17 Jul
2025
17 Jul
'25
1:47 p.m.
On 7/17/2025 9:37 AM, Jon Elson via cctalk wrote:
On 7/17/25 08:20, Luke Parkerson via cctalk wrote:
Given the date of 1986 it is very likely 9 track. Very unlikely to be 7
track that late.
I can read 9 track at 1600 or 6250 BPI and I *think* 800 BPI 9 track as
well. (Would want verify that before the o.p. sent me a tape).
I also have a rudimentary tape baking setup.
Located in Madison, WI
JRJ
Hi all,
I recently got my hands on what I believe is a 9-track tape, dated
1986, which has some old survey data stored on it from a university
research project several decades ago. I'm hoping to be able to
extract the information from the tape and convert it to a more modern
data file accessible to the public, but I don't know very much about
these tapes nor do I have 9-track tape equipment.
I'm wondering if anyone who is more familiar with this technology can
tell me it's even still possible to extract this data, and if so, is
there's anyone here who can try and run the tape, or knows someone
with a working 9-track tape drive?
The frame is not in the best shape, but the tape is hopefully fine.
Here's a photo:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PrdBnIWUO4-317ZSwqvY-TD6dHr2CxC8/view?usp=…
Do you know for sure if it is even 9-track? Back in the day, there
were 7-track tapes, also.
What computer system was it recorded on?
I gave away my 9-track drives some years ago, but there are some
people on here who make this service available.
Jon