TU78 Magnetic Tape Transport
From Computer History Wiki
| TU78 | |
 TU78 | |
| Manufacturer: | DEC |
|---|---|
| Media: | standard half-inch 9-track tape |
| Tape density: | 1600 bpi, 6250 bpi |
| Tape speed: | 125 inch/sec |
| Data rate: | 781 Kbytes/sec |
| Rewind time: | 65 secs (nominal - 2,400 feet) 80 secs (maximum) |
| Power consumption: | 2.4kVA (max - slave) 3.1kVA (max - master) |
| Size: | 60"H x 26.5"W x 32"D |
| Weight: | 630 lbs (master unit) |
| Year Introduced: | 1980 |
The TU78 Magnetic Tape Transport was an advanced big magnetic tape drive from DEC, which used 2400' 0.5" wide magnetic tape on a standard 10-1/2" reel. It supports 9-track operation at 1600 and 6250 BPI.
The TU78 supports two data formats: Phase Encoding (PE) or Group Coded Recording (GCR). Bit density is 1600 bits per inch for the PE format and 6250 bits per inch for the GCR format. The drive can read data in forward as well as reverse direction. It provides pneumatic (vacuum) tape loading.
The TU78 drive is used with a TM78 formatter, which is a MASSBUS controller; the TM78 can be mounted in a TU78, to produce a 'TU78 master'. A TU78 master can control three additional TU78 drives, 'TU78 slaves'; up to four TU78 drives in total.
External links
- tu78 - documentation at Bitsavers
- TU78 Magnetic Tape Transport User's Guide (EK-0TU78-UG-002)
- TU78 Magnetic Tape Transport Technical Manual - Volume 1 (EK-1TU78-TM-003) - drawings and schematics, no text
- TU78 Magnetic Tape Transport Technical Manual - Volume 2 (EK-2TU78-TM-001) - more basic than Volume 1, ironically
