TU78 Magnetic Tape Transport

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TU78
Manufacturer: Digital Equipment Corporation
Media: standard half-inch 9-track tape
Tape density: 1600 bpi, 6250 bpi
Tape speed: 125 inch/sec
Year Introduced: 1980 or 1981


TU78

The TU78 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-encoded (PE) or group code 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; a TM78 can handle up to four TU78 drives.