20 Nov
2003
20 Nov
'03
6:23 p.m.
Physically speaking, how do you
tell the difference between a DECTape drive and a LINCtape drive?
--
By the time PDP12's were built, DEC was using the same transport
(TU55's, later TU56's) for either format.
LINCtapes are loaded on the right-hand reel, and forward tape
motion is counter-clockwise. DECtapes are loaded on the left-hand
reel and forward tape motion is clockwise.
The only other gotcha is the timing track is the opposite polarity
between the two formats.