Re: Oxford/Canberra LB5100 Y2K problem - Help

[Ted de Castro <tdc@xrayted.com>]

I haven't had experience with this unit - BUT:

Why not pick a date for which the unit correctly calculates the delta T
- and then recalculate the calibration data for your sources for the
value for that data that makes it all work out right?

Daniel.Harlan@orst.edu wrote:
> 
> 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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