diff --git a/ecbcounter.c b/ecbcounter.c
index 6158b8a..298f17d 100644
--- a/ecbcounter.c
+++ b/ecbcounter.c
@@ -580,6 +580,7 @@ pCounterDriver MakeECBCounter(char *ecb){
   self->Get         = ECBGet;
   self->Send        = ECBSend;
   self->KillPrivate = NULL;
+  self->iNoOfMonitors = 8;
 
   self->pData = pPriv;
   return self;
diff --git a/ecbdriv.c b/ecbdriv.c
index 454137d..5a49911 100644
--- a/ecbdriv.c
+++ b/ecbdriv.c
@@ -910,6 +910,11 @@ static int ECBGetDriverPar(void *pData,char *name,  float *value){
 
   assert(self);
 
+  if(strcmp(name,"ecbindex") == 0){
+    *value = self->ecbIndex;
+    return 1;
+  }
+
   par = ObParFind(self->driverPar,name);
   if(par != NULL){
     *value = par->fVal;
diff --git a/el734hp.c b/el734hp.c
index 210c85a..3885691 100644
--- a/el734hp.c
+++ b/el734hp.c
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <fortify.h>
+#include <time.h>
 #include <sics.h>
 #include <modriv.h>
 #include <rs232controller.h>
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@
                            int posCount;
                            int runCount;
                            char errorReply[80];
+                           time_t valueExpiry;
                           } EL734Driv, *pEL734Driv;
 /*------------------- error codes ----------------------------------*/
 #define BADADR     -1
@@ -115,6 +117,11 @@ static int EL734GetPos(void *pData, float *fPos){
   self = (pEL734Driv)pData;
   assert(self);
 
+  if(time(NULL) < self->valueExpiry){
+    *fPos = self->lastValue;
+    return OKOK;
+  }
+
   snprintf(pCommand,79,"u %d\r",self->iMotor);
   status = transactRS232(self->controller,pCommand,strlen(pCommand),
 			 pReply,79);
@@ -127,6 +134,7 @@ static int EL734GetPos(void *pData, float *fPos){
   }
   sscanf(pReply,"%f",fPos);
   self->lastValue = *fPos;
+  self->valueExpiry = time(NULL) + 3;
   return OKOK;
 }
 /*----------------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -212,39 +220,6 @@ static int decodeMSR(pEL734Driv self, int msr){
     }
     
     return HWBusy;
-    /* inserted above line and commented out lines below M.Zolliker Sep 2004
-       we do not stop when a minor error message occurs, but treat these with oredMsr
-    if(msr & 0x10){
-      self->errorCode = LOWLIM;
-      return HWFault;
-    } else if(msr & 0x20){
-      self->errorCode = HILIM;
-      return HWFault;
-    } else if(msr & 0x80){
-      self->errorCode = RUNFAULT;
-      return HWPosFault;
-    } else if(msr & 0x200){
-      self->errorCode = POSFAULT;
-      return HWPosFault;
-    } else if(msr & 0x1000){
-      self->errorCode = BADCUSHION;
-      return HWFault;
-    } else if(msr & 0x8){
-      self->errorCode = BADSTP;
-      return HWFault;
-    } else if(msr & 0x40) {
-      self->errorCode = BADSTP;
-      return HWFault;
-    } else if(msr & 0x100){
-      self->errorCode = POSFAULT;
-      return HWFault;
-    } else if(msr & 0x400){
-      self->errorCode = POSFAULT;
-      return HWFault;
-    } else {
-      return HWBusy;
-    }
-    */
   }
 }
 /*------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -268,6 +243,7 @@ static int EL734Status(void *pData){
   }
   sscanf(pReply,"%x",&msr);
   self->oredMsr |= msr; 
+  self->valueExpiry = -1;
   return decodeMSR(self,msr);
 }
 /*----------------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -336,7 +312,7 @@ static void EL734Error(void *pData, int *iCode, char *error, int errLen){
 /*----------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 static int EL734Fix(void *pData, int iCode, float fValue){
   pEL734Driv self = NULL;
-  int status, msr;
+  int status, msr, i, len = 49;
   char pCommand[50],pReply[80];
 
   self = (pEL734Driv)pData;
@@ -345,10 +321,30 @@ static int EL734Fix(void *pData, int iCode, float fValue){
   switch(iCode){
   case BADADR:
   case BADCMD:
-  case TIMEOUT:
   case BADPAR:
   case BADBSY:
     return MOTREDO;
+  case TIMEOUT:
+    for(i = 0; i < 3; i++){
+      len = 49;
+      status = readRS232TillTerm(self->controller,pReply,&len);
+      if(status == 1){
+	return MOTREDO;
+      }
+    }
+    /*
+      If nothing can be read, the only fixable cause is a network breakdown
+      Try to fix this. If this does not work: give up
+    */
+    closeRS232(self->controller);
+    SicsWait(60);
+    status = initRS232(self->controller);
+    if(status != 1){
+      return MOTFAIL;
+    } else {
+      return MOTREDO;
+    }
+    break;
   case BADLOC:
     snprintf(pCommand,49,"RMT 1\r");
     transactRS232(self->controller,pCommand,strlen(pCommand),pReply,79);
@@ -363,6 +359,18 @@ static int EL734Fix(void *pData, int iCode, float fValue){
     self->runCount = 0;
     self->posCount = 0;
     return MOTOK;
+  case BADSEND:
+    /*
+      network problem: try to reopen connection
+    */
+    closeRS232(self->controller);
+    SicsWait(60); 
+    status = initRS232(self->controller);
+    if(status != 1){
+      return MOTFAIL;
+    } else {
+      return MOTREDO;
+    }
   }
   return MOTFAIL;
 }
@@ -457,7 +465,7 @@ static void KillEL734(void *pData){
 /*------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 MotorDriver *CreateEL734HP(SConnection *pCon, int argc, char *argv[]){
   pEL734Driv pNew = NULL;
-  int motor, status;
+  int motor, status, i, success;
   prs232 controller = NULL;
   char pCommand[50],pReply[80], pError[255];
 
@@ -509,31 +517,39 @@ MotorDriver *CreateEL734HP(SConnection *pCon, int argc, char *argv[]){
     connection will already have been set up, read limits
   */
   snprintf(pCommand,49,"h %d\r",pNew->iMotor);
-  status = transactRS232(pNew->controller, pCommand,strlen(pCommand),
+  success = 0;
+  for(i = 0; i < 3; i++){
+    status = transactRS232(pNew->controller, pCommand,strlen(pCommand),
 			 pReply,79);
-  if(status != 1){
-    SCWrite(pCon,"ERROR: failed to read HW limits, defaulting..",eError);
-    getRS232Error(status,pReply,79);
-    snprintf(pError,255,"ERROR: %s",pReply);
-    SCWrite(pCon,pError,eError);
-    pNew->fLower = -180.;
-    pNew->fUpper = 180.;
-  } else {
-    if(checkResponse(pNew,pReply)){
-      if(sscanf(pReply,"%f %f",&pNew->fLower,&pNew->fUpper)!= 2){
-        snprintf(pError,255,
+    if(status != 1){
+      getRS232Error(status,pReply,79);
+      snprintf(pError,255,"ERROR: %s",pReply);
+      SCWrite(pCon,pError,eError);
+      closeRS232(pNew->controller);
+      SicsWait(60);
+      initRS232(pNew->controller);
+    } else {
+      if(checkResponse(pNew,pReply)){
+	if(sscanf(pReply,"%f %f",&pNew->fLower,&pNew->fUpper)!= 2){
+	  snprintf(pError,255,
 		 "ERROR: received shitty HW limit response from SICS: %s",
 		 pReply);
-	SCWrite(pCon,pError,eError);
+	  SCWrite(pCon,pError,eError);
+	} else{
+	  success = 1;
+	  break;
+	}
       }
-    } else {
+    } 
+  }
+  if(success == 0){
       SCWrite(pCon,
       "ERROR: invalid response when reading HW limits, defaulting..",
 	      eError);
       pNew->fLower = -180.;
       pNew->fUpper = 180.;
-    }
   }
+
   snprintf(pError,255,"EL734 returned HW-limits of: %s", pReply);
   SCWrite(pCon,pError,eError);
   return (MotorDriver *)pNew;
diff --git a/el737hpdriv.c b/el737hpdriv.c
index 2edf273..41b887f 100644
--- a/el737hpdriv.c
+++ b/el737hpdriv.c
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ typedef struct {
                       NoBeam and Counting status if the beam goes off
 		   */
   char *badReply;
+  int readErrorCount; /* need to remember failed reads: on RDOE, upper level
+                         code will see busy's and thus not catch the case of
+                         multiple failures
+                       */
 } EL737hp, *pEL737hp;
 /*--------------------- ERROR CODES -------------------------------------*/
 #define OFFLINE -1
@@ -49,6 +53,7 @@ typedef struct {
 #define BADREPLY  -10
 #define SELECTFAIL -11
 #define TIMEOUT737    -12
+#define TOMANYREADERRORS -23
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 static void setBadReply(pEL737hp self, char *reply){
   if(self->badReply != NULL){
@@ -133,20 +138,24 @@ static int readRS(pEL737hp pPriv, int *RS){
   status = readRS232TillTerm(pPriv->controller,
 			 reply,&len);
   if(status < 0) {
+    pPriv->readErrorCount++;
     pPriv->errorCode = status;
     return 0;
   }
   status = checkEL737Error(reply);
   if(status < 0){
+    pPriv->readErrorCount++;
     pPriv->errorCode = status;
     return 0;
   }
   status = sscanf(reply,"%d",RS);
   if(status < 1){
+    pPriv->readErrorCount++;
     pPriv->errorCode = BADREPLY;
     setBadReply(pPriv,reply);
     return 0;
   }
+  pPriv->readErrorCount = 0;
   return 1;
 }
 /*-----------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -239,7 +248,11 @@ static int EL737Status(struct __COUNTER *self, float *fControl){
     handle STATSEND mode
   */
   if(pPriv->statusMode == STATSEND){
-    writeRS232(pPriv->controller,"RS\r",3);
+    status = writeRS232(pPriv->controller,"RS\r",3);
+    if(status < 0){
+      pPriv->errorCode = status;
+      return HWFault;
+    }
     pPriv->statusMode = STATRECEIVE;
     pPriv->startRequest = time(NULL);
     *fControl = pPriv->cachedControl;
@@ -253,6 +266,7 @@ static int EL737Status(struct __COUNTER *self, float *fControl){
   if(time(NULL) > pPriv->startRequest + 10){
     pPriv->statusMode = STATSEND;
     pPriv->errorCode = TIMEOUT737;
+    pPriv->readErrorCount++;
     return HWFault;
   }
 
@@ -285,6 +299,14 @@ static int EL737Status(struct __COUNTER *self, float *fControl){
   returnValue = decodeRS(pPriv,RS);
   pPriv->lastStatus = returnValue;
 
+  /*
+    check for excessive failed reads
+  */
+  if(pPriv->readErrorCount > 3){
+    pPriv->errorCode = TOMANYREADERRORS;
+    return HWFault;
+  }
+
   /*
     check if we update the monitors and do it 
   */
@@ -310,6 +332,7 @@ static int EL737Start(struct __COUNTER *self){
   pPriv = (pEL737hp)self->pData;
 
   fixMode(pPriv);
+  pPriv->readErrorCount = 0;
   if(self->eMode == ePreset){
     snprintf(pCommand,49,"MP %d\r",(int)self->fPreset);
   } else {
@@ -414,8 +437,13 @@ static int EL737GetError(struct __COUNTER *self, int *iCode,
     break;
   case SELECTFAIL:
     strncpy(pError,"select system call failed, network trouble",errLen);
+    break;
   case TIMEOUT737:
-    strncpy(pError,"timeout waiting for status repsonse",errLen);
+    strncpy(pError,"timeout or network problem while waiting for status repsonse",errLen);
+    break;
+  case TOMANYREADERRORS:
+    strncpy(pError,"Failed more then three times to read counter box",errLen); 
+    break;
   default:
     getRS232Error(pPriv->errorCode,pError,errLen);
   }
@@ -428,29 +456,39 @@ static int EL737FixIt(struct __COUNTER *self, int iCode){
   char pReply[50];
   char buffer[256];
   int dataLen = 255;
+  int i;
 
   assert(self);
   pPriv = (pEL737hp)self->pData;
 
   switch(iCode){
-  case TIMEOUT:
   case BADPARAM:
   case NOPARAM:
   case BADRANGE:
   case BADTRANGE:
-  case TIMEOUT737:
     return COREDO;
     break;
   case BADREPLY:
-    /*
-      try to read away all the garbage which may still be in the line
-    */
-    if(availableRS232(pPriv->controller) > 0){
-      memset(buffer,0,256);
-      readRS232(pPriv->controller,buffer,&dataLen);
-      printf("EL737hpdriv dumped %s after bad reply\n", buffer);
+  case TIMEOUT737:
+  case TIMEOUT:
+    for(i = 0; i < 3; i++){
+      status = readRS232TillTerm(pPriv->controller,buffer,&dataLen);
+      if(status == 1){
+	return COREDO;
+      }
+    }
+    /*
+      If nothing can be read, the only fixable cause is a network breakdown
+      Try to fix this. If this does not work: give up
+    */
+    closeRS232(pPriv->controller);
+    SicsWait(60);
+    status = initRS232(pPriv->controller);
+    if(status != 1){
+      return COTERM;
+    } else {
+      return COREDO;
     }
-    return COREDO;
     break;
   case OFFLINE:
     EL737Command(pPriv,"RMT 1\r",pReply,49);
@@ -463,12 +501,13 @@ static int EL737FixIt(struct __COUNTER *self, int iCode){
     break;
   case TOMANYCOUNTS:
   case SYSERROR:
-    return COTERM;
     break;
   default:
     /*
       network problem; try to reopen
     */
+    closeRS232(pPriv->controller);
+    SicsWait(60); 
     status = initRS232(pPriv->controller);
     if(status != 1){
       return COTERM;
diff --git a/fowrite.c b/fowrite.c
index 3188363..93e0f45 100644
--- a/fowrite.c
+++ b/fowrite.c
@@ -538,7 +538,7 @@
      } else {
         SCWrite(pCon,"ERROR: lbank value not found!",eError);
      } 
-     if (var1) 
+     if (lbank == 1) 
      {
          lData = GetHistogramPointer(self->pHistogram1,pCon);  
          if(!lData)
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@
             return;
           }
      }
-     if (var2) 
+     if (mbank == 1) 
      {
         mData = GetHistogramPointer(self->pHistogram2,pCon);
         if(!mData)
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@
         } else {
            SCWrite(pCon,"ERROR: ubank value not found!",eError);
         }  
-     if (var3) 
+     if (ubank == 1) 
      {
         uData = GetHistogramPointer(self->pHistogram3,pCon);
         if(!uData)
@@ -725,6 +725,7 @@
      /* calculate elastic peak position */
      NXDupdate(pDict,"bank","bank1");
      mData = getFMBankPointer(MIDDLE);
+     iDet = getFMdim(MIDDLE);
      if(mData)
      {
         lSum = (long *)malloc(iTime *sizeof(long));
diff --git a/nextrics.c b/nextrics.c
index 992abc6..f84a7bb 100644
--- a/nextrics.c
+++ b/nextrics.c
@@ -1243,6 +1243,10 @@ name of hkl object holding crystallographic information
         free(self->pCurrentFile);
      
      pText = makeFilename(pServ->pSics,pCon);
+     if(pText == NULL)
+     {
+       return 0;
+     }
      self->pCurrentFile = strdup(pText);   
      if(self->iHDF5)
      {
diff --git a/tasscan.c b/tasscan.c
index 98c8dac..09aca84 100644
--- a/tasscan.c
+++ b/tasscan.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include <motor.h>
 #include <scan.h>
 #include <scan.i>
+#include <lld.h>
 #include "tas.h"
 #include "tasu.h"
 #include "../scanvar.h"
@@ -930,6 +931,8 @@ static int AddTASScanVar(pScanData self, SicsInterp *pSics, SConnection *pCon,
      pVar.pObject = pData;
      pVar.fStart = fStart;
      pVar.fStep =  fStep;
+     pVar.fData = NULL;
+     pVar.dataList = LLDcreate(sizeof(float));
      
      /* put it away */
      DynarPutCopy(self->pScanVar,self->iScanVar,&pVar,sizeof(VarEntry));
@@ -1494,7 +1497,7 @@ int TASScan(SConnection *pCon, SicsInterp *pSics, void *pData,
    psTime = localtime(&iDate);
    memset(pWork,0,69);         
    strftime(pWork,69,"%d-%b-%Y %H:%M:%S",psTime);
-   sprintf(pLine,"%8s   %3d Points Scan %3d Scanned Variable(s) %s",
+   snprintf(pLine,1023,"%8s   %3d Points Scan %3d Scanned Variable(s) %s",
            pTAS->tasPar[INST]->text,
            pTAS->pScan->iNP, pTAS->pScan->iScanVar, 
            pWork);