Using 9114 with Series 80 - Possible? Message #1 Posted by Mike on 8 July 2006, 11:36 p.m.
I have an auction running, for a 9114B. In the auction I mention that you can use it with the Series 80, with an HP-IL interface. However, someone pointed out this might not be true. I just assumed it was because the Series 80 does have an HP-IL interface.
So, this is a good theoritical question.
My feeling is that the HP-IL interface knows nothing about controllers or devices that might be used with the HP-IL chip set or the interface. Therefore, it seems logical that any controller, should be able to talk to any device, assuming full implementation of HP-IL is in the interface.
All that a controller does, is read and write to registers in the HP-IL controller chip. All that a device does is access data in these registers. So, it's just a matter of putting the right data in the necessary registers.
I do understand that the data must be sent in a format, as expected by the 9114B. Clearly, any controller must know something about the format of the data and storage media, before it could use the storage device. But that doesn't mean the controller couldn't use it. Just that some programming might be necessary, in BASIC or Assembly or such.
So, can a Series 80 (85, 86 or 87) read or write to a 9114? If not why not? I just can't imagine how a controller would not be capable of using any HP-IL device. If there is not a specific read/write command (for a 9114), it seems that it could be programmed in BASIC or assembly rather easily. What are the limitations using the 9114B with the Series 80?
Edited: 8 July 2006, 11:43 p.m.
|