[HECnet] Tape drive explosion

[Ian McLaughlin]

Digging around in my junk tonight, I come across a DEC TZ875-TA 5-slot tape changer.   Some googling shows it can *read* TK50 tapes!

I'm playing around with it on a Linux box using native DLT IIIXT tapes on it to make sure it's operating correctly, then I'll give it a try reading a TK50.   I hope it works!

Ian

On 2013-01-25, at 10:17 AM, "Rob Jarratt" <robert.jarratt at ntlworld.com> wrote:
I have been trying to find TF-series drives for a while, wouldn't mind a 9-track either but not sure I have room for one of those.

Regards

Rob

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-hecnet at Update.UU.SE [mailto:owner-hecnet at Update.UU.SE]
On Behalf Of Kari Uusim  ki
Sent: 25 January 2013 10:41
To: hecnet at Update.UU.SE
Subject: Re: [HECnet] Tape drive explosion


TK50Z is a SCSI version as the TZ30 is as well.

I have never seen a TK70 drive with another interface than the QBUS
controller TQK70 or the BI bus controller TBK70.

The two generation of DLT drives after TK70 has had either SCSI or DSSI
interfaces e.g. TZ85/TF85, TZ86/TF86.

Then the DSSI interface was abandoned and all the rest of the DEC branded
DLT drives had a SCSI interface only i.e. TZ87, TZ88, TZ89, TZ90.
I don't know why the DSSI interface was dropped, but I guess the SCSI drives
sold better especially to the Alpha customers.


Regards,

Kari


On 25.1.2013 9:27, Ian McLaughlin wrote:
We're any of the other DEC drives released in a scsi version?

Ian

Sent from my iPad

On 2013-01-24, at 8:33 PM, Kari Uusim  ki <uusimaki at exdecfinland.org>
wrote:

On 25.1.2013 0:26, Ian McLaughlin wrote:

On 2013-01-24, at 2:06 AM, Kari Uusim  ki
<uusimaki at exdecfinland.org> wrote:

Is the takeup leader (the plastic ribbon which is fastened to the
internal reel) intact? Its outer end which grabs the tape from the cassette is
arrow-shaped. Is the "arrow" quite in order? If not, the takeup leader should
be replaced.

Tape leader is fine on this drive.   The problem with this cartridge is the
spool inside the cartridge jammed and wouldn't rotate causing the drive to
not rewind.
Ok. Cartridge failure, then. Could it have been accidentally dropped? I've
seen several times DLT cartriges fail after been dropped on the floor.

You can also read a TK50 tape with a newer DLT drive like TZ85, TZ86
and TZ87.

Is this true?   According to Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Linear_Tape a CompacTape I can only
be read by a TK50 and a TK70.

Can anyone confirm or deny this?   I have some newer generation DLT
drives, but none of them admit to being backwards compatible that far.

Ian


.

I'm not sure if others than DEC branded DLT drives (TZ85,TZ86,TZ87) can
read TK50 tapes, but DEC drives sure do.
Even the front of the drive has leds which indicate which formats the
drive can handle.

Like Johnny said, Wikipedia articles aren't always the complete truth of
the topic.


Regards,

Kari



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