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From: sarge@metapsy.UUCP (Sarge Gerbode)
Newsgroups: comp.periphs
Subject: QIC-2 Drives - HELP!
Summary: Which have on-board QIC-24 formatting and are thus QIC-2 compatible?
Keywords: QIC-2 QIC-24 formatting tape
Message-ID: <970@metapsy.UUCP>
Date: 22 Dec 89 17:45:43 GMT
Reply-To: sarge@metapsy.UUCP (Sarge Gerbode)
Organization: Metapsychology, Woodside, CA
Lines: 34

Thanks to all of you who answered my questions about the QIC-2
standard, despite the fact that the subject had come in this newsgroup
relatively recently.

I now understand that "QIC-2" describes the interface to the host
computer bus (Q-bus, SCSI, etc.) but does not contain formatting
information, QIC-11 describes a four-track, 20MB format, QIC-24
describes a nine-track, 60MB format for DC600A cartridges, and QIC-120
and -150 describe a format with 15 and 18 tracks, respectively, the
last being used with DC-600XTD cartridges.

QIC-36 describes a combination of QIC-2 + a formatting interface
contained on one board.

What I have is a plain QIC-2 interface plugged into a Q-bus, with
little chance of acquiring a QIC-36 interface that is Q-bus compatible
(unless someone knows of one).

What I need is a tape drive that has a QIC-24 formatting interface on
board, or that has an interface that can read/write QIC-24 on board.
I gather there are some QIC-120/150 drives that can read QIC-24, but not
write it (or not reliably).

If anyone has knowledge of a *specific* drive or drives that can receive QIC-2
and talk QIC-24, I would be MOST grateful for their names, and
recommendations of which one or ones is most reliable.

I'm walking on very thin ice with an un-backed-up system, here.

Many thanks for your help.  If you reply by email, I will summarize.
-- 
Sarge Gerbode -- UUCP:  pyramid!thirdi!metapsy!sarge
Institute for Research in Metapsychology
431 Burgess Drive; Menlo Park, CA 94025