Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!otter!nre
From: nre@otter.hpl.hp.com (Nigel Evans)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: HP9145A + 16track tapes=ARGH!
Message-ID: <2980007@otter.hpl.hp.com>
Date: 10 Aug 89 12:48:22 GMT
References: <210025@speclab.bgp-usgs.gov>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, Bristol, UK.
Lines: 51

If you wanted to use your existing 16 track cartridge tape stock in
a 9145 then forget it. There are a large number of reasons for the 
9145 not being able to WRITE to 16 track cartridges:

1. The 32 track cartridges have an extra tape guide which 16 track 
   cartridges dont. This gives the extra mechanical accuracy neccesary
   to write the tracks in the corrrect place.
2. The 32 track cartridges have different drive belts from 16 track 
   cartridges. These ensure correct tape tension at the 9145's write
   speed (120 inches per second).

Even if the above problems disappeared then:

3. The 32 track cartridges (as you pointed out) are formatted differently.
   HP buys these from 3M's, who do the formatting. The 3M folks are the
   only ones who can reformat cartridges (even HP can't !).

The 9145 can READ 16 track tapes.

As far as life expectancy, a cartridge should easily cope with 100 passes
(assuming a good operating and storage environment).

The 9145 will indicate "media worn" after 100 loads of a 32 track tape
providing the tape is write enabled (so it can update the tape log).

I have passed your note on to our marketing folks. They put a lot of effort
into informing customers of 16/32 track compatibility, but not, it seems,
enough.

I have also asked them to ensure the catalog you specified has 32 track
tapes listed in future editions.

All 1/4 inch users note:

HP9144A = 16 Track drive. 
HP9145A = 32 Track drive.
HP35401A = 8 * 16 Track cartridge autochanger/drive.

A 600ft 16 Track cartridge can hold 67 Mbytes.
Order HP88140LC (Box of five)

A 600ft 32 Track cartridge can hold 133 Mbytes.
Order HP92245L  (Box of five).

If anyone has had problems of this sort I'de like to know.
E-mail me (address below).


Kevin Jones  (yes, I stole another guys login)

kev@hpcpbla@otter.lb.hp.co.uk