VNA3p 1-60MHz (SP2SWJ/IW3HEV ?) - looking for PC software

[Yansi]

Hello,

I am looking for software compatible with this old "VNA 1-60MHz" device.  It is almost same (only minor changes) as this: http://www.sp2swj.sp-qrp.pl/IW3HEV/VNA3p/

On this link there is a zip with a software, but the VBasic monster crashes like rock instantly after start. "Runtime Err 19, type mismatch". (wXP 32b OS, nothing new)

It is connected via LPT, not serial port like the more modern version which works up to 120 or 180MHz or thereabout.

But I smell that if a working software will be ever found, it still won't help cause my PC does not have LPT on the MB, I have only expansion card, the LPT sits on exotic address $E800 and PC software programmers usually don't think much, so I suspect only LPT1 ($378) hardcoded into the sotware 

Thank you for your help, if you now where the software is...



EDIT:  I'm in contact directly with SP2SWJ now. He's quite communicative and answeres fast. So I've already figured out problems with software for this old VNA. And - for all user of this thing with LPT port, there is a possibility to make a serial/USB interface for it. I'll add more info later!

[OK1FSX]

H?llo everybody, if somebody looking for USB interface for this old LPT VNA3p, I have one spare and I can offer it for some bucks. You can contact me here via email. I was very frustrated when working VNA with old LPT NB only, so I decided to build the USB interface and I have made 2 pieces, 1 can be yours. 73 de Tom OK1FSX

[Yansi]

I have also rebuilt that for the USB interface.  But either way, the USB software for it aren't much better. I haven't bothered using this VNA since then. The software is not very intuitive and as far as I remember, there was an issue of the DDS output frequency being different than what the software expected. No way to calibrate or change the ref. frequency. It just didn't work.

Maybe one day I will build myself a custom VNA with much better resolution, that will work indeed as VNA. As thins thing is only a VSWR reflectometric bridge, that can't tell the sign of the phase. The AD8302 detector has a symmetric phase response and rather large phase uncertainty around 0° and 180°,  which is kind of annoying.

Y.

[OK1FSX]

Hello Yansi, isn´t that mismatch error caused by wrong regional setting or setting of decimal separator in WinXP?,
see this page:

http://www.sp2swj.sp-qrp.pl/VNA3p2/VNA3p2.htm#_Instalowanie_oprogramowania

section 5.1.2 of document

By the way, the schematic of my USB interface is here:
http://www.sp2swj.sp-qrp.pl/VNA_IF/VNA_IF.htm

Hope something there is usefull for you.
Best 73, Tom  OK1FSX