Want to trade? I have a parallel port 9 track drive with DOS software. It also has a Pertec interface but I have yet to make it work with it on my PDP11 (which is what I bought the drive for) The parallel portion works fine on my 5155 portable :/ -----Original Message----- From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Kelly Leavitt Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 12:31 PM To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: Pertec interface What options are there for using a pertec 9-track drive in the PC dos/linux environment? I have a couple available, but no interface cards to speak of. Thanks, Kelly

On 29 Jan 2007 at 13:30, Kelly Leavitt wrote: If you have a mind to, it's not hard to design your own interface as a project. The Pertec interface is primitive in the extreme--no handshaking; just "here's the data, ready or not". Each status has its own line and the commands are initiated by pulling the appropriate line low, then pulsing the "IGO" line for at least one microsecond. Line drivers are basically OC and termination is 220/330. On writes you'll need to provide the vertical parity bit, but that's just an LS280. Of course, you'll have to write your own driver. But that shouldn't be difficult given the simplicity of the interface. I've observed that Pertec-to-SCSI adapters are even harder to find than PC interface cards. The PC cards come up about every 2-3 months on eBay, but mostly without drivers. I think I've seen exactly one SCSI-Pertec protocol converter in the last year--and the minimum bid was about $200. I'm working on a Pertec-to-USB adapter as one of my own projects. Cheers, Chuck