TE16 DECmagtape Transport
| TE16 | |
| Media: | 1/2", 10-1/2" reel |
|---|---|
| Tape density: | 800 bpi (NRZI) 1600 bpi (PE) |
| Tape speed: | 45 ips (Forward/Reverse) 150 ips (Rewind) |
| Size: | 19"W x 25"D x 26"H |
| Weight: | 150 lbs |
The TE16 DECmagtape Transport is a classic big magnetic tape drive from DEC; it is an updated version of the TU16, with detail improvements to the electronics and mechanicals.
The improvements include:
- Electronics
- Improved G066 head read amplifier card
- New logic and write module, with auto-load
- New power and servo module with support for dynamic braking and auto-load
- New voltage regulator module with increased power output
- Mechanical
- Various tape path improvements, including another roller guide
- Fixed take-up reel
- Snap-lock lower hub
It is able to store 5-46 Mbytes on a 2400' 0.5" wide tape, on a standard 10-1/2" reel. It supports 7-track operation at 200, 556, and 800 BPI, and 9-track operation at 800 and 1600 BPI. The tape transport utilizes a single capstan, with vacuum columns.
On-board electronics
The TU16 drive contains a fair amount of electronics, in the form of several boards in a 4-slot hex-high backplane:
- G066 - Read Amplifier (compatible with the earlier G056)
- M8916 - Logic and Write
- M8911-YB (M8931 in later models, required for TM03) - Slave Clock, Motion Delay
- M8912 - Slave Test Function Generator
The G066 and M8916 are hex cards; the others are dual. In addition, that backplane normally also contains three dual-high cards which interface to the drive bus:
- M8913 - Data driver
- M9001 - Bus Connector
- M9001-YA - Bus Connector
This set of three cards was later replaced with M9039. On the last drive on the bus, these cards are replaced with:
- M8913-YA - Data driver
- M9001-YB - Bus Connector
- M9001-YC - Bus Connector
Controllers and Drive Variants
To connect to UNIBUS PDP-11's, one of three controller types can be used.
The TE16 is normally used with a TM02 or TM03 controller, which is a MASSBUS controller; a TM02/03 can handle up to eight TE16 drives.
The TE16/TM02 with an RH11 MASSBUS interface is denominated as a TJE16; with the RH70 MASSBUS interface of the PDP-11/70, it is denominated as a TWE16.
The TE16/TM03 with an RH780 Massbus Adapter of the VAX-11/780 is denominated as a TEE16.
The TE16 can also be used with one of the TM11 series of magtape controllers.
To connect to these controllers, in the first drive, the three dual-high bus interface cards (above) are replaced by an M8926 interface board; this produces a so-called TE10W 'Master' drive. (Details of the controller-Master interface are given here.)
Additional TE10W 'Slave' drives (essentially a plain TE16 drive), up to seven of them, may be connected to the TE10W Master drive.
Replacing the three dual-high bus interface cards with an M8927 interface board creates a TE10N negative bus 'Slave' drive; this drive can replace a TU10 Slave drive, and may be used any place a TU10 Slave would be (e.g. with a negative bus controller such as a TC58 OMNIBUS controller or TM10 controller).
Again, additional TE10W Slave drives (up to a total of 8 drives, including TU10 drives) may be connected to the TE10N Slave drive.
External links
- TE16 - documentation at Bitsavers
- Inside a DEC TE16 9-track tape drive - shows the tape's path through the drive, including the vacuum columns
