Recommend a hex calculator?

I've been using a Casio FX-115D for more than 5 years, so it may no longer be available.

Mode-0 for decimal Mode-1 for base N (hexadecimal by default).

In base N mode 6 of the scientific function keys are used for A through F digits, with a single key press.

It takes only a single key press to convert from hex to decimal You can also do octal and binary---but I never use those.

It has a little solar panel, so I've never had to put batteries in it. IIRC, it was about $20.

I think there are still variations of the FX-115 out there for about $20.

Mark Borgerson

I am using a Texas Instruments TI-36X Regular scientific calc functions + 2-key presses to switch bases (Dec, Hex, Oct) Arithmetic + AND, OR, XOR, XNOR. Not great, but good enough. (At around $15?)

Roberto Waltman

The 36X doesn't look bad. It's almost as good as my old TI-34 (which is about as good as I've used except for an HP model (11 or 16?) that I haven't seen around for 20+ years).

I was looking at the two-line 36X-II, but it requires two keystrokes for digits A-F in hex mode.

Ah yes, I think I remember using one of those many years ago. It always took me two or three trips through the mode list to find the one I wanted, but once in base-N mode it was decent.

Thanks for reminding about the Casios.

The HP 6S has a good HEX mode ?

-JG

I *hate* the Casio method of requiring a "mode switch" to change from "computation" mode to "base" mode. Work through a chain of calculations and need to convert the result to hex? Better write it down first or remember to save it in a register. Forgot? Oops, do it all again.

The Sharp, TI, and HP calculators I've used recently (certainly not all of them) do let you use [meta-key]+[hex] to swap bases without losing the current result, a method I overwhelmingly prefer.

What you probably really want is an HP-16C (or its direct lineal descendant which, unfortunately, doesn't exist either).

The best I've found recently, though, is the freeware EasyCalc for the Palm OS. One of the few that preserve a radix-point when shifting bases.

Plenty of new TI-34's on ebay.

I prefer the 34. I think the 36 requires you to specify which memory when doing a STO or RCL, which I find annoying.

Yea, that's one of the things I don't like much about the Casios.

I think I'll browse eBay for a new TI-34.

I had one of those back in the Early 80s, but it belonged to my Employer, and they kept pretty close track of them (IIRC, they cost well over $100 each).

Interesting.

It looks like the new ones all TI-34II's which don't have support for hex/octal/binary. I see two used TI-34's. One of them claims to be "new" but it's clearly not in it's original packaging. It's a gift for somebody, so used is out of the question.

The TI-34 is probably my favorite except for the old HP-16, but finding one of those isn't easy.

Doesn't seem to work that way on my FX115. If I do a series of calculations in Mode 0 (decimal), then press mode, 1, the number appears in hex. If I then press mode, 0, the number is converted back to decimal. Hex number do only work with integers, though, so converting to hex truncates an FP number with a fractional part. When you go back to decimal, you end up with the integer.

Which Casio were you using? Switching modes on the FX-115 certainly doesn't lose the current result.

Mark Borgerson

This is comp.arch.embedded: make your own!

The low end HP-33s is crummy in many other ways (large programming memory, but only 26 variables, no casio-like editor), but it at least allows you to switch bases easily and allows you to enter digits with only single key-presses.

I have the fx-115W. When you switch between "base" mode and "comp" mode the display goes to zero and you lose the edit line. However you can hit "Ans" to get back the previous result. I think my old Fx-4000 does this too.

Obviously different calculators despite the '115' part of the model number. My FX-115D only has a one-line display and there is no 'answer' button. Seems that they've taken a step backwards in the last few years.

Mark Borgerson

Casio have a range of calculators available that are not only capable of doing the hex, octal and binary and converting between the bases but are also solar powered.

I like RPN for the Palm, it isn't free but doesn't cost much.

Leon

Sharp also has a number of calculators that have the same capability. I have an older EL-506A which I find very convenient to use but it has developed a glitch which is sometimes disabling.

I recently obtained EL-506W that is much the same but is solar-powered with backup batteries but it more of an algebraic notation and not quite as convenient. I agree with others who think the "ANS" key is a step backward.

There's another HP clone for iPAQ, IIRC.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

I have the pleasure of having two HP-16s in my possession, but I also use a HP-16 simulator on both my Pocket PC and my Windows PC: