Re: RamFAST Rev. C and Archive Viper 150?

[gtolar@blkbox.com (Glynne Tolar)]

John D. Baker (jdb8042@blkbox.COM) wrote:

: I recently came into possession of an Archive Viper 150 SCSI tape
: drive.  I've been experimenting with it on my RamFAST Rev. C card
: (CPU is Apple //e, hard disk is DEC RZ23).

: Has anyone else ever tried to use this tape drive with a RamFAST?

Way back when I got to try one of these.  Got 6 megs. per minute out of 
it.  Actually it was a interesting story.  As a few months later my drive 
crashed and I did not have a recent backup.  Except for the 3 month old 
viper back up from my friend.  He brought it from work.  As if by chance 
he still had the tape and it had not been used!  So I was able to get my 
data back.

Back to your problem!  But it does work with the RamFAST.

[...]
: I'm told that what it actually did was a RESET and that the Viper
: 150 and the DC6150 tapes format on the fly.

Yep!  No need to format tapes for the Vipor.  It is a streeming tape drive.

[...]
: I should note that I tried the drive without the parity enable jumper
: installed.
[...]

If memory serves the parity jumper tells the drive whether to reply with 
parity.  I don't think it has to do with the drive receiving parity.  The 
RamFAST will take it either way.  I usually leave it in though.

: So:  Is it possible to use an Archive Viper 150 tape drive with a
: RamFAST/SCSI Rev. C and Apple //e?  If so, what am I missing?

You are missing telling me the version ROM on the RamFAST.  That may give 
me a clue.  I don't even remember what version ROM I was using when I 
used a Viper.  My suspensions are either the drive is bad or the tape is 
bad.  Did you try another tape?  Also you did not mention your cabling 
and termination setup.  One of these may be at fault.  Gee, all that long 
description of your problem and you still left important things out! <hehe>
Without more of this info that is about all I can do.  OH!  Say, could be 
dirty heads in the drive!  I just thought of that one.  Use 
isopropyl(sp?) alcohol (70% or better).  It is not the best thing to use 
but nearly everybody has it.

Let me know how this turns out.  Hay, if you aquire another one let me 
know.  <grin>