Satek 8M

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Calculators: Handheld: Satek 8M

	Size (approx):	77mm (max) x 135mm x 22mm (max) (w,h,d) Weight 86g excluding batteries
	Power:	9V DC, 1 x PP3 size battery. Also accepts an adapter (undefined) with a socket is on top side on the right.
	Case:	Slim and square shaped two-piece case in black and light grey (almost silver) matt plastic. Two aluminium panels for the display and keyboard surround which are both printed; one in black the other in blue. The red plastic display filter is very slightly angled. Display viewing angle is rather limited. Blue printing tries to gather the memory and cancel keys apart from the function and numeric ones. Solid enough calculator. The on/off switch is on the right hand side about where the display is. Keys are hollow-sounding click type but work well enough.
	Display:	8 digit red LED with bubble lens (no ninth digit)
	Features:	4 function calculator with percentages, change sign (CS) and four function memory
	Age:	1978
	Manufacturer:	No details or serial number
	Comments:	Quite cheep and cheerful colour scheme. Same calculator as the Texet 880 and a few others of its time. Bear minimum of components to accommodate the low retail prices.

Components:	1 x cpu: Texas TMS0972NL MBT 7845 Singapore (Date code week 45 of 1978) 28 pin DIL 1 x 8 digit bubble lens LED display unit; NSA1488 845 No other components
Boards:	The Keyboard board is held to the front via four plastic lugs and connected to the main board with 12 strong copper wires. The main cpu board (Ref: 880 Rev B 0572 010876) (The 880 bit is suspicious!) is connected
Construction:	Carefully Squeeze in the grey sides and the black back will leave it's lugs and come off easily. The back contains six long pillars that position into holes in the main cpu board. Not recommended that you open it - easily damaged. When you open any calculator you should be earthed a most ICs are static sensitive.

Logic comments:	The (CE) button is used to clear last entry of a number and (C) to clear the whole calculator. (CA) appears to clear all, even the memory.
	Overflow on number input is suppressed, typing in a nine digit number ignores the ninth digit.
	An overflow error is flagged with the result flashing. Number is recoverable using (CE)
	Divide by zero results in a flashing "0." which is also recoverable.
	There is automatic constant on all functions
	There is no indication of memory store - you have to remember it.
	To see a display anomaly try (1) (-) (0.0000000) (=), this gives "1.00000000" which keeps the trailing zeros until you multiply or divide by something.
	Negative numbers are flagged by a "-" sign in the immediate left digit, limiting you to seven digit negative numbers. If you type in (1)(2)...(8)(CS), this will result in an error.

Staek 8M box

To the left you can see the equally cheap box made from thin card and printed in two colours (red and black). It measures 157mm x 83mm x 30mm which is barely bigger than the calculator - so not much else went in. I do not think there was a cover as my box contains what looks like an original bubble-wrap pouch.

As my sample has no ends I cannot find any references or printer origins. However, notice that the calculator name and model number are stamped on. This must have been a generic box to be labelled with the brand - just like the calculator appears to be.