Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
>>But plain old flat straight ribbon cable in a 10" length will do for the 2444; even at 6250, frequencies aren't much higher than 1MH Sounds like I might be ok. Except mine are 10 feet not inches! I guess I'll just have to try them out. Thanks everyone! From: cctalk on behalf of Chuck Guzis via cctalk Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2019 11:00 PM To: Dennis Boone via cctalk Subject: Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11 On 5/1/19 6:58 PM, Dennis Boone via cctalk wrote: > > I got a great pair of cables for this project. 50 conductor, 50 pin > > IDC, 10 feet long. > > So the minicomputer vendors in the 80s typically used twisted pair > ribbon for these things, as in the 1700/50 stuff Glen was talking > about. I don't know how long a cable would need to be for that to be > critical. Yup--good old Spectra-Strip Twist 'N' Flat shown here: http://www.spectra-strip.com/ecpartsearch3.cfm?partID=361=109257980=e6f2501d4301db0d-A0328E4C-C60A-DD93-BF83E6D9C0B9DA8A
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
On 5/1/19 6:58 PM, Dennis Boone via cctalk wrote: > > I got a great pair of cables for this project. 50 conductor, 50 pin > > IDC, 10 feet long. > > So the minicomputer vendors in the 80s typically used twisted pair > ribbon for these things, as in the 1700/50 stuff Glen was talking > about. I don't know how long a cable would need to be for that to be > critical. Yup--good old Spectra-Strip Twist 'N' Flat shown here: http://www.spectra-strip.com/ecpartsearch3.cfm?partID=361=109257980=e6f2501d4301db0d-A0328E4C-C60A-DD93-BF83E6D9C0B9DA8A Expensive if purchased new stock, but since SS has gone through a couple of corporate acquisitions, you can sometimes find it on the surplus market under its old Eltra brand for considerable savings. Odd that Eltra also once owned Converse shoes... I"ve got a big spool of the stuff in my parts cabinet that will probably outlast me. Purchased surplus with the box water-damaged somewhat, which didn't affect the spool inside. The bigger problem is finding really decent IDC connectors--so much of the stuff nowadays is of Chinese clone manufacture and not very good. I'll go out of my way to pick up NOS T Ansley IDCs. But plain old flat straight ribbon cable in a 10" length will do for the 2444; even at 6250, frequencies aren't much higher than 1MHz. --Chuck
RE: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
Oh, oops. That went completely over my head. I missed that detail entirely. We'll keep our fingers crossed that this will work :( 73 Eugene W2HX -Original Message- From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Dennis Boone via cctalk Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2019 9:59 PM To: cctalk@classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11 > I got a great pair of cables for this project. 50 conductor, 50 pin > IDC, 10 feet long. So the minicomputer vendors in the 80s typically used twisted pair ribbon for these things, as in the 1700/50 stuff Glen was talking about. I don't know how long a cable would need to be for that to be critical. De
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
> I got a great pair of cables for this project. 50 conductor, 50 pin > IDC, 10 feet long. So the minicomputer vendors in the 80s typically used twisted pair ribbon for these things, as in the 1700/50 stuff Glen was talking about. I don't know how long a cable would need to be for that to be critical. De
RE: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
I got a great pair of cables for this project. 50 conductor, 50 pin IDC, 10 feet long. http://w2hx.com/x/VintageComp/Fujitsu-2444AC/50pin-10feet.jpg Cost was $35 all in for the pair of 10' cables. Not bad considering 50 pin ribbon isn't cheap plus connectors plus time. 73 Eugene W2HX -Original Message- From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Glen Slick via cctalk Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2019 12:41 AM To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts Subject: Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11 On Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 8:35 PM W2HX via cctalk wrote: > > Now for some questions. > > 1. I've been told the QT13 is a very good card to interface here. I've > been looking for a while on ebay without luck. I do see a QT14 on ebay right > now at a good price, but I am not familiar with the "S" card business and > what that means for use in a PDP-11 backplane. > > 2. Anyone have a QT13 for sale? Or based on my dec and unix interests, > is there a better/recommended card? > > 3. Anyone have the 50 pin cables/connectors available? If not I feel > confident I could make these up. But I thought I'd ask in case someone has a > set getting in their way > A Fujitsu M2444AC in new condition is a great tape drive if you want to work with 9-track 1/2-inch tapes, and don't need 800BPI, and plan to use it with a host with a Pertec interface, and have the space to set it up and someone to help you move a 200 pound drive into place. You have to manually thread the tape when you load it, but I actually consider that a plus as it is one less thing to go wrong compared to an auto loading tape drive. I currently have a couple of them that I have used with Q-Bus systems. I agree with the recommendation to use an Emulex QT13 interface. That is what I have used in TMSCP mode to install 2.11BSD and RSTS/E 10.1 from tape on an 11/73 system. I also have one or more Dilog DQ130/132/140/142 Pertec interfaces (I forget what the models are, some don't have manuals on Bitsavers). Those aren't quite as friendly to set up and use as the QT13. I'd have to look and see how many QT13 cards I have. Probably more than two for the two M2444AC drives I have. I just built cables myself. I have a 3M Scotchflex 3640 press which makes it easy to press the IDC connectors on to the cable. I bought a full 100-foot roll of 3M 1700/50 or 3365/50 cable for a reasonable price on eBay.
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
Hi Eugene, I found my Emulex boards, but found TU13s and not QT13s. I did not look at the S box boards. Then I found a few Cipher Data Products ( AKA Spectra Logic Products) 500A00s. I'm not sure what they are, but they look like re-branded Emulex with different handles. Did Dilog or anyone else make anything else that would work? Paul On Fri, Apr 12, 2019 at 9:37 AM W2HX via cctalk wrote: > Great, thank you to everyone! > This is what I purchased... > https://www.ebay.com/itm/171171330190 > > looks to be the right thing. I would have made it myself but I'd have to > buy like 50 feet minimum of the ribbon plus connectors plus shipping plus > my time. This seemed like a good compromise. > > > From: cctalk on behalf of Glen Slick via > cctalk > Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2019 9:10 PM > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts > Subject: Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11 > > On Thu, Apr 11, 2019 at 5:55 PM W2HX via cctalk > wrote: > > > > Question to owners of the 2444AC. I have been looking to acquire the > Emulex QT13 but cannot find anything on ebay (I did miss one early on and > wanted to kick myself). Anyone have one available for purchase? > > > > Second question. The cable that I need to make here. Can anyone confirm > I need to female IDC connectors on each side? (the tape drive and the QT13 > have male pins)? > > > > Thanks > > That reminds me I need to check to see how many QT13 boards I > currently have and see if I have one to spare. > > This picture shows the SUN configuration female D-shell connectors > with ribbon cables running to the two 50-pin Pertec interface > connectors on the cache controller board: > > http://w2hx.com/x/VintageComp/Fujitsu-2444AC/0306192310.jpg > > If you remove those 'A' and 'B' ribbon cables then you just need a > pair of 50-pin cables with female IDC connectors on one side, and if > you are using a QT13 then female IDC connectors on the other side as > well. > > You need to check the connector pinout tables in the 2444AC manual > against the QT13 manual to see which connector on the 2444AC goes to > which connector on the QT13 so you don't get the cables crossed. I > forget without checking the manuals myself. >
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
Great, thank you to everyone! This is what I purchased... https://www.ebay.com/itm/171171330190 looks to be the right thing. I would have made it myself but I'd have to buy like 50 feet minimum of the ribbon plus connectors plus shipping plus my time. This seemed like a good compromise. From: cctalk on behalf of Glen Slick via cctalk Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2019 9:10 PM To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts Subject: Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11 On Thu, Apr 11, 2019 at 5:55 PM W2HX via cctalk wrote: > > Question to owners of the 2444AC. I have been looking to acquire the Emulex > QT13 but cannot find anything on ebay (I did miss one early on and wanted to > kick myself). Anyone have one available for purchase? > > Second question. The cable that I need to make here. Can anyone confirm I > need to female IDC connectors on each side? (the tape drive and the QT13 have > male pins)? > > Thanks That reminds me I need to check to see how many QT13 boards I currently have and see if I have one to spare. This picture shows the SUN configuration female D-shell connectors with ribbon cables running to the two 50-pin Pertec interface connectors on the cache controller board: http://w2hx.com/x/VintageComp/Fujitsu-2444AC/0306192310.jpg If you remove those 'A' and 'B' ribbon cables then you just need a pair of 50-pin cables with female IDC connectors on one side, and if you are using a QT13 then female IDC connectors on the other side as well. You need to check the connector pinout tables in the 2444AC manual against the QT13 manual to see which connector on the 2444AC goes to which connector on the QT13 so you don't get the cables crossed. I forget without checking the manuals myself.
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
I should have a few, and will try to check this weekend. Paul On Thu, Apr 11, 2019 at 7:55 PM W2HX via cctalk wrote: > Question to owners of the 2444AC. I have been looking to acquire the > Emulex QT13 but cannot find anything on ebay (I did miss one early on and > wanted to kick myself). Anyone have one available for purchase? > > Second question. The cable that I need to make here. Can anyone confirm I > need to female IDC connectors on each side? (the tape drive and the QT13 > have male pins)? > > Thanks > > > From: cctalk on behalf of Glen Slick via > cctalk > Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2019 12:40 AM > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts > Subject: Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11 > > On Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 8:35 PM W2HX via cctalk > wrote: > > > > Now for some questions. > > > > 1. I've been told the QT13 is a very good card to interface here. > I've been looking for a while on ebay without luck. I do see a QT14 on ebay > right now at a good price, but I am not familiar with the "S" card business > and what that means for use in a PDP-11 backplane. > > > > 2. Anyone have a QT13 for sale? Or based on my dec and unix > interests, is there a better/recommended card? > > > > 3. Anyone have the 50 pin cables/connectors available? If not I > feel confident I could make these up. But I thought I'd ask in case someone > has a set getting in their way > > > > A Fujitsu M2444AC in new condition is a great tape drive if you want > to work with 9-track 1/2-inch tapes, and don't need 800BPI, and plan > to use it with a host with a Pertec interface, and have the space to > set it up and someone to help you move a 200 pound drive into place. > You have to manually thread the tape when you load it, but I actually > consider that a plus as it is one less thing to go wrong compared to > an auto loading tape drive. > > I currently have a couple of them that I have used with Q-Bus systems. > I agree with the recommendation to use an Emulex QT13 interface. That > is what I have used in TMSCP mode to install 2.11BSD and RSTS/E 10.1 > from tape on an 11/73 system. I also have one or more Dilog > DQ130/132/140/142 Pertec interfaces (I forget what the models are, > some don't have manuals on Bitsavers). Those aren't quite as friendly > to set up and use as the QT13. > > I'd have to look and see how many QT13 cards I have. Probably more > than two for the two M2444AC drives I have. I just built cables > myself. I have a 3M Scotchflex 3640 press which makes it easy to press > the IDC connectors on to the cable. I bought a full 100-foot roll of > 3M 1700/50 or 3365/50 cable for a reasonable price on eBay. >
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
On Thu, Apr 11, 2019 at 5:55 PM W2HX via cctalk wrote: > > Question to owners of the 2444AC. I have been looking to acquire the Emulex > QT13 but cannot find anything on ebay (I did miss one early on and wanted to > kick myself). Anyone have one available for purchase? > > Second question. The cable that I need to make here. Can anyone confirm I > need to female IDC connectors on each side? (the tape drive and the QT13 have > male pins)? > > Thanks That reminds me I need to check to see how many QT13 boards I currently have and see if I have one to spare. This picture shows the SUN configuration female D-shell connectors with ribbon cables running to the two 50-pin Pertec interface connectors on the cache controller board: http://w2hx.com/x/VintageComp/Fujitsu-2444AC/0306192310.jpg If you remove those 'A' and 'B' ribbon cables then you just need a pair of 50-pin cables with female IDC connectors on one side, and if you are using a QT13 then female IDC connectors on the other side as well. You need to check the connector pinout tables in the 2444AC manual against the QT13 manual to see which connector on the 2444AC goes to which connector on the QT13 so you don't get the cables crossed. I forget without checking the manuals myself.
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
Question to owners of the 2444AC. I have been looking to acquire the Emulex QT13 but cannot find anything on ebay (I did miss one early on and wanted to kick myself). Anyone have one available for purchase? Second question. The cable that I need to make here. Can anyone confirm I need to female IDC connectors on each side? (the tape drive and the QT13 have male pins)? Thanks From: cctalk on behalf of Glen Slick via cctalk Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2019 12:40 AM To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts Subject: Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11 On Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 8:35 PM W2HX via cctalk wrote: > > Now for some questions. > > 1. I've been told the QT13 is a very good card to interface here. I've > been looking for a while on ebay without luck. I do see a QT14 on ebay right > now at a good price, but I am not familiar with the "S" card business and > what that means for use in a PDP-11 backplane. > > 2. Anyone have a QT13 for sale? Or based on my dec and unix interests, > is there a better/recommended card? > > 3. Anyone have the 50 pin cables/connectors available? If not I feel > confident I could make these up. But I thought I'd ask in case someone has a > set getting in their way > A Fujitsu M2444AC in new condition is a great tape drive if you want to work with 9-track 1/2-inch tapes, and don't need 800BPI, and plan to use it with a host with a Pertec interface, and have the space to set it up and someone to help you move a 200 pound drive into place. You have to manually thread the tape when you load it, but I actually consider that a plus as it is one less thing to go wrong compared to an auto loading tape drive. I currently have a couple of them that I have used with Q-Bus systems. I agree with the recommendation to use an Emulex QT13 interface. That is what I have used in TMSCP mode to install 2.11BSD and RSTS/E 10.1 from tape on an 11/73 system. I also have one or more Dilog DQ130/132/140/142 Pertec interfaces (I forget what the models are, some don't have manuals on Bitsavers). Those aren't quite as friendly to set up and use as the QT13. I'd have to look and see how many QT13 cards I have. Probably more than two for the two M2444AC drives I have. I just built cables myself. I have a 3M Scotchflex 3640 press which makes it easy to press the IDC connectors on to the cable. I bought a full 100-foot roll of 3M 1700/50 or 3365/50 cable for a reasonable price on eBay.
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
On 3/21/2019 11:40 AM, Christian Corti via cctalk wrote: > On Thu, 21 Mar 2019, Jay Jaeger wrote: >> On 3/20/2019 9:56 AM, Jon Elson via cctalk wrote: >>> On 03/19/2019 09:51 PM, W2HX via cctalk wrote: The pertec-to-SD project sounds very cool. Keep me in mind if you need testers/buyers. >>> Yes, me too! I still have a working 92185 (Keystone) drive, and could >>> be interested if your design is not too expensive. >> >> Me Three. I have a couple of Pertec drives. > > I have a couple of unformatted drives and could use some formatters with > Pertec interface... > > Christian > I have some Pertec formatters - but shipping over the pond would be prohibitive? They are in unknown condition, and likely need work. I'd have to look up their capabilities - I seem to recall at least one of them was for a 7 track drive (or maybe 7/9 drive). A couple of them hosted a mouse one year, but were subsequently cleaned up: BOX CATEGORYROOMLOCATIONDESCRIPTION Type SERIAL_NUMBER Replacement NOTES Inventory Pertec Formatter #1 UNITGarage Slot 14 Pertec Formatter F649-72 UNIT Mouse entered, but cleaned 9/18/2012 Pertec Formatter #2 UNITGarage Slot 14 Pertec Formatter F649-40 UNIT Mouse entered, but cleaned 9/18/2012 Pertec Formatter #3 UNITGarage Slot 14 Pertec Formatter F649-72 UNIT Cleaned 9/18/2012
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
On Thu, 21 Mar 2019, Jay Jaeger wrote: On 3/20/2019 9:56 AM, Jon Elson via cctalk wrote: On 03/19/2019 09:51 PM, W2HX via cctalk wrote: The pertec-to-SD project sounds very cool. Keep me in mind if you need testers/buyers. Yes, me too! I still have a working 92185 (Keystone) drive, and could be interested if your design is not too expensive. Me Three. I have a couple of Pertec drives. I have a couple of unformatted drives and could use some formatters with Pertec interface... Christian
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
At 10:40 AM 3/21/2019, Jay Jaeger via cctalk wrote: >Me Three. I have a couple of Pertec drives. I've got an untested Cipher F880640-90-1025U here in Jefferson, WI. Pertec interface, I believe. This one doesn't do 800, though, right? - John
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
On 3/20/2019 9:56 AM, Jon Elson via cctalk wrote: > On 03/19/2019 09:51 PM, W2HX via cctalk wrote: >> The pertec-to-SD project sounds very cool. Keep me in mind if you need >> testers/buyers. >> >> > Yes, me too! I still have a working 92185 (Keystone) drive, and could > be interested if your design is not too expensive. > > Thanks, > > Jon > Me Three. I have a couple of Pertec drives.
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
On 03/19/2019 09:51 PM, W2HX via cctalk wrote: The pertec-to-SD project sounds very cool. Keep me in mind if you need testers/buyers. Yes, me too! I still have a working 92185 (Keystone) drive, and could be interested if your design is not too expensive. Thanks, Jon
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
The pertec-to-SD project sounds very cool. Keep me in mind if you need testers/buyers. 73 Eugene W2HX From: cctalk on behalf of Chuck Guzis via cctalk Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2019 12:10 PM To: Jon Elson via cctalk Subject: Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11 On 3/19/19 8:26 AM, Jon Elson via cctalk wrote: > On 03/18/2019 10:35 PM, W2HX via cctalk wrote: >> 4. Anyone ever make a pertec to USB project? Might be interesting >> to get access to old tapes on more modern computers? >> >> > I have some CDC (Laser Magnetic Storage) 92185 drives (known as > Keystone, this is the 1600/6250 version, buffered Pertec Interface). I > made a horrible hack of an FPGA board I make to read tapes through a > PC's parallel port. it works, but is real slow. I discovered after doing an interface with some CPLDs that you really need buffer memory to keep things going. My ISA-interface Computer Logics 16-bit card with 256K of memory does a pretty good job with my Fuji. I generally don't like SCSI interface tapes because they must buffer ahead to keep the tape going, so when an error occurs, you have only a general idea of exactly where it is. With a Pertec interface, you can usually pin things down (controller permitting) a bit better. I've got an on-again-off-again project using an STM32F29 MCU running at 180MHz with 256K of SRAM on-chip and 8MB of RAM off-chip to do Pertec interface work. My point is not to interface to any particular computer, but to provide for transfer between SD card flash and the tape drive. Data and control will be USB, but only after a complete tape has been read. I do a similar thing with an HP7970 and an STM32F407 MCU for 7 and 9 track NRZI tapes. Several years ago, I made a simple Pertec interface ISA card using 3 8255 PPI chips. While it worked, it made the need for buffering very apparent. --- On the subject of tapes, I was reminded about how "more is less" in terms of software. The job was to transfer some tar files from DDS tapes. With Linux running on a quad core 3 GHz 64 bit setup, I'd get tape "scrubbing" periodically (the drive was a Sony SDT5000) using dd. On a 450 Mhz K6 system running MS-DOS, the tape streams without interruption using a simple ASPI-interface program. The controller in both cases is an Adaptec PCI UW SCSI controller. --Chuck
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
On 3/19/19 8:26 AM, Jon Elson via cctalk wrote: > On 03/18/2019 10:35 PM, W2HX via cctalk wrote: >> 4. Anyone ever make a pertec to USB project? Might be interesting >> to get access to old tapes on more modern computers? >> >> > I have some CDC (Laser Magnetic Storage) 92185 drives (known as > Keystone, this is the 1600/6250 version, buffered Pertec Interface). I > made a horrible hack of an FPGA board I make to read tapes through a > PC's parallel port. it works, but is real slow. I discovered after doing an interface with some CPLDs that you really need buffer memory to keep things going. My ISA-interface Computer Logics 16-bit card with 256K of memory does a pretty good job with my Fuji. I generally don't like SCSI interface tapes because they must buffer ahead to keep the tape going, so when an error occurs, you have only a general idea of exactly where it is. With a Pertec interface, you can usually pin things down (controller permitting) a bit better. I've got an on-again-off-again project using an STM32F29 MCU running at 180MHz with 256K of SRAM on-chip and 8MB of RAM off-chip to do Pertec interface work. My point is not to interface to any particular computer, but to provide for transfer between SD card flash and the tape drive. Data and control will be USB, but only after a complete tape has been read. I do a similar thing with an HP7970 and an STM32F407 MCU for 7 and 9 track NRZI tapes. Several years ago, I made a simple Pertec interface ISA card using 3 8255 PPI chips. While it worked, it made the need for buffering very apparent. --- On the subject of tapes, I was reminded about how "more is less" in terms of software. The job was to transfer some tar files from DDS tapes. With Linux running on a quad core 3 GHz 64 bit setup, I'd get tape "scrubbing" periodically (the drive was a Sony SDT5000) using dd. On a 450 Mhz K6 system running MS-DOS, the tape streams without interruption using a simple ASPI-interface program. The controller in both cases is an Adaptec PCI UW SCSI controller. --Chuck
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
On 3/18/19 8:35 PM, W2HX via cctalk wrote: > http://w2hx.com/x/VintageComp/Fujitsu-2444AC/ > I'm still looking for the schematics for this drive. Unlike many other Fujitsu storage products, the schematics aren't included in the service manual. It's possible they were 11x17
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
On 03/18/2019 10:35 PM, W2HX via cctalk wrote: 4. Anyone ever make a pertec to USB project? Might be interesting to get access to old tapes on more modern computers? I have some CDC (Laser Magnetic Storage) 92185 drives (known as Keystone, this is the 1600/6250 version, buffered Pertec Interface). I made a horrible hack of an FPGA board I make to read tapes through a PC's parallel port. it works, but is real slow. Jon
Re: Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11
On Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 8:35 PM W2HX via cctalk wrote: > > Now for some questions. > > 1. I've been told the QT13 is a very good card to interface here. I've > been looking for a while on ebay without luck. I do see a QT14 on ebay right > now at a good price, but I am not familiar with the "S" card business and > what that means for use in a PDP-11 backplane. > > 2. Anyone have a QT13 for sale? Or based on my dec and unix interests, > is there a better/recommended card? > > 3. Anyone have the 50 pin cables/connectors available? If not I feel > confident I could make these up. But I thought I'd ask in case someone has a > set getting in their way > A Fujitsu M2444AC in new condition is a great tape drive if you want to work with 9-track 1/2-inch tapes, and don't need 800BPI, and plan to use it with a host with a Pertec interface, and have the space to set it up and someone to help you move a 200 pound drive into place. You have to manually thread the tape when you load it, but I actually consider that a plus as it is one less thing to go wrong compared to an auto loading tape drive. I currently have a couple of them that I have used with Q-Bus systems. I agree with the recommendation to use an Emulex QT13 interface. That is what I have used in TMSCP mode to install 2.11BSD and RSTS/E 10.1 from tape on an 11/73 system. I also have one or more Dilog DQ130/132/140/142 Pertec interfaces (I forget what the models are, some don't have manuals on Bitsavers). Those aren't quite as friendly to set up and use as the QT13. I'd have to look and see how many QT13 cards I have. Probably more than two for the two M2444AC drives I have. I just built cables myself. I have a 3M Scotchflex 3640 press which makes it easy to press the IDC connectors on to the cable. I bought a full 100-foot roll of 3M 1700/50 or 3365/50 cable for a reasonable price on eBay.
