Oxford/Canberra LB5100 Y2K problem - Help

[Daniel.Harlan@orst.edu]

Hello Radsafers

I need advice and cost-conscious options for fixing a Y2K bug we discovered
in the following counter:

Oxford (now Canberra) LB-5100 windowless proportional counter.  The machine
is about 8 years old and is controlled by a computer running Windows 3.1.
The interface software consists of C++ code and Microsoft Excel macros run
from an Excel (ver 4) interface. Communication between the counter and PC is
through a National Instruments GPIB board.

The Y2K problem is in the decay calculations used for determining isotope
efficiency, i.e. decayed values for source activities are greater than
original activities by minus 100 years. The error is apparently in the C++
code or the macros, but in either case can not be fixed in-house, and there
are no patches available from Canberra.  

Canberra's fix is a complete upgrade at a cost of about $9500, including new
computer, software, hardware for the counter, and on-site installation.
They could not offer any alternatives for upgrading this system.

Has anybody out there had experience with this equipment?  I would
appreciate your comments.

Thanks

Dan Harlan
Assistant Radiation Safety Officer
Oregon State University
daniel.harlan@orst.edu
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