Hello,

I have an old oscilloscope (velleman PCS500) that works through parallel port on an old laptop with windows 98.

As you can figure, the software is as old as the hardware. But a scope is a usefull tool, so I would like to keep on using it, but on newer soft and hardware.

I have a range of options, will list current hardware:
- Have desktop PC I would like to use to connect the scope, no parallel port on this PC though. 64-bit PC. Debian Buster.
- I have an old Sunix Comhub USB to parallel port adapter. It works with the PL2305 Chip.
- I have an older laptop, with AntiX running. 32 bit.

Software possibilities:
- Have win10 also, with grub bootloader. This on my main desktop PC.
- Have virtualbox running on debian, with an win XP distribution 32-bit.

Problems:
- Win10 does not recognise the USB to parallel port adapter.
- Debian does neither, it is not listed in lsusb. I cannot port to the virtualbox either thus.
- AntiX does not recognise the parallel adapter either. (but then again it does not come with alot of drivers, debian easily recognizes my USB to RS232 adapter, AntiX does not)
- The windows driver is 32 bit
- I have not even started trying to configure vine to work with the old scope software ( the software will easily run I think, but the parallel port configuration maybe the head buster again)

What the heck would I do best to get this scope running? Use winXP on my old laptop ( which is isolated mostly from the internet) ? Is there a linux solution?

Replace it!

As you already know, old parallel port tech is almost non-existent today, and has not been seen on a PC motherboard for several years.

If you can find a USB to parallel port adapter with a chipset that you can find a driver for, treat it like gold.

I would search on ebay for possibilities. I would also look for older PCs that may have a parallel port built into the motherboard. It is possible that one of the electronics recycling stores may have something of that vintage.

IIRC, the parallel port went the way of 32 bit PCs so searching may turn up something.

I will have to check my old stash of parts but may even have something hanging around from that era.

Much of the stuff that connected to the parallel port would access the data ports directly which is not always possible with usb adapters. I have heard that you could with FTDI chip sets but have never tried. Doubt if you could configure existing software to use it.

XP will run 16 bit software but not much better then 98 since it is also no longer supported.

I have a FTDI adapter that works but nothing to connect to it anymore...

Wine may or may not run the software but you would need a real parallel port.

I have thought about buying a USB based o'scope just can't decide.

You can still buy parallel port PCI (express) cards — very cheap on ebay.

1 members found this post helpful.

As with all things digital, oscilloscopes have plummeted in price. A very capable oscilloscope can be bought for less than $400 USD.
Ed

Thanks for the responses!

I guess the broth isn't worth the cabbage (as they say in my country)