Re: Help with an IBM 3430 tape drive

I will reply to several comments here, thanks for all the replies.

"SPT Support went away after V5R3, so you would need a very old
release of OS/400."

We have versions back to V3R2 and I understand the 3430 compatible SPD
card, a "MEDIA CONTROLLER CARD FN2644" was supported on that version.
I have no experience with Bus/Tag, other than reading a few web
references.

"I am sure many of us are curious though. Why would you want a 9 track
tape capability?"

I am an IBM midrange enthusiast (having used them in the early 1990s)
and a vintage computer hobbyist (www.retroComputingTasmania.com), I
like to tinker with old machines. I am also located far away and
shipping even modern tabletop SCSI based 9-track drives (like the well
known Cipher) is hugely expensive.

We have a large stack of old 9-track tapes we would like to read and
so far this local 3430 is the only 9-track tape drive we have located
in our area. It is in good condition so we have high hopes it will
still be functional or close to functional, and given its size and
apparent conservative design perhaps easier to repair than more modern
drives.

If it turns out we have the B01 variant (that lacks the "controller"
electronics) then our project is stalled or derailed; we hope we have
the required A01 variant but discovering the difference has proven
surprisingly difficult. It must have been obvious to IBM field
engineers as we have found no useful labels or annotation on the
equipment itself.