You can run BASIC on an old HP 4592 protocol analyzer

What TO DO You TO DO When You find A ancient piece of test gear And to want has to have amusing? GOOD, You can always to try get BASIC running on he, And It is precisely What [David Kuder] I did it.

THE HP4952A Protocol Analyzer In fact looks A plot as A old computer, even if he was Never supposed For general purpose to use. THE heart of THE machine East A Zilog Z80 CPU, However, SO he actions A plot In common with microcomputers of It is era.

Among other hacks, [David] work has get Microsoft Basic-80 running on THE machine. Initially, he was only able has get he up And running on THE display, with No path has read THE keyboard, disk, Or to access THE serial port. Eventually, by diving In THE the essential of THE machine, he was able has has less get THE keyboard functioning along with a few basic BASIC programs. Usable memory East just 8 KB, but You can TO DO A fair little with that When you have only obtained A 32×16 display For to go out anyway!

It is A neat To hack And A that was stretchable has THE HP4957A as GOOD. We have seen similar Machinery on these pages Before, Also! If you have obtained your own neat retro hacks on THE boil, don't do it hesitate has drop We A line!

[THANKS has Christopher Zell For THE advice!]