[Info-vax] lower-cost bulk eraser for high-coercivity tape media (DAT, DLT, Ultrium etc)?

[Rod Regier]

Any suggestions for a lower-cost bulk eraser for high-coercivity tape media
such as DAT, DLT, Ultrium, etc? (Media that has been used on OpenVMS nodes).

This would for security erase and discard, so it doesn't matter that it could erase formatting tracks.

The lowest cost suitable product I could find is the Garner HD-2.
http://www.garnerproducts.com/hd-2-degausser

Price on that from BHPhoto is $US695
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/747408-REG/Garner_3FW_HD2_3_Year_Extended_Warranty_for.html

(FYI, there are similar products selling for $US5000 or more too :-(

Apparently it uses a capacitive discharge method to operate the coils so it's not just a big electromagnet