That link doesn't work for me at all...
> That link doesn't work for me at all...
Not sure why the link isn't working. I tried and had no issues.
Try this one HP 35S Programmed Calculator. If it does not work, call me at 800-533-4387 and I can take your order over the phone or answer most questions you may have.
Larry P
Edit: I just tested the link in my message and it worked fine; but, then so did the original links.
> Same thing here - 1985, Arizona - NO PROGRAMMABLE calculators of any sort allowed. I had several HP-41's at the time and had to buy a non-programmable one for the exam.
>
> I am participating in a rewrite of the Arizona exam tomorrow. I'm sure this topic is going to raise eyebrows!!!
For what it is worth, the NCEES Calculator policy has been pretty much the same for most of the last decade. Allowing certain calculators that are programmable isn't new.
For those who scoff at the need for programs, I agree that given an unlimited amount of time we should be able to work all of the problems with a standard calculator. But we are not given unlimited time. That is really what the programs do for the user. They buy time. On the exams, time is a precious thing.
Larry P
Thanks Larry - this one works fine, the other one still doesn't.
> Thanks Larry - this one works fine, the other one still doesn't.
Odd, very odd. But glad it works for you.
Have a great weekend.
Larry P
One exam I took, late 80's or early 90's, had a list of approved calculators.
I went into the exam with a HP-41 as my primary and a TI-60 as my backup.
The 41 was approved..., the TI-60 was not..., I had to remove the TI batteries and give them to the proctor, and put the calculator away....LOL....
Still have both calculators...
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you...
When I went to Austin in 2000, we could take ANYTHING without a QWERTY pad. I had two 48's, one with TDS and one with SMI and a had a 42 with nothing loaded in it.
I was pissed that my old man in the 70's didn't have the computing power and that I was less of a surveyor because I couldn't do it like him. So, prior to the test, I focused on how to do it all longhand similar to RADU until the formulas stuck.
I used the 48, one time, for something stupid with a ton of things and curves and we had to compute an area and I was short on time. Everything else I did with the 42.
Same requirements when I went in 2002 for the RPLS. Then, they quit all that stuff.
Still took it with a 42 also (but I had my backups).
At BOTH tests, the guy next to me was probably 20 years my senior and had a $3 calculator from the checkout line in Wal-Mart that was a little solar calculator that did sine cosine and tangent. That was it. I saw him at a CEU seminar a few years ago and recognized him. I told him that I remember him from both exams and that little calculator. He confirmed that he did in fact pick it up at Wal-Mart prior to the test.
Just goes to show you that programs are great, but understanding the math behind it is, to me, more important. All that being said, kudos to Wendell and Angel and Larry for making this offer available. Not all people are as stubborn as me and I'm VERY sure it helps many people out.
> On the exams, time is a precious thing.
>
I agree! I took and passed the FS October of 2012 and PS and Virginia state portion in May 2013. Passed everything on the first try, but did not know programs were allowed. That would have saved me a large amount of time. The state portion was certainly down to the wire time wise.
Kris,
The Board actually employs the concept of minimal calculations when it comes to the analytical part of the exam. They do it on purpose. You gotta remember they are old-timers, too. The type of calculator requirements changed when it became possible to copy the exam with their calculators (or laptops). I heard (probably just BS) that someone was caught sending images of the problems to another person at home (or somewhere) and then that person would send the correct answers back to the applicant. Obviously, something had to be done.
Kris,
> The Board actually employs the concept of minimal calculations when it comes to the analytical part of the exam. They do it on purpose. You gotta remember they are old-timers, too. The type of calculator requirements changed when it became possible to copy the exam with their calculators (or laptops). I heard (probably just BS) that someone was caught sending images of the problems to another person at home (or somewhere) and then that person would send the correct answers back to the applicant. Obviously, something had to be done.
I hadn't heard that story Mr. Chiles. But I do know that they caught a girl in Puerto Rico cheating. She had taken the "guts" out of a calculator and installed a scanner. The plan was apparently to copy the exam in this way then sell it on the black market. Like you said, something had to be done.
Larry P
> When I went to Austin in 2000, we could take ANYTHING without a QWERTY pad. I had two 48's, one with TDS and one with SMI and a had a 42 with nothing loaded in it.
>
> I was pissed that my old man in the 70's didn't have the computing power and that I was less of a surveyor because I couldn't do it like him. So, prior to the test, I focused on how to do it all longhand similar to RADU until the formulas stuck.
>
> I used the 48, one time, for something stupid with a ton of things and curves and we had to compute an area and I was short on time. Everything else I did with the 42.
>
> Same requirements when I went in 2002 for the RPLS. Then, they quit all that stuff.
>
> Still took it with a 42 also (but I had my backups).
>
> At BOTH tests, the guy next to me was probably 20 years my senior and had a $3 calculator from the checkout line in Wal-Mart that was a little solar calculator that did sine cosine and tangent. That was it. I saw him at a CEU seminar a few years ago and recognized him. I told him that I remember him from both exams and that little calculator. He confirmed that he did in fact pick it up at Wal-Mart prior to the test.
>
> Just goes to show you that programs are great, but understanding the math behind it is, to me, more important. All that being said, kudos to Wendell and Angel and Larry for making this offer available. Not all people are as stubborn as me and I'm VERY sure it helps many people out.
I took the exams with a casio scientific calculator and used it only minimally, as I recall.
Why Bother? Programs Are Not Neccessary.
I passed both days in at least 3 hours under the time allowed using an HP 10.
Because I had my HP 48 I used I to check 3 my HP 10 math which was just to keep in practice.
I imagine that as they fully transition to computer they will include a calculator emulator with no other programs. It is supposed to be a test of the mind not the machine.
Paul in PA
I agree with Cliff. Given the opportunity, I'll lobby against permitting use of such tools. The licensing exam should test the mental ability (capacity) of the applicant, not to see who brings or knows how to use a calculator.
It’s true, as has been observed a few times already, that it is very instructive to enter the programs yourself. When the thing is loaded, though, you have to be careful to avoid letting a stored variable get dislodged by a program that happens to store in the same register.
Cheers,
Henry
> I agree with Cliff. Given the opportunity, I'll lobby against permitting use of such tools. The licensing exam should test the mental ability (capacity) of the applicant, not to see who brings or knows how to use a calculator.
I really don't think a calculator helps that much, you're given all the equations you need in the book.
As an alternative to purchasing the whole calculator, this guy http://www.hp33ssurveyor.com will sell just the code. I used it for the PLS and although only used one or two COGO routines, it was well worth it.
> At BOTH tests, the guy next to me was probably 20 years my senior and had a $3 calculator from the checkout line in Wal-Mart that was a little solar calculator that did sine cosine and tangent. That was it. I saw him at a CEU seminar a few years ago and recognized him. I told him that I remember him from both exams and that little calculator. He confirmed that he did in fact pick it up at Wal-Mart prior to the test.
Kris
When I took the first exam, I went in with one similar calculator (although I think mine was a $15 model). On the very first question that I needed to crunch a number on, it went DEAD!!!! I took the first four hour session doing a whole lot of long hand work. I was estimating trig functions. Man was it stressful.
At lunch, I went and found a cheapo calculator that would do trig functions. On the second half of the test, there was barely any math and I did not even need the calculator.
Word of advice to all test takers - TAKE TWO CALCULATORS IN WITH YOU!!!
I just took my Missouri State Specific exam last April. I had two HP 35's, and one HP 33. I was not going to take any chances on having a calculator die on me. The PLS portion was very math intense.
> Make sure all the batteries are fresh, its easier the 2nd time you program it, but still takes an afternoon or longer.
For real. 280 is a heckuva deal just to get the programs keyed in, and an absolute bargain if you miss a step and have to do it twice.
I forgot to mention, none of my calculators were programmed.