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From: bgeer@javelin.es.com (Bob Geer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: CMS 60/120MB tape drives
Message-ID: <1991Feb12.190023.15287@javelin.es.com>
Date: 12 Feb 91 19:00:23 GMT
References: <26853@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU>
Reply-To: bgeer%javelin@dsd.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah
Lines: 34

jdb@reef.cis.ufl.edu (Brian K. W. Hook) writes:
>    I am interested in the CMS 60MB tape drive (120MB w/compression)
>    and am wondering:
>       
>    A.  Since I have two floppies hooked up to an RLL controller right now,
>        do I need the external drive or do I need the special controller
>        card?

My CMS DJ10 is hooked to a DTC (7820 or 7280 or some such) RLL
hard/floppy disk controller with two floppies in my 386-20 clone.
(The RLL refers only to the hard disk.)  You need firmware vers. 40 or
later on the tape drive (some folks say that firmware vers. 39 works,
too) to hook it to a two-floppy controller with two floppies.  You do
need a floppy cable with 3 connectors (of course) -- I added a third
connectory to mine pressing it on with pump pliers!

>    B.  What are the benefits of the external drive?  I heard that they are
>        faster.

My CMS is an internal drive, so can't answer this one.

>    C.  Is the CMS 60MB any good?

Yeah!  I like it; lots of folks on Prodigy seem to like it, too.
Supporters vastly outnumber detracters.

>    D.  Will it conflict with an IDE controller/disk (Conner CPD3204)?

I don't know.
-- 
<> Bob `Bear' Geer <>               bgeer@javelin.sim.es.com              <>
<>      Alta-holic <>   speaking only for myself, one of my many tricks   <>
<> Salt Lake City, <>    "We must strive to be more than we are, Lal."    <>
<>          Ootah  <>           -- Cmdr. Data, learning schmaltz          <>