The HP 9830 is a general purpose, desk-top calculator with the power and peripherals necessary to solve complex engineering problems, provide reports for accounting services, generate medical diagnoses... in other words, compute answers for a wide range of applications.

The 9830 provides you with a standard read/write memory of 4K bytes, expandable to 16K bytes. And it has a built-in BASIC language compiler which provides an additional 16K bytes of hard-wired memory. You can further expand the computational capacity and peripheral control functions with read-only-memory (ROM) modules. Using the ROM's and expanded memory features, the 9830 becomes a 48K-byte computing calculator.

Complementing the memory is a built-in cassette providing an additional 64K bytes of data or program storage. Your programs or data can be entered into the 9830 by cassette or by the typewriter-like keyboard. During calculator programming or programming execution, the 32-character LED display gives you crisp, alphanumeric messages or presents results.

The 9830 is designed to allow you to easily configure a system to meet your present needs and still allow for expansion to meet future needs. You can choose from tape readers, tape punches, typewriters, line and page printers, digitizers, plotters, data communications interfaces, cassette memories, a 4.8M byte mass memory subsystem, and a selection of general purpose interface cards, plus pre-recorded softare Pacs.

Dynamic Range:		+1099 to +10-99, 0, -10-99 to -1099
R/W Memory:		3,520 bytes
Opt. 275:		7,616 bytes
Opt. 276:		15,808 bytes
Cassette Memory:		64,000 bytes
Search Speed:		660 mm/sec (bidirectional)
Read/Write Speed:		250 mm/sec
Read/Write Rate:		347 bytes/sec
Tape Length:		90 m
Error Check:		Check Sum
File Length:		Programmable

The HP 9830 calculator design allows the addition of up to eight Read-Only-Memory modules. Five may be added as external plug-ins, three as internal plug-ins. Add-on ROMs provide additional capabilities to the 9830, permitting extension of the BASIC language with little change in the amount of read/write memory available to the user. There is no difference in the operation of a ROM whether installed externally or internally. It is a simple matter of available space and design.

Part Number		Name		Description
HP 11270		Matrix Operations		Allows the user to add the matrix capability commonly found in BASIC to the 9830 calculator.
HP 11271		Plotter Control		Provides the HP 9830 Calculator with the additional commands that are necessary for easy control of the 9862 plotter.
HP 11272		Extended I/O		Allows the user to command a wide variety of peripheral devices with the 9830 Calculator. The most important features in this ROM are the enter/output statements and an automatic code conversion capability. The ENTER statement enables the calculator to receive data from an external device. The OUTPUT statement is a general-purpose means to send data or coded commands to an external device.
HP 11273		Mass Memory Control		Designed for use with the HP 9880 Mass Memory Subsystem. This ROM enables the 9830 calculator to generate the necessary commands to write into, and read from the mass memory.
HP 11274		String Variables		Allows the 9830 to accept and manipulate alphabetical, as well as numerical, information. The 11274 ROM expands the language of the 9830 to include string variables.
HP 11277		Terminal 1		The HP 11277 Terminal 1 ROM (along with the HP 11206A Modem Interface Card) allows the 9830 calculator to be used in conjunction with a modem or acoustic coupler as a terminal to a remote time-share system. Basically, the ROM makes the calculator work like a teleprinter when communicating with a time-share system.
HP 11278		Batch BASIC		Enables the 9830 calculator to interpret Educational BASIC Cards (HP Part No. 9320-2051) using the 9869A Calculator Card Reader. A number of different programs can be 'stacked' and executed consecutively without further instructions from the calculator keyboard.
HP 11279		Advanced Programming 1		Provides the user with selective language extensions to the 9830 BASIC language. These language extensions are as follows: Improved program documentation with a cross reference list of all variables Programmable audible beep Storage of strings in numeric arrays Assignment of an octal number to a variable - mainly used with the extended I/O ROM and masking operations Emulation of a standard typewriter keyboard with the 9830 keyboard for data input and to output to a device capable of printing both uppercase and lowercase letters All or partial cassette duplication
HP 11283		HP 9871A Printer Control		Provides additional statements to the vocabulary of the 9830 that permit simple control of the HP 9871A Printer.
HP 11289		Advanced Programming 2		Provides increased performance in the operation of the 9830 in commercial and large data base operations.
HP 11296		Data Comm 1 Interface Control		Along with the HP Interface Cable (HP 11284), provides basic data communications, including 9830-to-9830 and 9830-to-terminal commuunication.
HP 11297		Data Comm 2 Binary Synchronous		Along with the HP Interface Cable (HP 11284) and the HP 11296 ROM, the 9830 can communicate with a computer as a programmable binary synchronous terminal.
HP 11298		Data Comm 3 Interactive		Along with the HP Interface Cable (HP 11284) and the HP 11296 ROM, it allows the 9830 calculator to look like an initeractive teleprinter to a time-sharing computer.

With some interface configurations it is necessary to install additional read-only-memory (ROM) in the calculator. A range of special purpose ROM's are made for the 9830 and the calculator has provision for the installation of them without the need for any modifications.

Part Number		Name		Description
HP 11202A		I/O Interface		When used with the Extended I/O ROM, the 11202A will input or output data in a number of formats. The 11202A is analogous to an 8-bit computer duplex card with the distinction that data buffer storage is provided for only one transmission direction at a time.
HP 11203A		BCD Input		Provides the 9830 calculator with an interface to a variety of instruments having parallel Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) outputs. Direct interfaces are possible to a large number of Hewlett-Packard Digital Voltmeters, Frequency Counters, and other instruments. When used with the proper Extended I/O ROM, the 11203A has capacity for up to nine digits of data, with function, range, sign and overload condition.
HP 11205A		Serial I/O		Enables the 9830 calculator to interface to a wide variety of peripheral equipment conforming to EIA specification RS-232C. It is widely used to output to teleprinters, but is also able to communicate with teletype replacement devices, CRT terminals, page printers, and electrostatic printers/plotters. Asynchronous data rates from 110 to 1200 baud are available.
HP 11206A		Modem Interface		The HP 11206A Modem Interface (along with the HP 11277 Terminal 1 ROM) allows the 9830 calculator to be used in conjunction with a modem or acoustic coupler as a terminal to a remote time-share system. Basically, the configuration makes the calculator work like a teleprinter when communicating with a time-share system.
HP 11282A		Incremental Plotter Interface		Enables the 9830 calculator to control digital incremental plotters. Tests have proven that the interface is electrically compatible with the following plotters: Calcomp models 563 and 565 Benson models 110 and 120 (requires Option 002) Calcomp model 502 (requires Option 001) Houston models DP-1 and DP-3
HP 11284A		Data Communications Interface		The HP 11284A Interface comprises two encased printed circuit cards, 2.73 m (9 feet) or cable and connectors compatible to the peripheral. Along with three ROMs (HP 11296, HP 11297 and HP 11298), various configurations of data communications interface for the 9830 calculator can be assembled. These interfaces allow the 9830 to communicate with computers, or other 9830's, via telephone lines and modems.
HP 59405A		HP Interface Bus		Provides the 9830 calculator with an interface to the Hewlett-Packard Interface Bus (HP-IB). Up to 15 HP-IB compatible instruments can be interconnected simultaneously using this simple one-cable system. The HP 59405A plugs directly into any I/O slot on the calculator. A suitable ROM, provided with the 59405A, must be plugged into the calculator to complete the interface. The 59405A has a fixed select code of 13.
HP 9868A		I/O Expander		The 9830 calculator has four I/O slots for the connection of peripherals and interfaces. By connecting the HP 9868A I/O Expander to the calculator, the I/O capacity is increased to 13 (the 3 remaining spare on the calculator and 10 in the expander). A built-in power supply insures that there is no additional power drain on the 9830 and it has reserve power enabling the connection of specially designed interfaces. 1.82 m (6 feet) of cable is provided with the expander.

Click here to see the source code for a lunar lander program.

Does anyone have a copy of the 12-page brochure mentioned here, HP Calculator-Aided Design: Computing Power for Engineers in Electronics?