22 Aug
2015
22 Aug
'15
3:22 a.m.
On 08/21/2015 06:10 PM, Ali wrote:
Hello All,
Recently I came across a complete Pertec interface (card, manual, software,
and, cables) thanks to list-member Shaun. Of course what is the point of
having an interface if you have nothing to interface it to!
So I've been looking at, and learning a bit, about 1/2" tape drives.
Enough Pertec drives were made so that manuals should be no
problem. Some other makes were made in fairly small numbers
so manuals may be a problem.
You have to decide, spring-arm, vacuum-column or streaming,
and then most dual density drives were either 800/1600 or
1600/6250. Few would do all three. (Also there's 3200 BPI,
identical to 1600 PE mode, just double the clock, but it is
a fairly rare setup.)
We had a Digi-Data streaming tape drive that was a complete
disaster. The read data chips burned out about one a month.
I still have 2 CDC "Keystone" (92185) drives here that
work. They are well-built and almost elegant.
Oh, with "Pertec interface" there are TWO FLAVORS! The old
system was Pertec unformatted, with 3 cables.
Write, Read and Control. Later was Pertec formatted, with
two cables. They are totally incompatible, so make sure you
get drives compatible with your interface.
Jon