Poss OT: TZ875N DLT changer questions

[Adrian Graham]

On 23/4/07 12:41, "listmailgoeshere at gmail.com" <listmailgoeshere at gmail.com>
wrote:

> 1) This changer currently has a 10/20GB (DLT2000) drive in it. Tapes
> for this (DLT 3) are hard to find on ePay. However, the 15/30GB DLT
> 3XT tapes are plentiful. What would happen if I tried using those?

Any CompacTape III will be fine, but bear in mind that if the tapes have
been used in a higher capacity drive they'll have to be degaussed before
they'll work in a TZ87.
 
> 2) Can I remove the DLT2000 drive and fit say a DLT4000 and will the
> changer still work?

The changer will, but.....

> 2a) ISTR some discussion a while ago about the drives having to be a
> certain specific type (marked "Changer Only" or somesuch) to be
> useable in a changer. Is this right, or can I just slap any old
> DLT4000 I find in there?

The only difference is the front panel of the drive - the door flap is
removed and the mechanism activated by the rod on the side of the drive
that's coupled to the changer robot. Whether it's possible to just remove
the door from a non-changer drive and plug the robot's activator in I don't
know.
 
> Sorry this is a bit vague - I haven't taken the thing to bits yet.
> Looking at its construction, it's going to be quite a challenge to do
> so.

Nah :) We strip them down all the time because the power supplies are flaky
now.

-- 
Adrian/Witchy
Binary Dinosaurs creator/curator
Www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the UK's biggest private home computer
collection?