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Luis:

Welcome aboard! I found your descriptions fascinating as I have traveled
similar roads since 1975, but with different equipments at that time.
Reflecting: my-oh-my have the tools and capabilities progressed since then!

Your posting came through very well, obviously.  Let us hear more
from you.

Tony    San Francisco, CA  (author of NAVIG 94 ++)


Luis Soltero wrote:
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> This is my first posting so I hope it goes well.   A few weeks ago while
> perusing the
> roninhouse navigation list archive I ran into a series of postings concerned
> with the
> RAM vs ROM issue in celestial calculators.  At the time I was not a member
> of
> the mailing list so I sent the following e-mail to Bill Murdoch.  Anyway, I
> think
> my mail mesg to Bill is of general interest so I include it here.
>
> Thanks,
>
> --luis
>
> Hi Bill,
>
> This is Luis Soltero the author of the Starpath StarPilot.
>
> It was fun discovering a fellow navigator who has implemented
> celestial stuff on the TI calculator series.  Prior to my most recent
> search on the net I was under the impression that I had been the
> only one.
>
> I started the StarPilot project in the summer of 96 and implemented
> early versions on the TI-80, TI-81, TI-82 and TI-83.  At one point I
> released into the Share Ware domain a preliminary version called NavTI-8X
> which ran on both the 86 and 82.  These products have both been
> retracted from the SW since I no longer have time to support them.
>
> Anyway,  There are a few items in your e-mail
> ( http://www.i-DEADLINK-com/lists/navigation/1999/0918.html) that I would like
> to clarify.  Since I dont know how to subscribe to the navigational
> e-mail list I thought I would write directly to you.  It would be great
> if you could post this for me.
>
> The key sequence for finding the version number on the 86 is
> [2nd][mode][alpha][s]
> if at this time you hit [enter] the memory will be erased.  It is very
> unlikely that anyone will hit this sequence by accident.
>
> Unlike the 82, the 86 will print a mesg on the screen when the 4AAA
> batteries get low.  Like the 82 the screen gets dimmer as the batteries
> loose charge requiring you to increase the brightness of the display
> with [2nd][up arrow].  When the brightness level hits 8 or so the
> calculator will print a mesg on the screen to tell you to change out
> the batteries.  The unit will not run on the lithium battery alone. The
> lithium battery is strictly used to backup the memory if the main
> batteries go dead.  The battery systems are totally independent and
> the AAAs can be left out of the unit for an extended period without
> impacting the charge of the Lithium backup battery or loosing memory.
>
> As you know the 4AAA batteries last for ever.  I purchased my
> TI-86 in 1997 have used it extensively in the development of
> the StarPilot product and on average change out the AAA batteries
> once a year.  Only 3 sets of batteries have been used in the complete
> development of the product and I use my unit A LOT!
>
> To reset the memory on the calculator you must execute
> [2nd][mem][f3][f1][f4].
> Again unlikely to happen by accident.
>
> Starpath encourages customers to buy the Ti GraphLink cable by selling them
> at a reduced price ($19.95)  In the very unlikely event of memory loss you
> can reload the software from any computer.  This could be done from an
> internet
> cafe any where in the world by simply hooking up the cable to the system.
> The
> TI Graph Link software as well as the StarPilot is available for download
> over
> the internet at NO cost i.e. for Free.
>
> AAA batteries are readily available world wide unlike the CR... Li batteries
> (used
> exclusively in some of the ROM based celestial calculators) which
> can be difficult to find in the 3rd world.  I have even purchased batteries
> in Kuna Yala
> San Blas Panama where roads, electricity and the wheel have not yet been
> discovered.
>
> Another strong point for the 86 is that it is readily available world wide.
> So, if you happen to
> drop the thing in the water during the Americas Cup 2000 in Australia,
> simply walk down
> to the local TI reseller buy a new one, stop by the Internet cafe on the way
> back to your
> boat and you are in business.   Needless to say this mode of recovery is not
> available from manufacturers
> of ROM based systems.
>
> Please keep in mind that the TI-86 is designed for high school kids and is a
> robust durable
> unit.  I have launched my 86 across the boat during a particular rough
> passage cracked the cover and
> continued doing sight reductions with out a problem.  Replacement covers in
> a multitude of
> colors are available directly from TI and their distributors and an
> indestructible padded water proof
> box is available for the StarPilot from Starpath if you wish to take better
> care of your unit
> than I do mine.
>
> Finally, StarPilot updates are available for free over the internet.  As new
> features are added
> to the software customers can easily update their units by simply
> downloading the latest
> software over the internet.  If you feel that a feature is missing in the
> StarPilot simply send
> us an e-mail.  If we feel that the feature is useful to the public in
> general we will implement
> it and make it available to every one.  We have done this for customers
> several times
> already.  For example, The original StarPilot did not implement Sun
> Amplitudes or a comprehensive
> ETA function.  It now does thanks to our users and these features are
> available via
> download over the internet as version 1.53.
>
> The StarPilot web page has come a long way since its initial release Nov 5.
> I invite you
> to browse the StarPilot page at
> http://www.starpath.com/catalog/tools/1863.htm.
>
> Thanks for our consideration and your e-mailed comments are welcome.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Luis Soltero, Ph.D.
> StarPilot development team
> Starpath School of Navigation

   

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