On 4/12/24 20:55, ben via cctalk wrote:
Did any one ever use a keyboard to magtape as input device?
I bought a surplus desktop key to tape machine made by
Pertec. It had a 7" 9-track drive in it, a small core
memory and a field of light bulbs to show the read-back
contents, as well as the keyboard. I tore it apart at the
right section and turned it into a mag tape drive for my
Z-80 CP/M system. The basic tape formatting was all done in
software, and I took tapes in to work and read them on our
VAX to verify what I was doing was readable.
I also traded a guy for a Honeywell key to tape system that
apparently was used as an off-line tape to line printer
unit. But, it was actually possible to use it as a key to
tape machine, too. I wanted it for the 300 LPM printer, but
had to use it in the tape to print mode to decipher the
protocol of the printer.
Jon
