Date: Sunday, 16 December 1984 From: decvax!ihnp4!mgnetp!we53!busch!wuphys!scott To: net.micro Re: summary of s-100 9-track cntrlr query Here are the responses I got from my request for s-100 tape drive controllers. My apologies for the long delay. It turns out that we are going to use a "general purpose parrallel interface" to hook the Kennedy 9100 to the s-100 Compupro. The device is called "Interfacer 2" and is made by Vector Electronic Co. (POB 4336, Sylar CA 91432, phone 818-365-9661). It is triple parallel, single rs232serial I/O board. I should say that I am not directly connected with the group that is doing the work and cannot explain why it is they chose to go this route. They are wiring it up and writing the code to manipulate the parallel in/out registers on the interface to do al the functions of a standard tape drive controller. The last word with the principles on the project indicated that they were able to read and write 800bpi tapes, but were having troubles checking the CRC and LRC bytes. This problem was only on the Compupro end, as they could read perfectly s-100 written tapes on the PDP11/34-EmulexTC11-Kennedy9100 system. I have not asked these respondants for a release to forward this information (it's hard to see why they would object), but if you contact them you may catch them unawares. Go accordingly. I have edited out the headers; the bodies are intact. Thanks for all your replies and I hope this is usefull to others. Scott ihnp4!wuphys!scott "I am a child of the unixverse." ----------------------------original request------------------------------- I am looking for a manufacture(s) of S-100 bus controllers for 9-track tape drives (industry std interface - Pertec; Kennedy 9100 to be exact). I realize this is a little odd and is why I am having trouble locating a seller. Any pointers to even potential manufactures would be much appreciated. ihnp4!wuphys!scott Thanks. Scott Barthelmy, Washington U., Physics Dept., St. Louis, MO. -----------------------------------reply------------------------------- From: Subject: Re: S-100 controller for 9-track mt wanted There was a company that used to have a small ad in the back of Byte every month -- but I can't remember the name. You might try: Ibex Computer Corp. 20741 Marilla St. Chatsworth CA 91311 (213) 709-8100 Bert Johnston I know they have IBM PC, maybe S-100 too? David DiGiacomo, BRAG Systems Inc., San Mateo CA (415) 342-3963 (...decvax!ucbvax!hplabs!bragvax!david) -----------------------------------reply------------------------------- From: ihnp4!utcsrgv!mason It seems to me there have been some ads in BYTE about tape drive/controllers for IBM-PC & their ilk...you might try talking to one of them...or Pertec. Dave -----------------------------------reply------------------------------- From: There are 2 S-100 controller manufactures that I am aware of. Konan Corp. in Phoenix AZ has a microprocessor based system but has a limited block size of up to 8k. It transfers data into internal ram, and then you use programmed I/O to read the data. The board also contains a centronics printer port. I have used this one and would highly recomend it. Price is around $1,000. The other I know of, I have a data sheet somewhere is I beleave Overland Data Systems (or something like it) in El Cajon, CA (I think). It uses DMA and can have block sizes of up to 64k. I don't remember the price. If the you need to contact them and can't find them from the above info, mail me a message and I'll try to find the data sheet. Good luck. [Row, row, row your bits, gently down the stream...] Mike Lesher Burroughs ASG, San Diego, CA. (..!bmcg!mikel) -----------------------------------reply------------------------------- From: ihnp4!uw-beaver!uw-june!entropy!dataio!weil (Steve Weil) I don't work there anymore, but when I left, Dual Systems was putting the finishing touches on a 9-track controller. My impression is that we (they) have the highest quality boards available on the S-100 bus. (They decided to make their own because there were no others that were reliable.) They are: Dual Systems Corp. 2530 San Pablo Ave. Berkeley, Ca. 94710 (415) 549-3854 Steve Weil Data I/O ucbvax!lbl-unix!uw-beaver!teltone!dataio!weil unisoft!teltone!dataio!weil entropy!dataio!weil -----------------------------------reply------------------------------- From: (unknown) Subject: 9tr on S100 Great news! SUch things DO exist. Contaact DUAL Systems, 2530 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley CA. Phone 415-549-3854. They have a board called TCON which drives industry-standard 9tr drives (several particular drives `qualified' for their support; others may work) up to 100 ips. Ian Darwin, Toronto {ihnp4|decvax}!utcs!ian -----------------------------------reply------------------------------- From: ihnp4!seismo!hadron!tsp-agv (T. Scott Pyne (AGV)) Subject: Re: 9-track on S-100 This may be a solved problem by now for you. if not, a company called Konan Systems makes one, along with other "large machine" peripheral controllers for S-100 (like SMD drives). They claim "strict compliance with IEEE 696 standard", but who doesn't these days. I don't have their address/phone in front of me, but they advertise most months in Microsystems. If you can't find an ad write back to me and I'll dig it up from a back issue. Hope this helps. Scott seismo!hadron!tsp