6 Aug
2015
6 Aug
'15
9:49 a.m.
Hi all,
I'm looking for a pertec controller suitable for a Qualstar 1052.
ISA/SCSI/S-100 interfaces are fine. If anyone has one to sell, please let
me know.
Regards,
-Tom
6 Aug
6 Aug
11:30 a.m.
I wouldn't mind one as well -- I have a handful of Pertec drives that it
would be nice to be able to talk to. One that handles multiple
interface speeds would be a plus.
I suppose I could always design one.... ;)
On 8/6/2015 8:49 AM, Tom Moss wrote:
Hi all,
I'm looking for a pertec controller suitable for a Qualstar 1052.
ISA/SCSI/S-100 interfaces are fine. If anyone has one to sell, please let
me know.
Regards,
-Tom
11:35 a.m.
On 8/6/15 8:30 AM, Jay Jaeger wrote:
I wouldn't mind one as well -- I have a handful of
Pertec drives that it
would be nice to be able to talk to. One that handles multiple
interface speeds would be a plus.
I suppose I could always design one.... ;)
Formatted Pertec is a fairly simple interface. Chuck has talked in the
past of designing one, and some of the gotchas with the interface.
Qualstar built two different styles of Pertec-SCSI adapter for the 1054.
I'll see about putting board pics and rom dumps up, but as has
been discussed, SCSI has problems when talking to tapes.
I think Pertec - Ethernet is the way to go, and not mess around with
SCSI or USB.
12:19 p.m.
On 08/06/2015 08:35 AM, Al Kossow wrote:
Formatted Pertec is a fairly simple interface. Chuck
has talked in
the past of designing one, and some of the gotchas with the
interface.
Qualstar built two different styles of Pertec-SCSI adapter for the
1054. I'll see about putting board pics and rom dumps up, but as has
been discussed, SCSI has problems when talking to tapes.
I think Pertec - Ethernet is the way to go, and not mess around with
SCSI or USB.
I've got the Verilog for an XC95128 CPLD checked out--and have tested
the programming on one in a testbed lashup. The interface is basically
"wishbone", via a single 8-bit port and 3 address lines. All of the
detail, such as parity generation, error latching, etc. is handled by
the CPLD. Done that way mostly to create a generic interface without a
lot of SSI packages. I can talk to it directly from a PC parallel port.
Rolling your own is easy. The interface is basically unidirectional
open-collector. You could probably do it, if you weren't too fussy,
with an 8255 or two.
For me, that "last mile" is a bit of a problem.
Is the goal simply to grab all the data from a tape and save it? Then
an interface to, say, an SD Card is both cheap and affords plenty of
space. Or is something wanted that gives immediate control over the
tape drive--that is, something like SCSI? USB and Ethernet are both
attractive, but you'll have to work out the host-side driver software.
Does anyone still *write* tapes any more, save for the occasional
copying task?
Lots of questions with no clear answers.
--Chuck
2:46 p.m.
I would love to see that Verilog, as I have a Digilent Nexys2 (Xilinx
Spartan 3E) and a Pertec drive I could play with.
On 8/6/2015 11:19 AM, Chuck Guzis wrote:
On 08/06/2015 08:35 AM, Al Kossow wrote:
Formatted Pertec is a fairly simple interface.
Chuck has talked in
the past of designing one, and some of the gotchas with the
interface.
Qualstar built two different styles of Pertec-SCSI adapter for the
1054. I'll see about putting board pics and rom dumps up, but as has
been discussed, SCSI has problems when talking to tapes.
I think Pertec - Ethernet is the way to go, and not mess around with
SCSI or USB.
I've got the Verilog for an XC95128 CPLD checked out--and have tested
the programming on one in a testbed lashup. The interface is basically
"wishbone", via a single 8-bit port and 3 address lines. All of the
detail, such as parity generation, error latching, etc. is handled by
the CPLD. Done that way mostly to create a generic interface without a
lot of SSI packages. I can talk to it directly from a PC parallel port.
Rolling your own is easy. The interface is basically unidirectional
open-collector. You could probably do it, if you weren't too fussy,
with an 8255 or two.
For me, that "last mile" is a bit of a problem.
Is the goal simply to grab all the data from a tape and save it? Then
an interface to, say, an SD Card is both cheap and affords plenty of
space. Or is something wanted that gives immediate control over the
tape drive--that is, something like SCSI? USB and Ethernet are both
attractive, but you'll have to work out the host-side driver software.
Does anyone still *write* tapes any more, save for the occasional
copying task?
Lots of questions with no clear answers.
--Chuck
12:26 p.m.
On 08/06/2015 10:35 AM, Al Kossow wrote:
On 8/6/15 8:30 AM, Jay Jaeger wrote:
Yes, I hacked up one of my CNC control boards to make it
into a read-only adapter for Pertec formatted drives. Works
well, but is pretty slow. I've thought that using the PRU
(attached 32-bit, 200 MHz micorcontroller) on the Beagle
Bone would make a really great formatted Pertec interface.
One problem is limited memory directly on the PRU, I haven't
learned yet how to use the bulk system memory from the PRU.
Jon
I wouldn't mind one as well -- I have a
handful of Pertec
drives that it
would be nice to be able to talk to. One that handles
multiple
interface speeds would be a plus.
I suppose I could always design one.... ;)
Formatted Pertec is a fairly simple interface. Chuck has
talked in the past of designing one, and some of the
gotchas with the interface.
12:35 p.m.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Moss" <tomjmoss at googlemail.com>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
<cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2015 3:49 PM
Subject: Wanted: Pertec Tape Controller
Hi all,
I'm looking for a pertec controller suitable for a Qualstar 1052.
ISA/SCSI/S-100 interfaces are fine. If anyone has one to sell, please let
me know.
Regards,
-Tom
Hi all
I have always used TXI-16 and TX8 adapters. The TX8 could be used in IBM XT
(8 bit connector), and in AT's.
I believe they came from Overland.
IIRC, there also used to be a similar one from Shafstall.
The 1052 has a pertec interface. If I am not mistaken, the 1053 is the SCSI
model.
Regards
Nico
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7 Aug
7 Aug
4:51 p.m.
New subject: ISA Pertec controllers available
I have two Computer Logics PCTD-III Pertec 8-bit ISA interface boards available. I have
no
software or docs to go with them, though I should have at least one cable set. From what
I can
gather from past discussions of these cards (h/t Chuck G.), they require driver-supplied
firmware.
They've been on the shelf the entire 19 years I've been with my company. Cards
are offered as-is,
$20 + shipping for the pair. Shipping via USPS or FedEx, your choice.
--Shaun
5:54 p.m.
New subject: ISA Pertec controllers available
On 08/07/2015 01:51 PM, Shaun Halstead wrote:
I have two Computer Logics PCTD-III Pertec 8-bit ISA interface boards
available. I have no software or docs to go with them, though I
should have at least one cable set. From what I can gather from past
discussions of these cards (h/t Chuck G.), they require
driver-supplied firmware. They've been on the shelf the entire 19
years I've been with my company. Cards are offered as-is, $20 +
shipping for the pair. Shipping via USPS or FedEx, your choice.
Yup, they use an early FPGA, whose configuration information is
downloaded from a DOS driver. I'm sure the driver code is around
somewhere in form of Chi Corp's DOS Ninetrack software. But without it,
the cards are strictly decorative.
Probably perfect for a slower drive, such as the Qualstar 105x series,
but unsuitable for the fast (75-150 ips) streamers. Other than the FPGA
configuration memory, the only memory on-board is a 256 byte FIFO.
The obvious limitation is that these really are 8-bit ISA boards. I
might have the software somewhere, but no promises.
--Chuck
6:31 p.m.
New subject: ISA Pertec controllers available
Hi Shaun,
I'd be interested in the pertec board if the drivers ever show up.
Cheers,
-Tom
On 7 August 2015 at 22:54, Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote:
On 08/07/2015 01:51 PM, Shaun Halstead wrote:
I have two Computer Logics PCTD-III Pertec 8-bit ISA interface boards
available. I have no software or docs to go with them, though I
should have at least one cable set. From what I can gather from past
discussions of these cards (h/t Chuck G.), they require
driver-supplied firmware. They've been on the shelf the entire 19
years I've been with my company. Cards are offered as-is, $20 +
shipping for the pair. Shipping via USPS or FedEx, your choice.
Yup, they use an early FPGA, whose configuration information is downloaded
from a DOS driver. I'm sure the driver code is around somewhere in form of
Chi Corp's DOS Ninetrack software. But without it, the cards are strictly
decorative.
Probably perfect for a slower drive, such as the Qualstar 105x series, but
unsuitable for the fast (75-150 ips) streamers. Other than the FPGA
configuration memory, the only memory on-board is a 256 byte FIFO.
The obvious limitation is that these really are 8-bit ISA boards. I might
have the software somewhere, but no promises.
--Chuck
11:27 p.m.
New subject: ISA Pertec controllers available
On Fri, Aug 7, 2015 at 3:31 PM, Tom Moss <tomjmoss at googlemail.com> wrote:
Hi Shaun,
I'd be interested in the pertec board if the drivers ever show up.
Cheers,
-Tom
I believe the same Chi Outright real mode DOS software works for both
the Computer Logics PCTD-III and the PCTD-16. I have used that
software and the companion TSR driver with good results with a
PCTD-16. I wrote some simple applications to use the TSR driver to
read physical tapes into .TAP files and to write .TAP files out to
physical tapes and that worked well with the PCTD-16.
If I remember correctly I was able to get the Outright software to at
least appear to work with the PCTD-III, but for some unknown reason I
couldn't get the PCTD-III and the TSR driver to work as expected with
my applications.
I should still have a PCTD-III here along with more than one PCTD-16
but it would probably be a while before I got around to poking at them
again to verify if I remember the situation correctly.
-Glen
8 Aug
8 Aug
12:35 a.m.
New subject: ISA Pertec controllers available
On 08/07/2015 08:27 PM, Glen Slick wrote:
I should still have a PCTD-III here along with more
than one PCTD-16
but it would probably be a while before I got around to poking at
them again to verify if I remember the situation correctly.
I recall that some years ago, I spoke with a fellow from Chi Corp, who
barely remembered the thing. (Chi did not make them--they were done by
a Canadian outfit). He did warn that the cards are somewhat sensitive
to CPU speed, so you may want to install it in the slowest PC that you own.
--Chuck
7:12 a.m.
New subject: ISA Pertec controllers available
On 8 August 2015 at 05:35, Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote:
I recall that some years ago, I spoke with a fellow from Chi Corp, who
barely remembered the thing. (Chi did not make them--they were done by a
Canadian outfit). He did warn that the cards are somewhat sensitive to CPU
speed, so you may want to install it in the slowest PC that you own.
I'll probably be using it with an XT or 286, which should fit the bill.
21 Aug
21 Aug
8:50 p.m.
New subject: ISA Pertec controllers available
Shaun, I see in another thread that you've found the drivers. I'm still
interested in buying a controller if you've still got one.
Regards,
-Tom
On 7 August 2015 at 21:51, Shaun Halstead <microfilm at microfilm.kscoxmail.com
wrote:
I have two Computer Logics PCTD-III Pertec 8-bit ISA interface boards
available. I have no
software or docs to go with them, though I should have at least one cable
set. From what I can
gather from past discussions of these cards (h/t Chuck G.), they require
driver-supplied firmware.
They've been on the shelf the entire 19 years I've been with my company.
Cards are offered as-is,
$20 + shipping for the pair. Shipping via USPS or FedEx, your choice.
--Shaun
3291
days inactive
3307
days old
13 comments
8 participants
participants (8)
-
aek＠bitsavers.org -
cclist＠sydex.com -
cube1＠charter.net -
elson＠pico-systems.com -
glen.slick＠gmail.com -
microfilm＠microfilm.kscoxmail.com -
nico＠farumdata.dk -
tomjmoss＠googlemail.com