R&S ZVB8 VNA - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: fjullien
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2024, 07:27:37 pm
content: Hi,I've got a ZVB8 VNA, it shows an error message when the application starts: "Hardware detection failed!"Does anyone has a ZVB8 and can check if the device manager shows something more than mine (see attached screenshot) ?I was thinking I could reverse the application to see what is checked before it starts but it's not the easiest way to start fixing this device...Franck.

author: Gerhard_dk4xp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2024, 09:30:45 pm
content: I do have one, but its power supply is broken...Gérard

author: Jarek
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2024, 11:01:16 pm
content: HelloNice equipment, how much does something damaged like that cost?I have been looking for a low budget VNA for some time now.Where do you buy these?Best regards Jarek

author: Gerhard_dk4xp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2024, 03:10:41 am
content: I paid sth. like €10K + VAT for it in working order, had tore-import it from Asia to Germany maybe 8 years ago.I found a switch mode power supply for €1K + hefty€500 for transport; someone else seems to havebought it.BTW I copied the hard disk to a small SSD, block-wise.So at least the software should be able to be recovered.

author: fjullien
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2024, 07:02:03 am
content: I didn't pay mine.It came from another part of my company. During transport, it got broken.I need to open it completely to see if I can spot something obvious.Just opening the top and making a visual inspection shows nothing.

author: Harry_22
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2024, 09:18:35 am
content: Hi Gérard!If you are going to repair the power supply I can help.

author: Harry_22
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2024, 08:16:47 am
content: Hi Franck!Let you see the screenshot.

author: fjullien
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2024, 12:54:35 pm
content: Thank you !So I'm missing "R&S SMBus Device" and something under "Ramdisk".Can you please expand the Ramdisk item and get details about the device ? Also for the "R&S SMBus Device" ?

author: Harry_22
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2024, 02:14:35 pm
content: RamdiskWindows RAM Disk ControllerDevice ID ROOT\RAMDISK\0000Hardware ID ramdisk

author: fjullien
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2024, 06:16:11 pm
content: Thanks.No sure it'll help, I'll post here if I find something.

author: Harry_22
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2024, 06:34:08 pm
content: Seems that main problem is missing SMBus Device.Let you start with the simple things.-First, check all supply voltages (please see the picture). The power supply here is very reliable and the absence of one voltage is very rare. But do it anyway.-Then check the fuses on the connection board. You access them from the bottom of the device.-And finally I suggest removing the internal device modules one by one and checking the appearance of SMBus.

author: fjullien
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2024, 08:35:07 pm
content: Power supplies and fuses are good.I agree, this missing SMBus Device is a problem.I do have an SMB Controller. Not the good one.Its Vendor/device ID suggests that it's a ICH8 SMB Controller. However, the board has an ICH2...My guess is that this device is in reality the Altera CPLD. It might implement a PCI device.Could you check what driver is used for your R&S SMB Device ?

author: Harry_22
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2024, 02:18:45 pm
content: Perhaps this is a different version of the controller. I checked several ZVB20 and they are identical (please see the picture).I also installed Win_XP on separate 1091.2814.00 controller featured by 82801BA southbridge. It shows the same 2443 system device.Do you know your controller number?

author: Harry_22
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2024, 05:26:03 pm
content: I disconnected all the modules including both ports. Software started but terminated different way. Without hardware detection fail window.PSIt would be good to run your image on standalone controller.

author: fjullien
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2024, 07:59:01 pm
content: That's exactly the same chipset. I've run CPU-Z and I get the same result as what you posted.My mother board has a different part number (1091.2908.00) but I can't see any difference (except the CPU fan).Could you try to see what device driver the "R&S SMBus Device" uses ?I'll try to run the software in "standalone" mode, with the bare mother board.

author: Harry_22
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2024, 08:14:43 pm
content: Could you prepare the image and send me a link.will run it on my MB.

author: fjullien
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2024, 08:17:29 pm
content: Ok, thanks !Any preference/recommendation for the HDD cloning tool ?

author: Gerhard_dk4xp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2024, 10:07:24 pm
content: I attached the ZVB hard disk to a Linux workstation and simplyused the standard command dd. (disk dump, if =input file...)root@silver> dd if= /dev/sdc1 of= big_file.binand then with the new disk and the order of the files reversed.That worked. In Linux/Unix a drive or partition can be usedas just a huge file. Triple check the device names. You caneasily kill your Linux filesystem by giving the wrong names.I first used a Digitus board for the copy, that produced a brokenfile system. You may be tempted to use a huge SSD as the newdisk. That may stress the limits of Win XP, esp. without thedisk size service pack. A 256 GB Samsung SATA SSD worked insteadof the 160 GB Toshiba laptop sata that was in the ZVB. I made the1st partition on the SSD slightly bigger than required and left therest unallocated.midnight here,Cheers,Gerhard

author: Harry_22
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2024, 08:01:57 am
content: You can use portable version from here.https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AnKzbSysrRoz2g-niKmA8EFcfX6HB0W7/view?usp=drive_link

author: fjullien
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2024, 05:28:45 am
content: Thanks Gerhard and Harry.Harry, I sent the link to my disk image in your DM.

author: fjullien
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2024, 08:35:41 pm
content: With the help of Harry, we found that the problem was a corrupted image on the hard drive.It had nothing to do with any peripheral not being present....I used a new image, copied my calibration settings and boom ! No problem anymoreThank again Harry and Gerhard.Franck.

author: Hamid
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 31, 2024, 12:51:17 pm
content: hello sirI have a ZVB8 that its HDD was crashed.I need a copy of HDD image.

author: Gerhard_dk4xp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2024, 04:18:22 pm
content: Already answered the PM.

author: carver
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2024, 06:04:54 pm
content: we repair Windows in our ZVH8 4-port, but lost calibration data.try used calibration from ZVH8 2 port model, bus SW said that it's too incomplete(only port 1 and 2).can anybody share factory.cal and factory.dat from any 4 ports ZVB (ZVB8 preffer) ?thanks.Code:Factory calibration data:There is an individual factory calibration data set stored on each instrument which isused when no special calibration is performed. This calibration data set has been takenin the factory and consists of two files factory.cal and factory.dat.These files are stored on the removable Compact Flash memory in the directory:C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Aplication Data\Rohde&Schwarz\Nwa\Data\calibration

author: delke1992
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 23, 2025, 01:45:43 pm
content: Hi,I'm experiencing the same issue with the ZVB20 as described earlier in this thread. I've already checked all supply voltages and inspected the fuses—everything looks fine on that front.I was wondering if anyone happens to have a working image for the ZVB20 that they’d be willing to share?Thanks in advance!

author: sky2city
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2025, 06:35:18 pm
content: Hi carver,I have ZVB8 (2 Ports) and ZVT8 (4 port). I found they use the same module. the production date is about 2013.I can send factory data of 4 ports ZVT8 to U.PM me if you need it.

author: sky2city
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2025, 08:48:16 pm
content: Hi Guys，Need your help....... After long time running , I found that my ZVB is need to be adjustment or it's call manual alignment in service manual.Said in Service Manual, it's necessary to install ZVAB-Service program.I search in gloris.rohde-schwarz.com, but nothing found.So where can I get it? thanks so much.

author: Harry_22
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2025, 04:26:37 pm
content: Hi!R&S Service Center can do this alignment only.You are responsible for TOSM and other types calibration for VNA and connecting cables/connectors.A calibration kit is required for exact connector type.

author: with
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2025, 07:44:53 am
content: Hi Harry! Can you please describe the process for running this motherboard in standalone mode?I have ZVB8 with a dead motherboard. One day it just stopped booting. I think there was a problem with RAM, so I tried many different RAMs but none of them worked. After that, I purchased a motherboard from CMU200, which is the same as mine, but the bios flash needs to be replaced. After replacing it, I got the boot, but the software started with an error HwCtrl. I also tried to replace the remaining FLASH and EPROM chips on the motherboard, but without success.Updt. Solved my problem. Now all works. Always check the connectors in this old machines!

author: Astralix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2025, 12:24:57 pm
content: Just to be sure, the ZVR/ZVC series had the software for a full factory calibration built in.You only need a supported power meter with a matching power head, connected to the GPIB interface on the rear.With that you could perform a full calibration that you then save as the factory calibration by just renaming the files afterwards.So, there may be a hidden menu option or a software in the R&S folder of the unit?

author: with
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 09:54:38 pm
content: People, can some one share installation software for ZVB model ?Also - what is the password for service menu .. and how to entire this menu ? i need to do some diagnostics.

author: Harry_22
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2025, 08:08:07 pm
content: Hi With!VNAs like the ZVB8 require calibration.Replacing the hard drive is not a big deal.Most problems usually occur later during testing.PSWe will check your ZVB for free if you wish.

author: Gerhard_dk4xp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2025, 07:34:14 am
content: < vhttps://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/el2avramboltp4b91htmy/ZVB8_partition1.zip?rlkey=wq0jjtbdsdplrt2pte0jbk82w&st=6l6otgsx&dl=0 >It probably won't stay there forever.The ZVB8 disk has been attached to a Linux laptop and copied with dd partition-wiseto a huge file. Use dd to copy it from the binary image file to partition 1 of yournew disk. Don't overdo it with the size of the new disk. The antique Windows must beable to handle it.Cheers, Gerhard Dk4XP

author: Gerhard_dk4xp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2025, 01:58:53 pm
content: Probably that should be sdb1 instead of sdb. A usable partition table must already exist./dev/sdb is the entire disk. Triple check your typing when using dd.I think I have made the partition 1 a bit larger than the original. The rest of the new diskis unused. Later I made a d: partition with the usual windows tools.The power supply of my ZVB8 is still defunct.

author: Harry_22
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2025, 02:53:22 pm
content: Hi Gerhard!Let's finally fix this unit. Unfinished business constantly reminds us of them.These TDK-Lambda Vega 450 are simply magnificent.Unfortunately, I still haven't figured out how the expansion modules work, although I copied the diagram quite accurately.BRHarry

author: Gerhard_dk4xp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2025, 05:18:07 am
content: I think that my zvb-8 had also a 160 GB Toshiba. It also has only 2 ports.as far as I remember I replaced the disk by a 256GB Sata. I cannot checkthis in the next 2 weeks as I needed repair myself (colon cancer found byregular inspection; early enough b4 it turned really bad, need no chemicalsnor irradiation. Don't skimp on your regular tests!)Cheers, Gerhard DK4XP

author: Harry_22
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2025, 09:00:18 am
content: Gerhard,get well soon!We still have to continue.73,Harry

author: EI3IFB
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 12, 2025, 09:07:21 pm
content: Hi Harry,New member here to the EEVblog community ! Just noticed a post from you where you had offered to help another member who had PSU issues with a R&S ZVB-8 VNA some time ago.I have just acquired an identical R&S ZVB-8 (4 Port) VNA in overall good condition that's not powering up.My first port of call is of course the PSU and would welcome any tips from someone that has experience with this particular unit i.e. any stock faults , common issues peculiar to this model , any gotcha's or things to look out for etc . I have a soft-copy of the Service Manual and a well equipped Lab. Just want to learn from other folks experience in repairing this and "not reinvent the wheel " as it wereSteve.