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From: ian@sibyl.eleceng.ua.oz.au
Newsgroups: comp.sys.nsc.32k
Subject: Re:  1/4" SCSI Tape Drives from CSC
Message-ID: <9103091637.14197@munnari.oz.au>
Date: 8 Mar 91 22:50:32 GMT
References: <<9103062229.AA16867@bpdsun1.uucp>>
Sender: news@daver.bungi.com
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Rob Finley writes:
 > One thing we found out here at work is that if the drives are configured
 > (Wangtek) for 150meg like on our Sparcs, they will read 60 meg tapes but
 > they won't write on the 60meg tape cartridges!!!
 > 
 > If our situation is unique, any help as to the solution would be appreciated.

As far as I can tell, the cartridges are identical. The only
difference between QIC-24 (60MB) and QIC-150 (150MB) is the number of
tracks. I think the problem is that it is physically impossible to
write a wide QIC-24 track with a narrow QIC-150 head. On the other
hand, there is no problem reading a wide track with a narrow head.

DEC make a cartridge which writes multiple formats (I presume it has
multiple heads) but it is expensive.

In my experience, there should be no problem writing on a "60MB" cartridge
but you will actually be writing in QIC-150 format.