On 2016-Feb-10, at 3:37 PM, Rich Alderson wrote: > From: Curious Marc > Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2016 12:05 PM > > Top-posting, > >>> On Feb 10, 2016, at 11:40 AM, Rich Alderson <ri...@livingcomputermuseum.org> >>> wrote: > >>> From: Christian Corti >>> Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2016 2:28 AM > >>>> I actually *do* have a 9 track tape drive (HP 7970) that has 200/556/800 >>>> bpi densities: > >>>> http://computermuseum.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pics/hp1000/hp7970_2.jpg > >>>> And it is a *9* track tape, I know for sure. > >>> Actually, what you have is a *dual-density* tape drive, an HP7970E. It >>> will write 9-track tapes at 800bpi, or 7-track tapes at 200, 556, or 800. > >> Nice unit! Drool. Looks like this is a NRZI triple density tape, so >> 7970A or B. The later 7970E would have a 1600 PE density switch too. I >> have an E, but not with the multiple density or 7 track options >> unfortunately. Thanks for the link to the series overview manual Rich. > > Note that Christian Corti stated that his drive is capable of 9-track > operation. That's an E. (Apparently that will also write 9-track PE at > 1600bpi, but it will write 9-track NRZI at 800bpi).
Not sure whether you're intending a qualifier to the 9-track / E model association, but 9-track drives in the 7970 series go back to the 7970A (I have a 7970A in the 9-track, 800BPI variant). The HP 7970 B/E manual shows only 3 model-options with 200 & 556 bpi: - 7970B-136 200/556/800 7-track - 7970E-164 200/556/800/1600, dual-capability 7 & 9 track, READ-ONLY - 7970E-165 200/556/800/1600, dual-capability 7 & 9 track, READ-ONLY None of the dual-capability 7 & 9 track model-options listed in the manual are capable of writing, nor is any model-option listed capable of writing 200/556 9-track. An HP manual speaks of HP producing dual-capability 7&9 track heads but they are read-only heads. Photos in the manual show the dual-capability 7&9 variant with selector switches for 7&9 track and 1600 bpi (in addition to the 200/556/800 selectors). The unit presented by Christian does not have the additional selectors. The manual does mention that there are non-standard, "Special" variants. The manual mentions 7970C as a 'special configuration' of the B but doesn't say what the difference is. If the unit presented by Christian is 9-track, it does not seem to be any of the standard B or E variants. I'd suggest resolution would require Christian to identify the model & option (specific model label is on the inside in my unit).