HP Forum Archive 21

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A still missing feature in WP-34S (please read on) Message #1 Posted by Andrés C. Rodríguez (Argentina) on 24 May 2012, 8:07 a.m. The WP-34S is an incredible project, surprising me almost everyday with new features, accuracy and optimizations. It's indeed a RPN user dream made true! And now, it even support IR printing! But one feature is missing from its HP-41 and 42 heritage. A prominent one, as important as to be assigned a permanent postition in the 41 uncluttered faceplate... I'm talking about BEEP, and its sister function TONE. Would it be possible, for the people developing small daughterboards, to include the little circuitry needed to drive a piezo buzzer? I assume that BEEP and 10 standard TONEs will take little code space and reasonable development effort . Even ALARM may be supported, leveraging already available timing functions (alas, power management may be a big issue here, so it may be too hard to include this last idea). Just my AR$ 0.10

Re: A still missing feature in WP-34S (please read on) Message #2 Posted by Paul Dale on 24 May 2012, 8:22 a.m., in response to message #1 by Andrés C. Rodríguez (Argentina) There is a pinned out timer still I think, so some audio output would be a possible addition, at least theoretically. Likely needing a transistor and a resistor or two to provide enough current. We definitely wouldn't limit ourselves to 10 tones, although I'm not sure what exactly would be implemented. BEEP is harder to justify, it is four instructions to implement as a keystroke program. Doing this would use up one of the few external lines pinned out so something else would likely not be possible. ALARM isn't going to fly though. At least not with the current architecture. - Pauli

Re: A still missing feature in WP-34S (please read on) Message #3 Posted by BruceH on 25 May 2012, 7:37 a.m., in response to message #2 by Paul Dale Quote: We definitely wouldn't limit ourselves to 10 tones, although I'm not sure what exactly would be implemented. In keeping with the "everything and the kitchen sink" philosophy of the WP-34S, I suggest that the end result will be an enhancement pack that looks a bit like this. ;-)

Re: A still missing feature in WP-34S (please read on) Message #4 Posted by Ciaran Brady on 25 May 2012, 8:10 a.m., in response to message #3 by BruceH laughed out loud :-)

Re: A still missing feature in WP-34S (please read on) Message #5 Posted by Walter B on 25 May 2012, 8:12 a.m., in response to message #3 by BruceH Thanks, Bruce! Learned another idiom :-) For size reasons, we are a bit limited however: minimum (!) frequency will be some 850 Hz if we stick to your proposal ...

Re: A still missing feature in WP-34S (please read on) Message #6 Posted by Jim Horn on 25 May 2012, 11:23 a.m., in response to message #3 by BruceH Hate to add a sour note but I doubt you'll convince the team to add Windows to their design. OK, I'll pipe down now...

Re: A still missing feature in WP-34S (please read on) Message #7 Posted by Paul Dale on 25 May 2012, 7:28 p.m., in response to message #3 by BruceH I've been wanting to make a wooden one of these for a while. Just have to convince my wife we've got the space. - Pauli

Pipe organ project, was: Re: A still missing feature in WP-34S... Message #8 Posted by Dale Reed on 25 May 2012, 8:35 p.m., in response to message #7 by Paul Dale I've always enjoyed the Blue Man Group and their instruments, especially the ones made of plain white PVC pipe. Wish I could build a pipe organ out of that, with a whole bunch of clicky solenoid valves. Then, of course, put its controller on HP-IL so my 41CV could play it. Teaching it Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (BWV 565) would be a "hoot". (sorry) And like you, Pauli, I have NO idea where I'd put the thing. Maybe in the atrium at work for employees to play at lunchtime... Dale

Re: Pipe organ project, was: Re: A still missing feature in WP-34S... Message #9 Posted by Garth Wilson on 25 May 2012, 9:18 p.m., in response to message #8 by Dale Reed Quote: Then, of course, put its controller on HP-IL so my 41CV could play it. Teaching it Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (BWV 565) would be a "hoot". (sorry) I did some of it on the HP-71 in the late 1980's, one voice only, with the NOISE LEX keyword. I called my musician sister and left a message on the answering machine. The tape cut it off before it was done and didn't leave enough time to talk at the end but she knew who it had to be anyway and roared with laughter.

Re: Pipe organ project, was: Re: A still missing feature in WP-34S... Message #10 Posted by Jim Horn on 26 May 2012, 12:25 a.m., in response to message #9 by Garth Wilson Wow - the NOISE LEX file! That was written by my brilliant co-worker at HP at the time (ca. 1985), Steve Williams. You can see some of what he's done outside work at: http://cafefoundation.org/v2/aboutcafe_cafeboard.php#steve He was a whiz with his HP-71. Great guy. Much like many that I've met via this forum. Best to all!

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