diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
index 6b3e29c040766e8420c5d60620fa8218f96305fe..50ee33fa6cb0116a792ffca9bef08afb2dd8f668 100644
--- a/.gitattributes
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -1876,6 +1876,7 @@ LCU/StationTest/gold/xst_160.gold -text
 LCU/StationTest/gold/xst_200_even.gold -text
 LCU/StationTest/gold/xst_200_odd.gold -text
 LCU/StationTest/hbacontrol.txt eol=lf
+LCU/StationTest/hbaversion.sh -text
 LCU/StationTest/i2c_spu.py eol=lf
 LCU/StationTest/i2c_td.py eol=lf
 LCU/StationTest/ledcheck.sh eol=lf
diff --git a/LCU/StationTest/hbaversion.sh b/LCU/StationTest/hbaversion.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..9173d1d4e3f3a7b5cb4590fa1faba289789134a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LCU/StationTest/hbaversion.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+#
+# check the modem software version of the HBA-FE unit.
+# modified for international and national
+# version 10 HBA-FE is default on
+# version 11 HBA-FE is default off (from PL610 2016 onwards)
+# only check on element one in each tile
+# 23-11-2018, M.J.Norden
+
+let rspboards=`sed -n  's/^\s*RS\.N_RSPBOARDS\s*=\s*\([0-9][0-9]*\).*$/\1/p' /opt/lofar/etc/RemoteStation.conf`
+let nrcus=8*$rspboards
+
+version=11
+
+
+if [ $nrcus -eq 96 ] ; then
+   echo "HBA-FE modem version V-$version check national station"  
+   sleep 2
+   python verify.py --brd rsp0 --fpga blp0 --te tc/hba_server.py --server 2 --server_access uc --server_reg version --server_func gb --data $version
+
+   python verify.py --brd rsp0,rsp1,rsp2,rsp3,rsp4,rsp5,rsp6,rsp7,rsp8,rsp9,rsp10,rsp11 --fpga blp0,blp1,blp2,blp3 --te tc/hba_server.py --server 1 --server_access uc --server_reg version --server_func gb --data $version 
+else
+   echo "HBA-FE modem version V-$version check international station"  
+   sleep 2
+   python verify.py --brd rsp0,rsp1,rsp2,rsp3,rsp4,rsp5,rsp6,rsp7,rsp8,rsp9,rsp10,rsp11,rsp12,rsp13,rsp14,rsp15,rsp16,rsp17,rsp18,rsp19,rsp20,rsp21,rsp22,rsp23 --fpga blp0,blp1,blp2,blp3 --te tc/hba_server.py --server 1 --server_access uc --server_reg version --server_func gb --data $version
+fi
+
+