PDP 11/44 RSTS/E Tape ops.

Let's see if a small classic computer question stands a chance against the Din of Dissension and the Cacophony of Contumely that swirls in Voracious Votices of Vitriolic Vituperation... but I digress. The Question: Given, a PDP 11/44 system with attached SMD drive and 9trk streamer drive, running under RSTS/e V9.7. No OS docs are availble. 'Help' is. I would like to be able to move files to and from the 9trk unit. The controller is a TM11 and the device is MS0:. I have spent some hours reading to 'help' files related to this operation. I am pretty sure the *hardware* is correct and functional. I have played with Init-ing, Allocate-ing, and Mount-ing and the using PIP to move files. It is likely PIP doesn't speak sequential file devices but I'm not sure. I am leery of experimenting with Backup and Restore until I know more about the subtleties of their operations. Thanks in Advance Cheers John