Re: HP-41 Wand: scanning from monitor? Message #11 Posted by Vassilis Prevelakis on 16 Feb 2012, 9:42 a.m., in response to message #10 by Diego Diaz
ho ho this brings back old memories.
it was back in 1983 or 1984 when I was trying to see how to get data into my HP-41C without actually typing it in when I investigated using the Wand as an input device (without going through the process of printing the barcode and scanning it manually).
So I used Blue Tac to anchor my wand over the "CAPS LOCK" LED on my BBC microcomputer and then wrote a program to flash the LED simulating various types of barcode. I remember being able to download entire programs, compiled using modified versions of the programs included in the HP Book "Creating your own Barcode" (available on the MoHPC DVD).
The Blue Tac also prevented stray light from confusing the sensor.
The only problem was that I had to press the key on the wand before sending each bar code.
I then came across the data sheet of the
HEDS-3000 Wand
(a version of the Wand designed for connection to other computers) and realized that the HP-41 Wand was a HEDS-3000 connected to the special connector with the ROM and interface.
(more info on the HEDS-3000 are in the Jan.1981 HP Journal)
So I disassembled the connector and disconnected the cable. I then added connectors to both ends so that I could use the Wand as before.
Alternatively I could disconnect the interface connector and connect the Wand cable to the user port of the BBC (essentially a parallel port) and use the Wand as an input device of my BBC (I remember writing a program to read some barcode from BYTE magazine in HP-41 format). I also used the Wand to read BBC programs distributed in barcode format by the BBC-User magazine.
I also connected the interface connector of the Wand to the BBC so that I could use the BBC to send data and programs to the HP-41. I do not recall actually doing anything with that. It could be because I didn't have the time or I somehow was too scared to connect my precious HP-41C directly to another computer ( I remember the HEDS data sheet suggested using a transient voltage suppression device - Transzorb - between the HEDS and the computer and I didn't have these parts at the time).
**vp
Edited: 16 Feb 2012, 10:52 a.m.
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