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HP-71b Magnetic Reader Compartment Cover? - Printable Version

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HP-71b Magnetic Reader Compartment Cover? - cmholm - 10-21-2019 04:22 PM

Some years ago, I bought a working HP-71b that had been previously stripped of all port covers. I replaced all but the cover for the magnetic reader compartment. I've gotten tired of looking at that hole.

On Shapeways, I see that someone sells a 3d printed cover that includes "FRAM71" in raised letters. I can make that work, but before I order one, is there a source of compartment covers that I'm not aware of?

Cheers, Carl

RE: HP-71b Magnetic Reader Compartment Cover? - burkhard - 10-21-2019 11:25 PM

That FRAM71 you see was actually a "special limited production sooper-dooper get 'em while you can" super module somebody made for the 71B a few years back. The module fit in the place where the reader would be, but wasn't a reader itself. So you aren't seeing a reader cover actually.

Maybe it could still be made to work and you'd impress lots of people that you had one of those rare FRAM71 modules :-)

RE: HP-71b Magnetic Reader Compartment Cover? - Valentin Albillo - 10-22-2019 01:11 AM

(10-21-2019 04:22 PM)cmholm Wrote:  Some years ago, I bought a working HP-71b that had been previously stripped of all port covers. I replaced all but the cover for the magnetic reader compartment. I've gotten tired of looking at that hole.

Another possibility would be to try and get a 128 Kb CMT RAM module (there are also 32 Kb ones), which not only fits neatly in "that hole" but would also provide an additional 8 times the memory of the basic 16 Kb machine. See one pictured here attached to my HP-71B:

[Image: HP%20Picture%20VA713%20-%20HP-71B%20-%20DSC02391.jpg]

V.

RE: HP-71b Magnetic Reader Compartment Cover? - cdmackay - 10-22-2019 04:46 AM

(10-22-2019 01:11 AM)Valentin Albillo Wrote:  Another possibility would be to try and get a 128 Kb CMT RAM module (there are also 32

have you seen the prices of 71 bits on TAS recently? Sad

RE: HP-71b Magnetic Reader Compartment Cover? - rprosperi - 10-22-2019 01:00 PM

(10-22-2019 04:46 AM)cdmackay Wrote:  
(10-22-2019 01:11 AM)Valentin Albillo Wrote:  Another possibility would be to try and get a 128 Kb CMT RAM module (there are also 32

have you seen the prices of 71 bits on TAS recently? Sad

One of these would certainly go for well over $400 these days. It has been 2-3 years since one has been listed on eBay, so it could be even more than that. Really, really nice to have from a collecting viewpoint, but a FRAM module would be much mofe useful and flexible, and costs less. Perhaps more will become available at some point?

RE: HP-71b Magnetic Reader Compartment Cover? - cmholm - 10-24-2019 12:15 AM

I think the FRAM71 module is very cool, but I didn't become aware of it until Hans had long run out of stock. If someone wants to pass theirs on, I'm open to some haggling.

The old memory modules would be a reasonable substitute, but not at ~US$250 for a few KB.

RE: HP-71b Magnetic Reader Compartment Cover? - cdmackay - 10-24-2019 02:59 PM

(10-24-2019 12:15 AM)cmholm Wrote:  I think the FRAM71 module is very cool, but I didn't become aware of it until Hans had long run out of stock. If someone wants to pass theirs on, I'm open to some haggling.

The old memory modules would be a reasonable substitute, but not at ~US$250 for a few KB.

Sadly, I think there are several of us desperate to get our hands on an FRAM71 so, at auction, the prices would be keen as we bid against each other.

I see there's a few CMT-71 modules on TAS, again at silly prices. I'm not sure whether these overpriced items sell (those from a small number of sellers inflating prices since they seem to have all the stock, no doubt bought cheaply before we saw them), or whether they just sit there indefinitely. $100 for a case, or a single manual, plus outrageous shipping costs… Sad

RE: HP-71b Magnetic Reader Compartment Cover? - Dave Frederickson - 10-24-2019 03:03 PM

Adam Jones has been machining these out of aluminum lately.

[Image: s-l640.jpg]

RE: HP-71b Magnetic Reader Compartment Cover? - cmholm - 10-24-2019 03:45 PM

(10-24-2019 03:03 PM)Dave Frederickson Wrote:  Adam Jones has been machining these out of aluminum lately.

Neat! I'll contact him. Thanks, Dave.