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DC600HC IOTAMAT QIC Format

I've got a large Adic QIC02-interface drive here and never have encountered anyone needing to use it. I believe it's an Iotamat unit (no BOT/EOT sensors), but that's just a guess. It has a card with a 6800 MPU and an EPROM bearing a 3M copyright sticker inside.

I've got an even older 3M-branded drive where the head is fixed and appears to contain two channels. Takes DC300-type carts.
 
Yep, I have an HP 9144A connected to my 9000/350 that uses Iotamat media. Every used Iotamat cartridge I try to order has been apparently used in a regular QIC drive and ruined.

Related: anyone have an HP-IB tape drive or (pipe dream) CD-ROM they want to get rid of or sell? My 9000 will thank you.
 
ClassicHasClass said:
Yep, I have an HP 9144A connected to my 9000/350 that uses Iotamat media. Every used Iotamat cartridge I try to order has been apparently used in a regular QIC drive and ruined.

Related: anyone have an HP-IB tape drive or (pipe dream) CD-ROM they want to get rid of or sell? My 9000 will thank you.
Click to expand...

You want a 9145. You really do.
I've got a couple of them. Just need to figure out how to get one to you
 
firebirdta84 said:
Does anyone here have experience using these types of preformated tapes, or others of the <greek alphabet>-mat formats?

If anyone is interested, I've published my analysis on one of these blank cartridges here, and my previous experience with them:

http://qicreader.blogspot.com/2016/05/dc600hc-iotamat-format-blank-qic.html

I'd love to hear anyone's feedback.
Click to expand...


OK, a couple of things.

I dug into all of this recently because someone REALLY wants to read some Apple 40SC Tape Backup tapes
which uses the DC100 version of the block-addressable 3M tapes, and HP used the format for several generations
of 1/4" tape products.

I put what I dug up on bitsavers under 3M


The tapes are the opposite windings of QIC format.

There are no EOT/BOT holes, so if you stick an HC tape in a QIC drive it will spin off the end.

3M sold the product line to Gorgens Industries in San Diego (dufunct) no idea if anyone picked up the inventory or documentation
though I'd certainly like to know
 
Al, Chuck, & Bob,

Thank you all for weighing in here. This is exactly the conversations I always appreciate here.

Al Kossow said:
The tapes are the opposite windings of QIC format.
Click to expand...

This does explain why the tape was at what I'm used to as "the end" when I first opened the shrink wrapping on the cartridge.

For all you shared, Al, I am appreciative. I just want to comment on this one thing:

Al Kossow said:
There are no EOT/BOT holes, so if you stick an HC tape in a QIC drive it will spin off the end.
Click to expand...

Now, are you talking specifically about the DC100 version of the block-addressable 3M tape? If so, that is very good to note here.

As for the DC600HC tapes I'm working with, it might be worth noting that I'm seeing something a little different. I think the BOT/EOT holes are there on these.

It seems that, at least on the tape sample I analyzed, and the vintage DC600HC tapes that were used to originally back up the Point 4 IRIS system I'm restoring, the tape holes really are there. And, I am reading all of these in a Wangtek 5099 QIC drive, and they do not spin off the end.

You can see that in this exact point of my video here, the EOT/BOT holes are recognized, as the tape stops at each end in a normal fashion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L9AH22Jz1U&feature=youtu.be&t=9m52s

Also, if you watch the video in the HD 1080p mode, you can fairly easily see the LEDs change on my QIC-36 interface display box for pin #s 28 and 30, for the Upper & Lower tape holes detection, respectively. I think that the LEDs go off (signal goes low) when a hole is indicated.

Interestingly, Your CHM has as an artifact, an exact vintage version of several of my old Point 4 IRIS tapes: Scotch DC600HC.

http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102662187

I have now read my Scotch DC600HC tapes of this same model and vintage, using my Universal QIC reader, which uses a Wangtek 5099, and I believe that is a QIC drive, by your criteria, correct?

It does seem to have the EOT/BOT holes.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B87jeTKmS7E-Rmo1ZnpuWVY2SmM/view

That is my only point of clarification. And everything else shared here is fantastically helpful and educational, thank you everyone!

-AJ
 
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ClassicHasClass said:
Every used Iotamat cartridge I try to order has been apparently used in a regular QIC drive and ruined.
Click to expand...

Bob, if you're interested, there are more of these on eBay from the same seller, apparently still shrink wrapped. If my purchased tape from this seller is any indication of his lot of these tapes, the band should still be in good condition, and the tape does not appears to have any sticky shed syndrome.

Here's the auction: www.ebay.com/itm/112002437784
 
firebirdta84 said:
Bob, if you're interested, there are more of these on eBay from the same seller, apparently still shrink wrapped. If my purchased tape from this seller is any indication of his lot of these tapes, the band should still be in good condition, and the tape does not appears to have any sticky shed syndrome.

Here's the auction: www.ebay.com/itm/112002437784
Click to expand...

Ah, thanks for that, bought the lot. (My name's not Bob, but I appreciate it. :) )
 
My Adic drive has no light sources or sensors for EOT or BOT. If you insert an ordinary DC600 tape, it spins for a bit, then buzzes and turns on the error light.
 
ClassicHasClass,

I forgot about this auction, I was watching this, and just got a reminder.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/152084902950

Considering 2 are still sealed, then this could help your need for un-modified Iotamat format cartridges

If the auction ends by the time you see this, hopefully they will relist it if not sold.
 
And, if anyone is interested, looks like someone has 40+ of these to sell:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/252981213326

Good price at $6/tape, but shipping is steeper, unless someone buys a bunch and makes a deal.

I might grab a few myself. These are good tapes, even to write over other formats (although that is a shame if they are rare and sought after). That's why I'll post here first to see if there are any takers before I grab a bunch.

Thanks, all, enjoy!
-AJ
 
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