22 Aug
2015
22 Aug
'15
1:09 a.m.
On Fri, Aug 21, 2015 at 4:10 PM, Ali <cctalk at fahimi.net> 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!
Of course the biggest problem is finding one locally
in the LA area.
Unfortunately my only resource is eBay and prices there are definitely not
hobbyist friendly (not to mention shipping). If anyone has a line on a
working drive in the LA area (to save on S&H and avoid the dangers of
shipping) or a reasonably priced one elsewhere I'd appreciate it. TIA for
any help.
I have had good results with Fujitsu M2444AC Pertec interface 9-track
1/2-inch tape drives. I have an ISA bus Computer Logics PCTD-16 Pertec
interface card which I can connect to the drive to read and write
tapes from a PC, and various Q-Bus Pertec interface cards which I have
used to install software from tape on PDP-11 systems (just for the
exercise of doing it a few times).
http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/fujitsu/B03P-5325-0100A_02B_M244X_Series_Strea…
They weigh around 200 pounds so definitely something you want to find
within driving distance instead of shipping. They are manual loading,
which is a plus to me as automatic loaders just have more things to
fail.
Here is an example of some that were listed on eBay for a while and
went unsold possibly within driving distance of you:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191640198181?&orig_cvip=true
I wouldn't want to pay the $310 that was asked for in that listing. I
got one for free in a rack with some other Sun gear (which I later
gave away for free) and a couple others that were $100 or less for
local pickup.
-Glen