{"id":520,"date":"2023-07-23T16:18:31","date_gmt":"2023-07-23T16:18:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vintage.bohemiancave.org.uk\/?p=520"},"modified":"2025-12-23T09:43:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T09:43:32","slug":"husky-hunter-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vintage.bohemiancave.org.uk\/index.php\/husky-hunter-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Husky Hunter 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\"Husky\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Husky Computers made some of the earliest portable computers. I have a Hunter 2. Like most machines of a hand-held, sub-notebook size made around the same time (probably 1984 – I can’t be certain), and some later models too, it runs off AA batteries. Unlike most contemporary computers it’s built like a tank.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Hardware<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As I mentioned already, this thing is built to be extremely rugged from fairly solid metal and is accordingly 1.25kg heavy. However it’s only slightly larger than a sheet of A5 paper, at 155x215mm, but 35mm thick. The thing is sealed with a rubber gasket too making it watertight (although I’m not sure how well tested is it for that). I’ve heard that they’ve been on Navy ships and in the Army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Hunter 2 is powered off four AA batteries held in place with a screw cap. When the batteries run flat, or when changing them, there is an internal rechargeable battery to retain the memory (it has a RAM disk rather than flash).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I use alkaline batteries, but Ni-Cd’s can be used and a charger can be plugged in. I’m still using the batteries I first put in it and it’s still running strong. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Husky\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

According to the manual: “The charger unit is fully protected… if unlikely fault conditions arise which cause overheating to the charger, it will self destruct, quietly and safely”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There’s not much to see on the left hand side of the Husky 2 apart from a threaded port. I’ve seem one with a case and shoulder strap which attaches here and similarly on the other side.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The right hand side of the machine, however, holds more interest. This is where you find the screw-in plug that holds the batteries and the 25-pin D-sub connector that is the RS-232 serial port.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Husky\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Husk\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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On the back of the Hunter 2 is a 4-pin mini din connector known as the LEMO (I have no idea what this stands for). This connector is intended for connection to a barcode wand, or possibly other devices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The keyboard had calculator-style hard plastic keys pressing on a membrane. They have a similar mushy feel to a calculator but the thing isn’t terrible. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Husky\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Husky\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Hunter 2 is powered by a NCS800 processor, which is Z80 compatible (with some extensions) and the machine came with different configurations of RAM and ROM. The underside has a label indicating that mine has 352K RAM. Internally there’s space for a RAM extension board and further ROM’s.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Summary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n