lrogers@dtrc.dt.navy.mil (Rogers) (11/03/89)
Hello,
I am looking for the cheapest, stand alone, 9-track tape
"system" I can find. So far I have found that a DEC micro VAX
and TU80 (tape drive) system will meet my needs for ~$27,000.
The system must have the following features:
Tape drive: minimum 1600 bpi
ability to read CDC or DEC tape "formats"
ability to read different block lengths
Computer: Tape drive interface (naturally)
High speed (56k) RS232, Centronix, or IEEE488 interface
20 Mbyte hard disk
Optional but highly desired:
Ethernet capability (not presently required) ie card slot
TCP/IP FTP in OS, if Ethernet is avail.
DECNet compatible
Please respond to lrogers@dtrc.dt.navy.mil or voice (301)227-1400
Thanks for any info or ideas.
LARlampi@pnet02.gryphon.com (Michael Lampi) (11/07/89)
You might try a Qualstar or Cipher tape drive, combined with an Innovative
Data Technology (IDT, San Diego, CA) or Catamount (Simi Valley, CA) tape drive
interface. The tape drive will run about $2K (used, but good shape) for 1600
bpi, 25 ips, to $9K for a 800/1600/6250 75 ips drive. The interfaces will run
in the neighborhood of $500 to $2000. The Catamount interface (ATC-16) is
really great if you want to read/write tape blocks of up to several megabytes
in length (ala seismic data records), even in streaming mode!
As for computer, use your friendly neighborhood 386 PC for about $2.5K, and
add whatever else you need.
Bottom line for all of the above (cheapest config) is about $12-15K.
Michael Lampi
MDL Corporation
(213) 782-7888
UUCP: {ames!elroy, <routing site>}!gryphon!pnet02!lampi
INET: lampi@pnet02.gryphon.comcliffhanger@cup.portal.com (Cliff C Heyer) (11/07/89)
Why are you looking for a VMS tape drive in MAC & IBMPC land? Instead of using net BW, go to your local newstand and buy PC World, PC Mag., MacUser, etc., and look in the back. You'll see dozens of adds for $2500 9-track drives. Good luck getting them to work with VMS though!
wstef@beta.uucp (W. Gregg Stefancik) (11/08/89)
Electovalue Industrial, Inc. (Morristown, NJ) sells a high quality 9-Track Tape subsystem for the IBM-PC using the Cipher F880 (800/1600 bpi) or M990 (1600/6250 bpi) tape drive. Their package costs less and appears more robust than the Qualstar package. You can contact Electrovalue at 201 267 1117. W. Gregg Stefancik < wstef@eng.clemson.edu >