[Info-vax] TLZ7

[John Wallace]

On Nov 4, 11:01 am, smithfarm <presnyprek... at gmail.com> wrote:
> I recently obtained an old DAT drive. I don't know anything about it
> other than my VAXstation sees it as a TLZ7, and the person I received it
> from said it does 2 GB uncompressed (which would make it DDS-1).
>
> Here is a picture of the drive:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/2uaeuwv
>
> VAXstation console SHOW DEVICE comes up with a bunch of MKA (TAPE) and
> JKA (CHNGR) devices.
>
> When I open up the drive, the front panel comes out and I can load a
> single tape. However, from the looks of it there must be some kind of
> cartridge for loading multiple tapes at once. But this cartridge, if it
> exists, is missing. Still, I can load an individual tape if I am careful
> not to drop it.
>
> Any comments on this drive? Will it only work with DDS-1 tapes or can I
> use DDS-2 and DDS-3 tapes in it as well?
>
> How would I go about testing it?
>
> It doesn't say DIGITAL on it anywhere, just a sticker that says it
> passed quality control on December 13, 1985 (85.12.13). And HI-POT TEST
> OK. There are two RCA plugs on the back in addition to the SCSI plugs.
>
> Thanks, as always.
>
> Nathan

2GB uncompressed makes it a TLZ04, DDS-1. TLZ07 does 4GB uncompressed
and is DDS-2. Some inconsistency here, not sure who to believe. The
hardware is usually definitive.

Systems and Options Catalogues (SOC archives) won't be much help here
as this isn't a genuine DEC part (if it was it would almost certainly
be labelled as such) but there may an equivalent DEC part.  That
doesn't mean your gizmo won't work though.

As well as BACKUP, you might want to go read about Media Robot Utility
(MRU) and see if it seems relevant and/or helpful.

"Pressing the button below the LED display does nothing. "

It silently starts the 24hour counter on the unit's self-destruct
mechanism. Or maybe something equally invisible but less destructive.