Date: Fri, 11 Oct 1996 15:03:26 +0930 (CST) From: Michael Smith <msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au> To: hardware@freebsd.org Subject: WangDAT 2x00 units... Message-ID: <199610110533.PAA23352@genesis.atrad.adelaide.edu.au>
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G'day hardware people. I picked up a couple of WanDAT units (a 2000 and a 2600) at an auction the other night, and I was wondering if anyone would care to share any information (latest firmware versions, optimal DIP settings, war stories etc.) with regard to these units. Tecmar (who appear to hold the WangDAT name these days) don't even seem to admit that these units ever existed 8( I have managed to determine that the units use a STAC blob for compression and are thus likely to be incompatible with other drives, and that the 2600 should only be able to handle 60m tapes. That's interesting, as both units report themselves as 2600's, and both were able to read data off a 90m tape... In return, I offer the following war story : Both these units on arrival demonstrated "tape munch" - you insert a tape, the transport whirrs and clicks for a while, and then the tape is ejected with its entrails entwined in the bowels of the transport. The problem appears to be with the spool motor assembly; I surmise that the brake pads stick and the solenoid can't disengage them. At any rate, the fix is to strip the unit down (remove logic board, data seperator board, disconnect transport from servo board, remove transport), turn the transport over and remove the spool motor assembly (three screws). Then carefully remove the three screws that keep the two halves of the spool motor assembly together, and unfold it. Don't put too much strain on the flexible conductors, as they may not be soldered too well. With a small probe (screwdriver, toothpick, toenail clipping etc.) push the slug back into the solenoid. There should be a small 'click' noise and it should remain held in place by the magnet. The two motors should now spin freely. Reverse the disassembly process, and enjoy your resuscitated unit. Note: You can determine whether a unit has this problem _without_ sacrificing a tape. Remove the transport cover, so that you can see inside. Sit it in front of you, with the tape entry facing to the left. Power the drive up, but don't connect it to a SCSI bus. With two fingers of your right hand, press down on the tray latches so that the two-pronged forks lift up. These bits are visible through cutouts in the transport cover, so locating them should be easy-ish. With your left hand (or an implement thereby grasped), push the brass pin sticking out of the side of the transport near the tape tray towards the back of the unit. You should only have to move it a millimetre or so and the servo will start a load cycle. As soon as the servo determines that you're cheating on it, it will 'eject', but just at the bottom while it's thinking, both the feed and the takeup spool motors will kick slightly (to remove any slack in the tape before attempting to load it). If they fail to kick, you should try the process described above. -- ]] Mike Smith, Software Engineer msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au [[ ]] Genesis Software genesis@atrad.adelaide.edu.au [[ ]] High-speed data acquisition and (GSM mobile) 0411-222-496 [[ ]] realtime instrument control (ph/fax) +61-8-267-3039 [[ ]] Collector of old Unix hardware. "Where are your PEZ?" The Tick [[
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