Obviously it is possible to get (buy) 3420 compatible tape drive.
However it is not so cheap. Tape drive is connected using Bus & Tag
interface, so one would need to buy ESCON converter and FICON converter.
I just checked:
$8500 for tape drive
$130 for ESCON converted (new, Optica brand, but from some broker)
$50000 for FICON converter
Of course the prices may vary significantly.
--
Radoslaw Skorupka
Lodz, Poland
W dniu 03.06.2021 o 18:38, Pommier, Rex pisze:
We went through this a couple years ago with a bunch of 3480/3490 tapes and had
a LOT of tape checks resulting from bad spots on the media. I'd actually be
surprised if you can get much usable info off 3420 type tapes.
If you can't find a reasonably priced service, you could check with Overland
Data. At some point they sold a desktop 9 track drive that was compatible with
3420 style tapes. At a prior site, when we eliminated the 3420s we purchased
one of these to allow us to get to the occasional 6250 bpi tape.
Good luck,
Rex
-----Original Message-----
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> On Behalf Of
Radoslaw Skorupka
Sent: Thursday, June 3, 2021 10:05 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU
Subject: [External] Re: access to 9-track reel tape drive
There are such services available, GIYF.
Note: usually the service is to copy dataset from tape to some contemporary
medium like USB stick.
No conversion, etc.
--
Radoslaw Skorupka
Lodz, Poland
W dniu 03.06.2021 o 04:56, Mark S Waterbury pisze:
Does anyone know of anyone in (or near) Central Florida (private individual or
company) with a working mainframe compatible 9-track tape drive capable of
reading tape reels recorded at 1600 or 6250 BPI density?
I have a number of old tapes that need to be copied and archived, for
"posterity."
Please advise.
Feel free to reply privately if you prefer.
Thanks in advance.
Mark S. Waterbury
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