DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM

Texas Instruments Voyage 200

Date of introduction:	Jan.6, 2002	Display technology:	LCD dot matrix
New price:	$199.99 (SRP 2008)	Display size:	12 lines by 40 char 128 * 240 pixels
Size:	4.6" x 7.3" x 1.1" 117 x 185 x 27 mm³
Weight:	9.6 ounces, 272 grams	Serial No:	1040005591
Batteries:	4*AAA + CR1616	Date of manufacture:	mth 06 year 2002 (A)
AC-Adapter:		Origin of manufacture:	Taiwan (I)
Precision:	14	Integrated circuits:	CPU: MC68SEC000 ASIC: TI REF 200C040 Flash: LH28F320 RAM: 2* CY62128 Display: 3T6B07, 2T6B08
Memories:
Program steps:	188k Bytes, 2.7M Bytes Flash ROM	Courtesy of:	Joerg Woerner

At first glance the stylish Voyage 200 looks like a modern and innovative Symbolic calculator. Dismantling the calculator reveals a 6 years old design in new clothes!

We wrote January 5, 1996 when Texas Instruments released with the TI-92 their first Symbolic calculator using a powerful 16/32-bit microcomputer, a full ASCII keyboard, a wide graphics screen and tons of built in software. The TI-92 received since its introduction two upgrades:

TI-92 II: Language selectable Operating System and 128k Bytes additional User memory.

TI-92 Plus: Flash ROM technology for re-programmable Operating System and downloadable applications.

The printed circuit board (PCB) of this early Voyage 200 manufactured in June 2002 makes use of the TI-92 Plus hardware, but doubles the capacity of the Sharp LH28F320 Flash ROM from 1Mx16 Bits (2M Bytes) to 2Mx16 bits (4M Bytes).

The main components of the featured Voyage 200 manufactured in June 2002:

CPU (Central processing Unit): The Motorola MC68SEC000 - the original M68000 16/32-bit microprocessor introduced in 1979 - optimized for embedded applications is supported by the TI-REF 200C040 and replaces the Application Specific CPU SC414181 solution if the TI-92. Learn more about the Hardware Architecture of TI’s Graphing Calculators.

ROM (Read Only Memory): The ROM contains the operating system of the calculator. The first products on the market used mask-programmable ROM, the program was stored already during the production of the Integrated Circuit. Later calculators changed to Flash ROM, a technology allowing the programming of the software during the final production stage of the calculator. With the TI-83 Plus and all later graphing calculators from Texas Instruments even the user was able to reprogram the operating system.

The Flash ROM chip LH28F320 of this Voyage 200 was manufactured by Sharp, Japan. The capacity of the memory chip is 2Mx16 bits, or the equivalent of 4M Bytes.

RAM (Random Access Memory): The RAM is used as data memory and is used to store both variables, user programs and intermediate results. This Voyage 200 makes use of two Static RAM chips CY62126 manufactured by Cypress, USA. The capacity of the memory chips is 128k Bytes, each.

DISPLAY: The Voyage 200 uses - in opposite to the handheld graphing calculators from this era - display drivers in conventional packages. We noticed in this Voyage 200 three T6B07 column drivers and two T6B08 row drivers manufactured by Toshiba, Japan.

A serial port of the calculators allows the connection to the Calculator-Based Laboratory system CBL, its successor CBL 2 and the Calculator-Based Ranger CBR. Texas Instruments announced June 2002 an optional full-sized QWERTY Keyboard for a more convenient entry of notes into the handhelds but it even matched the Voyage 200.

Within the long history of TI calculators between 1972 (the famous Datamath) and today (June 2003) we never discovered a nameplate without the leading TI-XXXXXXX designation. Even the engineers of Texas Instruments were surprised when marketing decided for the unusual Voyage 200 name!
(February 2009: Don't miss this TI-XXXXXXXXXXX, you are right: 11 X vs 7 X.)

Find the Voyage 200 specification from TI's advertisment:

• Modern and ergonomic design.
• Intuitive icon desktop for easy navigation and organization of Handheld Software Applications (Apps).
• Built-in clock to keep track of time and date and to use for timing experiments.
• Full QWERTY keyboard, numeric keypad.
• 128 x 240 pixel display.
• About 188K bytes of user-available RAM.
• About 2.7 MB of user-available FLASH ROM (3x the FLASH ROM memory of the TI-92 Plus).*
• Electronic upgradability of software including maintenance and feature upgrades.
• Advanced Mathematics Software functionality suitable for college mathematics and engineering coursework.
• Pretty Print shows equations and results with radical notation, stacked fractions, and superscript exponents.
• Active Calculator Home history screen can hold up to 99 previous entries for deep recall.
• Interactive geometry applications for Euclidean, transformational, and analytic geometry explorations (based on Cabri Geometry II).
• Real and complex numeric results.
• Symbolic manipulation for algebra, calculus and differential equations.
• Symbolic units for use in equations, computations, and unit conversions. Over 100 units in 28 unit categories. 20 constants with symbolic units.
• Graphs functions, parametric and polar equations, recursively-defined sequences, 3-dimensional surfaces, and differential equations.
Up to 99 graphing equations defined and saved for each graphing mode.
• Numeric evaluation of functions in tables and data variable format.
• Interactive analysis of function values, roots, maximums, minimums, integrals, derivatives, intersections, inflection points, and arc lengths.
• Recursively-defined sequences access any number of previous terms.
• Slope and direction fields for exploring differential equations. RK and Euler numeric differential equation solving methods.
• Real time rotation of 3D surfaces.
• List-based one- and two-variable statistical analysis, including eight regression models.
• Statistics plots including scatter, xy-line, box and modified box plots. Histograms and regression lines.
• Matrix operations including inverse, determinant, transpose, augment, elementary row operations, and reduced row echelon form.
Matrix elements can be real or complex and numeric or symbolic.
• Advanced matrix operations including eigenvalues, eigenvectors, LU and QR decompositions.
• Column-logic expressions in data/matrix editor are retained for automatic recalculation when values change.
• Interactive numeric equation solver.
• Hexadecimal and binary operations and conversions.
• Extensive programming capability with number and size of programs limited only by available memory. User-definable functions extend built-in functionality.
• Optional assembly language programming.
• Command catalog screen to access and show "help" information for each function and command.
• Memory management to create folders for specific applications or subjects.
• 255 symbols in the character set including Greek, system, and international characters.
• Compatible with Calculator-Based Laboratory™ (CBL2™) and Calculator-Based Ranger™ (CBR™) Systems to allow analysis of real-world data.
• Link capabilities for data transfer through I/O port. USB and unit-to-unit link cables included.
• ViewScreen™ overhead port.
• Powered by 4 AAA batteries with lithium battery backup to protect memory during main battery change.
• One-year limited warranty.
• Toll-free help hot-line
• e-mail help line: ti-cares@ti.com.
• Volume Purchase Program.
• Activity Books.
• Workshop Loan Program – borrow calculators for evaluation of workshops.
• Printed Getting Started Guide included, full Guidebook available on Resource CD.
• Pre-installed applications

*All 2.7 MB can be used for Flash Apps, but only 1 MB of it can be used for data archive.

Courtesy of Texas Instruents: http://www.ti.com

Don't miss the Tutorial for the Voyage 200 calculator on YouTube prepared by Cómputo Numérica, the first online store specialized in calculators in Latin America.

Courtesy of Cómputo Numérica: http://www.calculadoras.com.mx

ROM-Versions:

2.06 (February 4, 2002)
2.07 (April 8, 2002)
2.08 (July 29, 2002, recalled and re-released February 20, 2003)
2.09 (March 27, 2003)
3.00 (not released)
3.01 (October 7, 2004)
3.10 (July 18, 2005, actual in February 2008)

You can check the ROM version of your Voyage 200 using the following key sequence and reading the number on your screen:

[F1] [A]

Information provided by ticalc.org and Xavier Andréani.

Exam acceptance:

Since the TI-92 Series and Voyage 200 feature a QWERTY keyboard they are not allowed on ACT, SAT, PSAT and AP exams.

Find here the original press release dated January 6, 2002:

Texas Instruments Unveils Next Generation Educational Handheld

Voyage™ 200 delivers increased memory, functionality and portability

DALLAS, January 6, 2002

Texas Instruments, the leader in handheld educational technology, today announced the launch of its newest educational handheld, the Voyage™ 200 Graphing Handheld. With an icon desktop, computer connectivity, and multi-curricular software applications, this learning tool offers students a powerful handheld for understanding mathematics that can also be used in other subject areas. Developed with leading educators, Voyage 200 combines all of the functionality and three times the user-available Flash memory of the popular TI-92 Plus, a graphing tool for high school and college advanced math. The unit comes equipped with an icon desktop, which enables users to easily navigate among Handheld Software Applications (Apps). It has a large screen display with 128 by 240 pixel imaging, and features an ergonomically designed case and a QWERTY keypad for note taking. "I've used Texas Instruments technology in my classroom for many years, starting with the TI-81, and have always been impressed with how TI listens to educators during the development of new products," said Ann Davidian, a mathematics teacher from General Douglas MacArthur High School in Levittown, New York. "I'm excited about being a pilot site for Voyage 200 because I think it greatly expands the possibilities of what I can do with a handheld. My students think it's amazing and say the Voyage 200 would be the only handheld they would need for all of their classes." With a host of preloaded Apps and the ability to easily connect to a computer, the VoyageVoyage™ 200 delivers increased memory, functionality and portability DALLAS - January 6, 2002- Texas Instruments, the leader in handheld educational technology, today announced the launch of its newest educational handheld, the Voyage™ 200 Graphing Handheld. With an icon desktop, computer connectivity, and multi-curricular software applications, this learning tool offers students a powerful handheld for understanding mathematics that can also be used in other subject areas.
•	Cell Sheet™ - a spreadsheet App and software for entering data and text in cells, creating formulas and exporting and importing data to and from Microsoft Excel®
•	StudyCards™ - an electronic flashcard App and software for creating and reviewing electronic flashcards on any subject, or creating and viewing a slide presentation that can be shared with classmates
•	Notes - an App for taking, storing and recalling notes using the QWERTY keyboard
•	Statistics with List Editor - an analytical App that can be used with data collection for performing inferential and advanced statistical analyses
•	Finance - an App for incorporating time value of money, cash flow analysis and amortization
•	Language Localization - a feature enabling Voyage 200 to convert its commands and menus into other languages including Spanish, French and German
•	Organizer Suite - a suite of Apps for managing class schedules (Planner), contact information (Contacts), task priority and status (Tasks), and a calendar (Calendar)
•	Built-in clock - a feature enabling students to keep track of time

Those who use the Voyage 200 in a math environment will appreciate these included features:
•	Computer Algebra System (CAS) - advanced mathematics software for manipulating mathematical expressions and functions
•	The Geometers Sketchpad® - a dynamic App for constructing, analyzing and transforming mathematical models and geometric diagrams
•	Cabri™ Geometry - an interactive App for performing analytic, transformational, and Euclidean geometric functions
•	Polynomial Root Finder - a numeric App for entering polynomial coefficients, identifying real and complex roots and graphing
•	Simultaneous Equation Solver - an App for calculating solutions to linear systems up to 30X30, including over- and under-determined systems
•	Pretty Print - a feature enabling Voyage 200 to display mathematical expressions the same way as they are written on the board or in textbooks
•	All other powerful TI-92 advanced mathematics software including calculus, differential equations, 3-D graphing with animation, linear algebra, interactive numeric solver, constants, unit conversions, statistics, and optional assembly language programming

Additional information about the Voyage™ 200 is available at education.ti.com/voyage200. New Apps, software releases and other support materials will be posted here as they become available. TI-92 Plus owners will also be able to visit the same web page to upgrade their units' operating systems and add the ease of the icon Apps desktop and clock functionality of the Voyage 200. The Voyage 200 will sell through instructional dealers and has a suggested resale price of $200.

If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.