TS04 Tape Transport
The TS04 Tape Transport (referred to in most DEC documentation as a TS11 tape transport), was the magnetic tape drive of the TS11 Subsystem. It contained an integrated formatter, which used a custom microprocessor for overall control. It communicated with a TS11 controller over a serial bus. The transport was packaged with its associated power supply in a standard 19-inch rack mountable frame.
Reading and writing are performed at 45 inches per second, and data is recorded at 1600 bits per inch, using PE encoding. Use of ANSI standard format recording allows data to be transferred easily between computer systems.
Details
The formatter and on-board electronics consisted of a number of PCBs, some mounted on the main deck-plate of the transport, and connected to other boards by harnesses, but most plugged into specific, numbered slots in a custom backplane in a logic rack:
| Board | Location | Function |
|---|---|---|
| G057 | TS04 Read Preamplifiers | |
| G157 (x2) | 1,2 | TS04 Read Amplifiers |
| G158 | Reel Servo | |
| G159 | Capstan Servo | |
| M8922 | 7 | Branch Logic and VCO Control |
| M8923 | 3 | Read Control |
| M8924 (x3) | 4,5,6 | PE Formatter |
| M8929 | 13 | Write Control |
| M8962 | 8 | Microprocessor Board 1 |
| M8963 | 11 | Microprocessor Board 2 |
| M8964 | 9 | ROM Board |
| M8965 | 15 | I/O Section 1 |
| M8966 | 14 | I/O Section 2 |
| M8967 | 12 | I/O Section 3 |
| M8968 | 10 | ROM Extension Board |
Specifications
- Performance:
- 114 cm/sec (45 inches/sec) read/write speed
- 72,000 bytes per second transfer rate
- 380 cm/sec (150 inches/sec) rewind speed
- Bidirectional reading capability
- Capacity:
- 1600 bit/in phase encoded ANSI compatible recording
- 15.24 cm to 26.67 cm (6 inches to 10.5 inches) tape reel capacity
- Reliability /Data Integrity:
- Automatic error correction
- Read after write check
- In-line diagnostics that run continuously during drive standby mode
- Off-line self-diagnostics
External links
- TS11 - documentation at BitSavers
- TS11 Subsystem User Guide (EK-0TS11-UG-002)
- TS11 Subsystem Technical Manual (EK-0TS11-TM-003)
- TS11 Subsystem Pocket Service Guide (EK-OTS11-PS-005)
- TS11-B Field Maintenance Print Set (MP00850)
- TS11-C Field Maintenance Print Set (MP00868) - contains the TS04-A-1 Field Maintenance Print Set (MP000848) on pp. 41-175)
- TS11-D Field Maintenance Print Set (MP00851)
- TS04 - DEC image of a TS04, labelled as such
