hp48 Explorer uses the Kermit protocol to communicating with the hp48 calculator. There is a public domain implementation of Kermit which can communicate with the hp48. This can send low level Kermit commands to the hp48 and is a good tool for determining if there is a problem with hp48 Explorer.
Here's the basic philosophy, issue a simple command using the Kermit program. If that command succeeds and hp48 Explorer is still not working this means one of two things:
Run the simple Kermit test.
if it succeeds either:
- The hp48 Explorer communications settings do not match the hp48 calculator.
- There is a bug in hp48 Explorer.
- The serial port on the computer is not properly configured.
- The serial port on the hp48 calculator is not properly configured.
- The server is not running on the hp48 calculator.
- The cable is bad.
The simple Kermit test
- If you don't have an implementation of Kermit for your system the get
a copy of Kermit and put it on your system. If it hasn't been moved you can find
a copy at
http://www.columbia.edu/kermit.
This works under both Windows 95 and NT 4.0.
- open up a command prompt and start kermit
- set the port to the port that you have the hp48 calculator communications
cable set to. If your port is COM1, the set to port 1, for COM2, set to 2, etc. :
- set the port port speed to 9600 baud which your calculator should also be set to:
- Issue a remote directory listing command:
If this succeeds then you should get a directory listing of the current directory on your hp48 calculator. The final command prompt window should look something like:
Note: there are subtle differences between the hp48 SX and GX, but if you get a response that looks anything like then then it is probably working just fine.