix
    Input/Output
    Extended Mass Storage

To get the card working in my HP-85B, I had to remove the jumpers for the Mass Storage and Input/Output ROMS, as these are built-in on that model. But once I did that, I was able to access an HP 9122 double sided disk from the 85B! Now I get to start learning about all those other ROMS. 8)

Next I also get to figure out what it will take to get an EPROM burner set up so I can create a SuperROM for my 87XM. What a hassle, I have to learn how to do all this cool stuff. 8) 8)

Thanks to John Shadbolt for turning me on to this great device, and of course to Bill Kostaka for the design and production!

Regards,
Howard

      
Re: OT: PRM-85 Goodness
Message #2 Posted by Jack Rubin on 3 Dec 2005, 1:19 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Owen

Got mine on Wednesday but only got to my 85B today - really nothing to add to Howard's review. A slick piece of work that delivers as advertised. Thanks to John and Bill.

Now I'm looking for a case to mount the card in - anybody have a blown 128K memory card or interface module? I just need the shell - the PRM-85 has the same form factor as the "long" HP modules (vs the "short" 16K case).

Great stuff - get one!

      
Re: OT: PRM-85 Goodness
Message #3 Posted by john on 9 Dec 2005, 2:57 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Owen

Howard,

I am working on a HP-86 SuperROM with the following built in:

Advanced Programming Assembler Advanced Programming 2 (*) Matrix 2 (*) Plotter (*) Matrix I/O Extended Mass Storage

(*) - Due to the design of the PRM-85 (version 1), only 2 of these ROMs can be enabled at any time.

I'll send you one next week with instructions, Regards, John

            
Re: OT: PRM-85 Goodness
Message #4 Posted by Howard Owen on 9 Dec 2005, 3:01 p.m.,
in response to message #3 by john

Great, John! Would you like me to send you a blank EPROM in return? Anything else? (Postcard? 8)

            
Re: OT: PRM-85 Goodness
Message #5 Posted by Jack on 12 Dec 2005, 11:02 a.m.,
in response to message #3 by john

John,

I'd be interested in the 86/87 superROM as well - please send details.

Thanks!

                  
Re: OT: PRM-85 Goodness
Message #6 Posted by john on 16 Dec 2005, 5:46 p.m.,
in response to message #5 by Jack

Hi,

SuperROM for your HP-86/87s are now in the post. Details on installation being worked on now,

Regards, John

                        
Re: OT: PRM-85 Goodness
Message #7 Posted by Howard Owen on 16 Dec 2005, 7:13 p.m.,
in response to message #6 by john

Wow, thank you, John!

                              
Re: OT: PRM-85 Goodness
Message #8 Posted by marais on 17 Dec 2005, 3:27 a.m.,
in response to message #7 by Howard Owen

I can confirm reception of my board, and I must say, I am really impressed with the build quality. Thank you John! I will now look out for an empty housing to protect the board.

Andreas

                        
Re: OT: PRM-85 Goodness
Message #9 Posted by john on 17 Dec 2005, 5:12 p.m.,
in response to message #6 by john

Hi,

I have updated the PRM-85 user guide at:

http://www.vintagecomputers.freeserve.co.uk/hp85/prm85user.htm
Note the change with the new boards, in that the black DIL switches are the opposite as described previously, so that ON is now '0' and OFF is '1'.
I have also described how to use the HP-87 SuperROM, and made it available for download.
Regards,
John

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