Peripherals
The 9845 was designed to use much of HP's standard peripheral equipment of that time. Most peripherals require a dedicated interface, and some need a special option ROM.
Some Common 9845 Peripherals, Namely a 2631 Dot Matrix Printer, a 9845B, a 9874A Digitizer, a 9845C, a 9872A Plotter, a 7906 Hard Disc Cabinet and a 98041A Interface Box (Left to Right) - Note That Even a Voluminous System Like the 9845C Appears Compact Compared to Some of the Peripherals.
Each HP 9845 had been designed to give room inside the mainframe for an internal letter size thermal printer, and two internal cartridge tape drives.
In addition, the modular interfacing concept of the HP9845 offered a wide range of connectivity, including serial (RS-232) and parallel (HP-IB) standard connections. Non-HPGL plotters could be connected with the incremental plotter interface, and almost any other equipment with the generic 16 channel GPIO interface, provided the necessary driver for the device had been available.
The HP 9845 featured four slots for plug-in interface units, which could be extended to up to 10 interfaces with a single 9878A I/O expander, or to 16 interfaces with two 9878A I/O expanders. With each 98034A/B HP-IB interface, up to 15 devices could be connected to that HP-IB bus, so putting it all together, one single HP 9845 was (electrically) capable to control up to 16 non-HP-IB devices or 16 x 15 = 240 HP-IB devices (!) in addition to the built-in peripherals. In fact, due to interface selection codes limited to the range between 1 and 12, up to 12 non-HP-IB or 12 x 15 = 180 HP-IB devices could be addressed (again in addition to the built-in peripherals).
Peripheral Architecture
The I/O architecture of the HP 9845 was generic in the sense that communication to all peripherals was done over the same I/O bus, which again was made available via an I/O backplane at the rear of the HP 9845 mainframe. In fact there were no built-in interfaces (so you will be looking for an RS-232 or centronics connector in vain).
However, once the proper interface was installed, the HP 9845 was electrically ready to communicate with a large number of devices. For integration into the operating systems I/O processes (especially for graphics or mass storage operations), the specific data protocol needed for controlling the device had to be implemented as a "driver" either in one of the system ROMs, in a pluggable option ROM, or in a binary program loadable on run-time. In many cases it is also possible to talk directly from 9845 BASIC through an installed interface to the devices connected to that interface with the generic I/O BASIC commands.
Some More 9845 Peripherals (Top Down / Left to Right: 9831 Dot Matrix Printer, 9885 Floppy Disk Drive, 9883A Paper Tape Reader, 7906 Hard Disc Cabinet with 98041A Interface, 9874A Digitizer, 9875A Cartridge Tape Drive, 9872A Plotter, 9871A Daisy Wheel Printer, 9876A Thermal Paper Printer, 7225A Plotter, 9884A Paper Tape Punch, 9878A I/O Expander)
Listed below are the peripherals which were actually designed in the historical context of the 9845 series. Other peripherals, like the HP 2225A Thinkjet printer, work fine with a 9845, but have no real historical relation to those systems since they have been introduced after 1983.
Generally, the ordering options for peripheral devices and interfaces are not completely consistent. So the options listed below are not universally valid.
Prices are where common introduction prices, but may also differ.
Most images on this page are courtesy hpmuseum.net, which also provides much more additional information on the specific HP peripherals within the Peripheral Products section.
Printers
| Product No. | Opt. | Description | Required Interface | Required ROMs | Retail | |
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2601A | 826 | Daisywheel Letter Quality Printer (diverse print wheels available) | 98036A Opt. 445 | $3,950 | |
| 26010D | Dual-bin Sheet Feeder for 2601A | $2,290 | ||||
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2608A | 845 | Dot Matrix Line Printer (HP-IB) | 98034A/B (Revised) | $9,900 | |
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2631A | 845 | 180 CPS Impact Printer (HP-IB) | 98034A/B (Revised) | $3,150 | |
|
2631B | 845 | 180 CPS Impact Printer (HP-IB) | 98034A/B (Revised) | $3,950 | |
| 009 | European Character Set | $150 | ||||
|
2631G | 845 | 180 CPS Graphics Impact Printer (HP-IB) | 98034A/B (Revised) | $4,900 | |
| 009 | European Character Set | $150 | ||||
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2635A/B | Printing Terminal (HP-IB) | 98036A Op. 445 | $3,950 | ||
| 2671A | Thermal Printer | 98034A/B (Revised) | $1,195 | |||
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2671G | Thermal Graphics Printer | 98034A/B (Revised) | $1,495 | ||
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2673A | Intelligent Graphics Printer | 98034A/B (Revised) | $2,195 | ||
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7310A | Thermal Graphics Printer | $5,250 | |||
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9866A | Thermal Printer | 98032A Opt. 466 | $2,975 | ||
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9866B | Thermal Printer | 98032A Opt. 466 | $4,800 | ||
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9871A | 045 | Character Impact Printer | 98032A Opt. 471 | $4,100 | |
| 001 | Character Impact Printer (HP-IB) | 98034A/B (Revised) | ||||
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9876A | 035 | Thermal Graphics Printer (HP-IB) | 98034A/B (Revised) | $4,725 | |
| 001 | 8-bit Parallel Interface | 98032A Opt. 476 | ||||
| 003 | Metric Paper and 5041-1503 Spacer |
Note: Although not required for normal text operation, full text capabilities generally require an I/O option ROM. Graphics printing on 2631G, 9876A and 2608A generally requires a Graphics option ROM installed.
Plotters
| Product No. | Opt. | Description | Required Interface | Required ROMs | Retail | |
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7220C/T | Eight-Pen Plotter (HP-IB) | $5,300 | |||
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7221C/T | Eight-Pen Plotter (HP-IB) | $5,300 | |||
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7225A | Graphics Plotter (HP-IB) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Graphics ROM Rev. B or later | $2,200 | |
|
7225B | Graphics Plotter (HP-IB) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Graphics ROM Rev. B or later | $2,450 | |
| 17600A 17601A 17602A 17603A 17604A |
Personality Module for 7225B (required) | $150 $750 $200 $750 $900 |
||||
| 001 | 100 VAC Primary | |||||
| 002 | 120 VAC Primary | |||||
| 003 | 220 VAC Primary | |||||
| 004 | 240 VAC Primary | |||||
| 7240A | Plotter/Printer | $5,200 | ||||
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7245B | 045 | Plotter/Printer (HP-IB) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Graphics ROM Rev. B or later | $6,200 |
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7470A | Graphics Plotter | $1,550 | |||
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7580A | 002 | Drafting Plotter (HP-IB) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Graphics ROM Rev. B or later | $15,450 |
| 045 | For 9845B | 98034A/B (Revised) | Graphics ROM Rev. B or later | |||
| 145 | For 9845C | 98034A/B (Revised) | Graphics ROM Rev. B or later | |||
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7585A | Drafting Plotter | $22,750 | |||
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9872A/B/S | Four-Pen Plotter (HP-IB) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Graphics ROM | $4,200 | |
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9872C | 045 | Eight-Pen Plotter (HP-IB) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Graphics ROM Rev. C or later or Enhanced Graphics ROM Rev. A or later | $5,800 |
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9872T | 045 | Eight-Pen Plotter (HP-IB) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Graphics ROM Rev. C or later or Enhanced Graphics ROM Rev. A or later | $7,900 |
Winchester Disk Drives
| Product No. | Opt. | Description | Required Interface | Required ROMs | Retail | |
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7910H | 045 | Winchester Fixed Disc Drive (12 MByte) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Mass Storage ROM Rev. C or later | $8,350 |
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9133A | Combo Winchester Fixed Disc Drive (4.6 MByte) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Structured Software Systems Mass Storage ROM | ||
| 9134A | Winchester Fixed Disc Drive (4.6 MByte) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Structured Software Systems Mass Storage ROM | $4,500 | ||
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9135A | Combo Winchester Fixed Disc Drive (4.6 MByte) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Structured Software Systems Mass Storage ROM | $5,500 | |
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9133B | Combo Winchester Fixed Disc Drive (9.6 MByte) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Structured Software Systems Mass Storage ROM | ||
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9134B | Winchester Fixed Disc Drive (9.6 MByte) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Structured Software Systems Mass Storage ROM | $4,500 | |
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9133XV | Combo Winchester Fixed Disc Drive (14.5 MByte) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Structured Software Systems Mass Storage ROM | ||
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9134XV | Winchester Fixed Disc Drive (14.5 MByte) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Structured Software Systems Mass Storage ROM |
Note: floppy disks in combo drives are generally emulated as 82902M and can be used as such.
Cartridge Disk Drives
| Product No. | Opt. | Description | Required Interface | Required ROMs | Retail | |
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7905A | Combo Hard Disc Drive (5 MByte Fixed and 10 MByte Removable) | 98041A | Mass Storage ROM Rev. B or later | $8,975 | |
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7906M | 102 | Cartridge Disc Drive Master (20 MByte) | 98041A Opt. 045, 12745B/13037A Disc Controller |
Mass Storage ROM Rev. B or later | $18,175 |
| 7906S | Slave (20 MByte) | $13,000 | ||||
 |
7920M | 102 | Cartridge Disc Drive Master (50 MByte) | 98041A Opt. 045, 12745B/13037A Disc Controller |
Mass Storage ROM Rev. B or later | $20,175 |
| 7920S | Slave (50 MByte) | $15,000 | ||||
 |
7925M | 102 | Cartridge Disc Drive Master (120 MByte) | 98041A Opt. 045, 12745B/13037A Disc Controller |
Mass Storage ROM Rev. B or later | $23,225 |
| 7925S | Slave (120 MByte) | $17,850 | ||||
7925T |
Two slaves (120 MByte/slave) | $31,450 | ||||
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7933H |
CS/80 Fixed Disc Drive (404 MByte) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Mass Storage ROM Rev. C or later | $26,150 | |
|
7933G | CS/80 Fixed Disc Drive Bundle (3x404 MByte = 1.212 GByte) | $63,560 | |||
 |
7935H |
CS/80 Cartridge Disc Drive (404 MByte) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Mass Storage ROM Rev. C or later | $28,070 | |
|
7935G |
CS/80 Cartridge Disc Drive Bundle (3x404 MByte = 1.212 GByte) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Mass Storage ROM Rev. C or later | $74,000 |
Disk/Tape Drives
| Product No. | Opt. | Description | Required Interface | Required ROMs | Retail | |
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7908P | CS/80 Integrated Disc/Tape Drive (16.5 MByte) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Mass Storage ROM | $9,900 | |
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7911P | CS/80 Integrated Disc/Tape Drive (28.1 MByte) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Mass Storage ROM | $14,500 | |
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7912P | CS/80 Integrated Disc/Tape Drive (65.6 MByte) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Mass Storage ROM |
Flexible Disk Drives
| Product No. | Opt. | Description | Required Interface | Required ROMs | Retail | |
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9885M | 045 | Flexible Disc Drive Master (0.5 MByte) | 98032A Opt. 485 | Mass Storage ROM Rev. A or later | $4,000 |
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9885S | Flexible Disc Drive SLave (0.5 MByte) | $2,750 | |||
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9895A | Dual Flexible Disc Drive (2.36 MByte) (HP-IB) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Mass Storage ROM Rev. C or later | $6,830 | |
| 045 | HP Flexible Disc Utilities | |||||
| 145 | IBM Flexible Disc Utilities | $525 | ||||
| 010 | Single Drive with Controller | 98034A/B (Revised) | Mass Storage ROM Rev. C or later | $4,750 | ||
| 011 | Single Drive without Controller | $3,750 | ||||
| 012 | Dual Drive Slave without Controller | $5,500 | ||||
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82901M | 5.25" Dual Floppy Disc Drive (Master) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Structured Software System Mass Storage ROM | $2,500 | |
| 82901S | 5.25" Dual Floppy Disc Drive (Slave) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Structured Software System Mass Storage ROM | $2,200 | ||
 |
82902M | 5.25" Single Floppy Disc Drive (Master) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Structured Software System Mass Storage ROM | $1,500 | |
| 82902S | 5.25" Single Floppy Disc Drive (Slave) | 98034A/B (Revised) | Structured Software System Mass Storage ROM | $1,300 | ||
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9121D | 3.5" Dual Floppy Disc Drive | 98034A/B (Revised) | Structured Software System Mass Storage ROM | $1,750 | |
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9121S | 3.5" Single Floppy Disc Drive | 98034A/B (Revised) | Structured Software System Mass Storage ROM | $1,185 |
Note: floppy disks in combo drives are generally emulated as 82902M and can be used as such.
Miscellaneous
| Product No. | Opt. | Description | Required Interface | Required ROMs | Retail | |
| 12050A | Fibre Optic HP-IB Link | 98034A/B (Revised) | I/O ROM | |||
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37201A | HP-IB Extender | 98034A/B (Revised) | I/O ROM | $1,840 | |
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37203A | HP-IB Extender | 98034A/B (Revised) | I/O ROM | $1,310 | |
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37212A | Modem (2400 bps) | $1,046 | |||
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1350S | Graphics Display System | 98034A/B (Revised) | I/O ROM | $3,000 | |
| 1351S | Graphics Display System | 98034A/B (Revised) | I/O ROM | |||
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7260A | 045 | Optical Card/Mark Reader | 98032A Opt. 469 | $6,936 | |
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7970E | 826 | 9-Track Magnetic Tape | 98041A Opt. 045 | Device Driver in Binary Program | $15,000 |
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9111A | 045 | Graphics Tablet (for 45B) | 98034A/B (Revised) | I/O or Graphics ROM | $2,050 |
| 145 | Graphics Tablet (for 45C) | 98034A/B (Revised) | I/O or Graphics ROM | |||
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9869A | 045 | Optical Card Reader | 98032A Opt. 469 | I/O ROM | |
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9874A | 045 | Digitizer | 98034A/B (Revised) | I/O or Graphics ROM | $9,500 |
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9875A | 045 | Cartridge Tape Unit | 98034A/B (Revised) | I/O ROM | $2,750 |
| 001 | Cartridge Tape Unit Second Drive | |||||
 |
98775A | Light Pen | ||||
| 98776A | RGB Interface | |||||
| 98777A | Camera Attachment | |||||
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9878A | 045 | I/O Expander (increases number of slots from 4 to 10) | Built-in | $1,700 | |
| 9883A | Paper Tape Reader | 98032A Opt. 483 | I/O | $2,510 | ||
 |
9884A | 045 | Paper Tape Punch | 98032A Opt. 484 | I/O | $4,620 |
Note: The 9111A included a beeper, which could be programmed in frequency, duration and amplitude via a special HPGL Beep instruction (see the 9111A Programming Manual for details). In other words, the 9111A was not only a graphics tablet, but also an early sound board. However, as far as I know, there never had been a game or application which made use of this feature...
