View source for TS03 DECmagtape Transport

{{Infobox Tape drive
| name = TS03 DECmagtape Transport
| caption = TS03 drive
| controller = [[TM11 magtape controller|TM11]], [[TM8-E Controller|TM8-E]]
| tape speed = 12-1/2 ips (Forward/Reverse)<br>120 ips (Rewind)
| size = 19"W x 17"D x 10-1/2"H
| weight = 34 lbs
}}

The '''TS03 DECmagtape Transport''' was a low-cost, smallish, modest performance [[magnetic tape drive]] from [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]].

It is able to store 5 Mbytes on a 600' 0.5" wide tape, on a standard 7" (i.e. small) reel. It supported 9-track operation at 800 BPI only, using [[NRZI]] [[encoding]]. The tape transport utilized a single capstan, with linear-drive reel servos, and mechanical servo arms to control tape tension.

To connect to [[UNIBUS]] machine such as a [[PDP-11]], one of the [[TM11 magtape controller|TM11 series]] of magtape [[device controller]]s was used; the TS03 usually shipped with a TMB11. (Details of the controller-drive interface are given [[TM11 magtape controller#Drive Connection|here]].) To connect to the [[OMNIBUS]] on a [[PDP-8 family|PDP-8]], a [[TM8-E Controller]] was used. 

A single controller could handle up to two TS03 drives; the first TS03 drive was a 'Master', and contained a [[DEC card form factor|hex]]-sized M8920 interface board to adapt the TM11 interface to the drive; the additional 'Slave' drive may be connected to the Master drive.

A TS03 drive can be mounted on slides in a standard 10-1/2" mounting space in a normal DEC rack such as an [[H960 rack|H960]].

{{semi-stub}}

==External links==

* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/magtape/tmb11/EK-TMB11-OP-001_Nov76.pdf TMB11/TS03 DECmagtape system user's manual (TMB11-M system)] (EK-TMB11-OP-001)
* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp8/omnibus/EK-T3TM8-MM-001_TS03-TM8-E_DECmagtape_System_Maintenance_Manual_Apr76.pdf TS03/TM8-E DECmagtape system maintenance manual] (EK-T3TM8-MM-001)
* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/magtape/ts03/TS03M_engrDrawings_1975.pdf TS03-M Engineering Drawings]
* [https://www.pdp-11.nl/peripherals/tape/ts03-info.html TS03 tape drive]

[[Category: DEC Tape Drives]]