Difference between revisions of "TE16 DECmagtape Transport"

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The '''TE16''' is a classic big tape drive from [[Digital Equipment Corporation]]; it is an updated version of the [[TU16]], with detail improvements to the electronics and mechanicals.
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The '''TE16''' is a classic big [[magnetic tape]] drive from [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]]; it is an updated version of the [[TU16]], with detail improvements to the electronics and mechanicals.
  
 
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 800 and 1600 BPI. The tape transport utilizes a single capstan, with vacuum columns.
 
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 800 and 1600 BPI. The tape transport utilizes a single capstan, with vacuum columns.
  
The TU16 drive contains a fair amount of electronics, in the form of several boards in a 4-slot [[DEC card form factor|hex]]-high backplane:
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The TU16 drive contains a fair amount of electronics, in the form of several boards in a 4-slot [[DEC card form factor|hex]]-high [[backplane]]:
  
 
*M8916 - Logic and Write
 
*M8916 - Logic and Write
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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 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 can also be used with one of the [[TM11 magtape controller|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. (Details of the controller-Master interface are given [[TM11 magtape controller#Drive Connection|here]].) Such a drive is a 'Master' '''TE10W''' drive; additional TE10W 'Slave' drives (essentially a plain TE16 drive), up to seven of them, may be connected to the Master drive.
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The TE16 can also be used with one of the [[TM11 magtape controller|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. (Details of the controller-Master interface are given [[TM11 magtape controller#Drive bus|here]].) Such a drive is a 'Master' '''TE10W''' drive; additional TE10W 'Slave' drives (essentially a plain TE16 drive), up to seven of them, may be connected to the Master drive.
  
 
Finally, replacing the three dual-high bus interface cards (above) with an M8927 interface board creates a '''TE10N''' negative bus 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). As above, additional TE10W 'Slave' drives (up to seven) may be connected to the Master drive.
 
Finally, replacing the three dual-high bus interface cards (above) with an M8927 interface board creates a '''TE10N''' negative bus 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). As above, additional TE10W 'Slave' drives (up to seven) may be connected to the Master drive.

Revision as of 07:24, 5 December 2017


TE16
Tape speed: 45 ips (Forward/Reverse)
150 ips (Rewind)
Size: 19"W x 25"D x 26"H
Weight: 150 lbs


The TE16 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.

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 800 and 1600 BPI. The tape transport utilizes a single capstan, with vacuum columns.

The TU16 drive contains a fair amount of electronics, in the form of several boards in a 4-slot hex-high backplane:

  • M8916 - Logic and Write
  • M8911-YB (M8931 in later models, required for TM03) - Slave Clock, Motion Delay
  • M8912 - Slave Test Function Generator (two)
  • G066 - Read Amplifier (compatible with the earlier G056)

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

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 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. (Details of the controller-Master interface are given here.) Such a drive is a 'Master' TE10W drive; additional TE10W 'Slave' drives (essentially a plain TE16 drive), up to seven of them, may be connected to the Master drive.

Finally, replacing the three dual-high bus interface cards (above) with an M8927 interface board creates a TE10N negative bus 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). As above, additional TE10W 'Slave' drives (up to seven) may be connected to the Master drive.