Telling DECTape & LINCTape Drives Apart?

From: Al Kossow <aek_at_spies.com>
Date: Fri Nov 21 02:23:56 2003

Physically speaking, how do you
tell the difference between a DECTape drive and a LINCtape drive?

--
By the time PDP12's were built, DEC was using the same transport
(TU55's, later TU56's) for either format.
LINCtapes are loaded on the right-hand reel, and forward tape
motion is counter-clockwise. DECtapes are loaded on the left-hand
reel and forward tape motion is clockwise.
The only other gotcha is the timing track is the opposite polarity
between the two formats.

Received on Fri Nov 21 2003 - 02:23:56 GMT