Knowledge (XXG)

Quarter-inch cartridge

Source 📝

374: 57: 138: 634:, was made possible by making the cartridges physically longer to accommodate larger spools. In many cases a standard QIC drive and backup package can use the extended length to store additional data, however in some cases an attempt to reformat a QIC-EX cartridge fails since the time taken to traverse the extra length triggers a timeout in the drive or controlling software intended to detect a broken tape. 53:
data written in the opposite direction to its neighbor. Since its introduction, it has been widely used, and many variations exist. There is a QIC trade association that publishes QIC standards which include interfaces and logical formats. To a very large extent it was the efficiency and openness of this organization which encouraged hardware and software developers to use this type of drive and media.
130: 89:
end has a small beginning or end of tape hole which is detected by an optical sensor, and an "early warning" hole further from each end. If a defective drive—for example with fluff in a sensor—winds the tape past the BOT or EOT marker, the tape will detach from the spool and the cartridge will be unusable unless it is reattached.
52:
inch (6.35 mm) wide and anywhere from 300 to 1,500 feet (91 to 457 m) long. Data is written linearly along the length of the tape in one track (mostly on pre-1980 equipment), or written "serpentine", one track at a time, the drive reversing direction at the end of the tape, and each track's
88:
The tape in a QIC cartridge is not physically attached to the reels and is never completely unwound. This is again different from other cassettes or cartridges, which generally have some form of clip anchoring on at least one end of the tape. To ensure that the tape is never completely unwound, each
105:
However, because the tape is belt-driven, seeking back and forth can eventually cause the tape to become unevenly tensioned. It is therefore necessary to periodically retension the cartridge. This is accomplished by winding the tape from beginning to end and back in one operation, allowing the belt
41:
in 1972, with derivatives still in use as of 2016. QIC comes in a rugged enclosed package of aluminum and plastic that holds two tape reels driven by a single belt in direct contact with the tape. The tape was originally
607:'s name for its line of high-capacity QIC data cartridge drives. As of 2005, Tandberg was the only manufacturer of SLR/QIC drives in the world. The largest SLR drive can hold 70 GB of data (140 GB compressed). 73:. Since the belt is in contact with the tape, this ensures both that the tape moves at uniform speed, and that neutral tension is maintained at all times. This is in contrast to 1081: 1513: 113:
When the cartridge gets old, the belt may not provide enough friction to turn the takeup spool smoothly. When this happens, the tape will need to be replaced.
251:
3M DC600HC, a preformatted tape with 16 tracks on 600 foot DC600A and software-based EOT/BOT detection. HP used these in the HP914x type of cartridge drives.
69:
The QIC cartridge is distinguished from other types of tape cartridges by containing an endless drive belt which is moved at a uniform speed by a motorised
1074: 619:
that uses a wider .315 inch (8 mm) tape and increases the recording density. QIC-Wide drives are backwards compatible with QIC tapes.
971: 1508: 1067: 906: 853: 761: 701: 1388: 116:
In some cases a cartridge must be formatted before use. The capability to do this is in the drive rather than the host computer.
102:
inch (2.54 mm) thick, and the robust plastic cover can withstand abuse and impacts that would damage other tape formats.
647: 358: 184:, has 300 feet of tape and holds 200 kilobytes. Various QIC DC recording formats have appeared over the years, including: 1306: 1242: 1130: 1090: 34: 20: 1459: 1430: 1265: 600: 595: 1418: 1395: 1213: 1195: 1189: 664: 70: 1341: 659: 350: 81:, where the tape is moved past the head by a capstan and pinch wheel, but the takeup reel is driven by a 1482: 1294: 631: 1424: 1359: 1312: 1236: 1177: 362: 78: 1324: 967: 963: 942: 902: 898: 892: 849: 757: 697: 393: 373: 1201: 1159: 180:(DC) format with two internal belt-driven reels and a metal base. The original product, the 1171: 668: 922:
Catherine D. Miller (August 1989). "Beyond Floppy Disks: A Look at Backup Alternatives".
1027: 56: 1002: 795:
M. David Stone (October 16, 1990). "QIC 150 Tape Drives: The Rising Star for Backup".
1502: 1353: 1347: 1271: 1059: 957: 604: 74: 137: 1165: 354: 197:: nine-track, 45 MB or 60 MB on a 450 or 600 ft DC600A cartridge, respectively 1153: 737: 717: 92:
The design of the QIC tape cartridge is very robust: the aluminium baseplate is
82: 876: 815: 307: 1207: 1183: 1147: 1112: 780:
M. David Stone (October 16, 1990). "Backing Up: Guide to Media Choices".
1318: 1124: 1052: 829:
Oliver Rist (April 14, 1992). "Backup Alternatives: What's Out There".
129: 400:, uses a longer and wider (8 mm) tape to give higher capacities. 1230: 388: 382: 191:: a four-track format giving 20 MB on a 450 ft DC300XL cartridge 60:
Quarter inch cartridges: left, 400MB (QIC-EX); right, 120MB (QIC-80)
630:, a modification to support longer tapes and thus more data by the 1453: 1447: 1412: 1300: 1288: 643: 372: 141: 136: 128: 55: 1118: 894:
The Essential Guide to Computer Data Storage: From Floppy to DVD
616: 237: 107: 1063: 233:
drive interface standards. Later QIC DC drives usually use the
1465: 956:
Evi Nemeth; Garth Snyder; Scott Seebass; Trent Hein (2000).
397: 110:
interface, there is a SCSI "RETENSION" command to do this.
38: 754:
Solaris Operating Environment System Administrator's Guide
392:
is an evolution of the QIC Minicartridge format, sold for
292:
inches (79 mm) size and is small enough to fit in a
987:
M. David Stone (February 7, 1995). "The Bigger Backup".
1047: 215:: 26-track, 525 MB on a 1020 ft DC6525 cartridge 106:
to equalize itself. For newer QIC drives that use a
1475: 1440: 1405: 1380: 1373: 1334: 1281: 1252: 1223: 1140: 1105: 1098: 1028:"PC Magazine Encyclopedia: Definition of: QIC-157" 319:20-track DC2000 mini-cartridge 205 ft. 40 MB 1003:"PC Magazine Encyclopedia: Definition of: QIC-EX" 332:28-track DC2080 mini-cartridge 205 ft. 80 MB 667:, a company dedicated to QIC, later acquired by 642:An interface standard for tape drives using the 322:20-track DC2000XL mini-cartridge 307½ ft. 60 MB 775: 773: 335:28-track DC2120 mini-cartridge 307½ ft. 120 MB 1075: 812:The Telecommunications Illustrated Dictionary 8: 869: 867: 865: 1377: 1102: 1082: 1068: 1060: 735:"New on the Market: TG-4020 and TG-4045". 264:(MC) form-factor was introduced. This is 221:: 30-track, 1.35 GB on a DC9135 cartridge 1048:The QIC international trade organisation 402: 694:IBM Tape Library Guide for Open Systems 679: 247:Other Data Cartridge (DC) look-alikes: 1514:Computer-related introductions in 1972 687: 685: 683: 7: 209:: 18-track, 150 MB, DC6150 cartridge 203:: 15-track, 125 MB, DC6150 cartridge 33:, commonly pronounced "quick") is a 959:Unix System Administration Handbook 225:Other QIC DC standards include the 148:The first QIC tape format was the 14: 16:Magnetic tape data storage format 396:use. This version, developed by 718:"QIC Standards Cross Reference" 1282:"Eighth" (0.15) inch (3.81 mm) 349:were designed to use the same 1: 1295:KC standard, Compact Cassette 1053:List of different QIC formats 848:(1st ed.). p. 324. 846:The System Engineers Handbook 874:"Everex Systems Excel 60F". 1509:Computer storage tape media 939:Upgrading and Repairing PCs 1530: 1381:Three quarter inch (19 mm) 1307:Tarbell Cassette Interface 1091:Magnetic-tape data storage 891:Andrei Khurshudov (2001). 593: 380: 377:40GB Travan tape cartridge 35:magnetic tape data storage 21:Cartridge (disambiguation) 18: 1476:Four millimeter (3.81 mm) 962:(3rd ed.). pp.  897:. Prentice Hall. p.  741:. July 1983. p. 560. 596:Scalable Linear Recording 880:: 58, 62. July 23, 1990. 844:John Black, ed. (1992). 162:inches (150 mm) by 1441:Eight millimeter (8 mm) 1224:Eight millimeter (8 mm) 665:Colorado Memory Systems 278:inches (60 mm) by 256:QIC Mini Cartridge (MC) 1342:Exatron Stringy Floppy 1253:Quarter inch (6.35 mm) 937:Scott Mueller (2003). 810:J.K. Petersen (2002). 660:Apple Tape Backup 40SC 378: 351:floppy disk controller 145: 134: 125:3M Data Cartridge (DC) 61: 27:Quarter inch cartridge 1335:Stringy (1.58–1.9 mm) 752:James Winsor (2003). 376: 140: 132: 59: 37:format introduced by 692:Larry Coyne (2011). 632:Verbatim Corporation 176:inches (98 mm) 133:QIC DC 600A cassette 85:or slipping clutch. 19:For other uses, see 1406:Half inch (12.7 mm) 1360:Rotronics Wafadrive 1313:Commodore Datasette 1141:Half inch (12.7 mm) 306:-inch (90 mm) 260:Later, the smaller 244:SCSI-2 interfaces. 379: 146: 135: 62: 29:tape (abbreviated 1496: 1495: 1492: 1491: 1369: 1368: 1106:Wide (19–25.4 mm) 973:978-0-13-020601-5 941:(14th ed.). 587: 586: 394:personal computer 144:4.1.1 QIC-24 tape 1521: 1378: 1160:TX-2 Tape System 1103: 1084: 1077: 1070: 1061: 1036: 1035: 1024: 1018: 1017: 1015: 1013: 999: 993: 992: 984: 978: 977: 953: 947: 946: 934: 928: 927: 919: 913: 912: 888: 882: 881: 871: 860: 859: 841: 835: 834: 826: 820: 819: 814:(2nd ed.). 807: 801: 800: 792: 786: 785: 777: 768: 767: 749: 743: 742: 732: 726: 725: 714: 708: 707: 689: 403: 305: 304: 300: 297: 291: 290: 286: 283: 277: 276: 272: 269: 175: 174: 170: 167: 161: 160: 156: 153: 101: 100: 96: 51: 50: 46: 1529: 1528: 1524: 1523: 1522: 1520: 1519: 1518: 1499: 1498: 1497: 1488: 1471: 1436: 1401: 1365: 1330: 1325:IBM PC Cassette 1277: 1248: 1219: 1136: 1094: 1088: 1044: 1039: 1026: 1025: 1021: 1011: 1009: 1001: 1000: 996: 986: 985: 981: 974: 955: 954: 950: 936: 935: 931: 921: 920: 916: 909: 890: 889: 885: 873: 872: 863: 856: 843: 842: 838: 828: 827: 823: 809: 808: 804: 794: 793: 789: 779: 778: 771: 764: 756:. p. 245. 751: 750: 746: 734: 733: 729: 716: 715: 711: 704: 691: 690: 681: 677: 669:Hewlett-Packard 656: 640: 625: 615:A variant from 613: 598: 592: 385: 371: 302: 298: 295: 293: 288: 284: 281: 279: 274: 270: 267: 265: 258: 172: 168: 165: 163: 158: 154: 151: 149: 127: 122: 98: 94: 93: 67: 65:Features of QIC 48: 44: 43: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1527: 1525: 1517: 1516: 1511: 1501: 1500: 1494: 1493: 1490: 1489: 1487: 1486: 1479: 1477: 1473: 1472: 1470: 1469: 1463: 1457: 1451: 1444: 1442: 1438: 1437: 1435: 1434: 1428: 1422: 1416: 1409: 1407: 1403: 1402: 1400: 1399: 1392: 1384: 1382: 1375: 1371: 1370: 1367: 1366: 1364: 1363: 1357: 1351: 1345: 1338: 1336: 1332: 1331: 1329: 1328: 1322: 1316: 1310: 1304: 1298: 1292: 1285: 1283: 1279: 1278: 1276: 1275: 1269: 1263: 1256: 1254: 1250: 1249: 1247: 1246: 1240: 1234: 1227: 1225: 1221: 1220: 1218: 1217: 1211: 1205: 1199: 1193: 1187: 1181: 1175: 1169: 1163: 1157: 1151: 1144: 1142: 1138: 1137: 1135: 1134: 1128: 1122: 1116: 1109: 1107: 1100: 1096: 1095: 1089: 1087: 1086: 1079: 1072: 1064: 1058: 1057: 1056: 1055: 1043: 1042:External links 1040: 1038: 1037: 1019: 994: 991:. p. 238. 979: 972: 948: 945:. p. 698. 929: 914: 908:978-0130927392 907: 883: 861: 855:978-0121028206 854: 836: 833:. p. 196. 821: 818:. p. 768. 802: 799:. p. 270. 787: 784:. p. 283. 769: 763:978-0131014015 762: 744: 727: 709: 703:978-0738435558 702: 678: 676: 673: 672: 671: 662: 655: 652: 639: 636: 624: 621: 612: 609: 594:Main article: 591: 588: 585: 584: 581: 578: 575: 571: 570: 567: 564: 561: 557: 556: 553: 550: 547: 543: 542: 539: 536: 533: 529: 528: 525: 522: 519: 515: 514: 511: 508: 505: 501: 500: 497: 494: 491: 487: 486: 483: 480: 477: 473: 472: 469: 466: 463: 459: 458: 455: 452: 449: 445: 444: 441: 438: 435: 431: 430: 427: 424: 421: 417: 416: 413: 410: 409:Capacity (MB) 407: 381:Main article: 370: 367: 353:as a standard 339: 338: 337: 336: 333: 325: 324: 323: 320: 257: 254: 253: 252: 223: 222: 216: 210: 204: 198: 192: 178:Data Cartridge 126: 123: 121: 118: 75:cassette tapes 66: 63: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1526: 1515: 1512: 1510: 1507: 1506: 1504: 1484: 1481: 1480: 1478: 1474: 1467: 1464: 1461: 1458: 1455: 1452: 1449: 1446: 1445: 1443: 1439: 1432: 1429: 1426: 1423: 1420: 1417: 1414: 1411: 1410: 1408: 1404: 1397: 1393: 1390: 1386: 1385: 1383: 1379: 1376: 1372: 1361: 1358: 1355: 1354:QL Microdrive 1352: 1349: 1348:ZX Microdrive 1346: 1343: 1340: 1339: 1337: 1333: 1326: 1323: 1320: 1317: 1314: 1311: 1308: 1305: 1302: 1299: 1296: 1293: 1290: 1287: 1286: 1284: 1280: 1273: 1270: 1267: 1264: 1261: 1258: 1257: 1255: 1251: 1244: 1241: 1238: 1235: 1232: 1229: 1228: 1226: 1222: 1215: 1212: 1209: 1206: 1203: 1200: 1197: 1194: 1191: 1188: 1185: 1182: 1179: 1176: 1173: 1170: 1167: 1164: 1161: 1158: 1155: 1152: 1149: 1146: 1145: 1143: 1139: 1132: 1129: 1126: 1123: 1120: 1117: 1114: 1111: 1110: 1108: 1104: 1101: 1097: 1092: 1085: 1080: 1078: 1073: 1071: 1066: 1065: 1062: 1054: 1051: 1050: 1049: 1046: 1045: 1041: 1033: 1029: 1023: 1020: 1008: 1004: 998: 995: 990: 983: 980: 975: 969: 965: 961: 960: 952: 949: 944: 940: 933: 930: 925: 918: 915: 910: 904: 900: 896: 895: 887: 884: 879: 878: 870: 868: 866: 862: 857: 851: 847: 840: 837: 832: 825: 822: 817: 813: 806: 803: 798: 791: 788: 783: 776: 774: 770: 765: 759: 755: 748: 745: 740: 739: 731: 728: 723: 719: 713: 710: 705: 699: 696:. p. 9. 695: 688: 686: 684: 680: 674: 670: 666: 663: 661: 658: 657: 653: 651: 650:) interface. 649: 645: 637: 635: 633: 629: 622: 620: 618: 610: 608: 606: 605:Tandberg Data 602: 597: 589: 582: 579: 576: 573: 572: 568: 565: 562: 559: 558: 554: 551: 548: 545: 544: 540: 537: 534: 531: 530: 526: 523: 520: 517: 516: 512: 509: 506: 503: 502: 498: 495: 492: 489: 488: 484: 481: 478: 475: 474: 470: 467: 464: 461: 460: 456: 453: 450: 447: 446: 442: 439: 436: 433: 432: 428: 425: 422: 419: 418: 414: 412:Speed (kB/s) 411: 408: 405: 404: 401: 399: 395: 391: 390: 384: 375: 368: 366: 364: 360: 356: 352: 348: 344: 334: 331: 330: 329: 326: 321: 318: 317: 316: 313: 312: 311: 309: 263: 262:Minicartridge 255: 250: 249: 248: 245: 243: 239: 236: 232: 228: 220: 217: 214: 211: 208: 205: 202: 199: 196: 193: 190: 187: 186: 185: 183: 179: 143: 139: 131: 124: 119: 117: 114: 111: 109: 103: 90: 86: 84: 80: 76: 72: 64: 58: 54: 40: 36: 32: 28: 22: 1419:Redwood SD-3 1259: 1031: 1022: 1010:. Retrieved 1006: 997: 988: 982: 958: 951: 938: 932: 923: 917: 893: 886: 875: 845: 839: 830: 824: 811: 805: 796: 790: 781: 753: 747: 736: 730: 721: 712: 693: 641: 627: 626: 614: 599: 535:1,200-1,600 387: 386: 355:floppy drive 346: 342: 340: 327: 314: 261: 259: 246: 241: 234: 230: 226: 224: 218: 212: 206: 200: 194: 188: 181: 177: 147: 115: 112: 104: 91: 87: 68: 30: 26: 25: 1237:IBM 3570 MP 1202:LTO Ultrium 1154:IBM 7-track 1032:PC Magazine 1012:October 11, 1007:PC Magazine 989:PC Magazine 924:PC Magazine 831:PC Magazine 797:PC Magazine 782:PC Magazine 738:PC Magazine 722:www.qic.org 369:Travan (TR) 235:QIC-104/111 120:Generations 83:servo motor 1503:Categories 1319:DECtape II 675:References 365:encoding. 877:InfoWorld 816:CRC Press 628:QIC Extra 560:QIC-3095 532:QIC-3080 490:QIC-3020 462:QIC-3010 308:drive bay 1208:IBM 3592 1184:IBM 3590 1172:IBM 3480 1148:UNISERVO 1119:LINCtape 1113:IBM 7340 964:172, 175 654:See also 611:QIC-Wide 219:QIC-1350 1483:DDS/DAT 1454:Mammoth 1374:Helical 1166:9-track 1131:CDC 626 1125:DECtape 1093:formats 638:QIC-157 577:10,000 518:TR-3EX 448:TR-1EX 423:80-500 420:QIC-80 415:Tracks 406:Format 357:, with 301:⁄ 287:⁄ 273:⁄ 242:QIC-121 213:QIC-525 207:QIC-150 201:QIC-120 171:⁄ 157:⁄ 97:⁄ 71:capstan 47:⁄ 1485:(1989) 1468:(1999) 1462:(1996) 1456:(1994) 1450:(1987) 1433:(2003) 1427:(19xx) 1421:(1995) 1415:(1992) 1398:(1992) 1394:Ampex 1391:(19xx) 1362:(1984) 1356:(1984) 1350:(1983) 1344:(1979) 1327:(1981) 1321:(1979) 1315:(1977) 1309:(1976) 1303:(1976) 1297:(1975) 1291:(1971) 1274:(1992) 1268:(1986) 1262:(1972) 1245:(1999) 1239:(1997) 1233:(1995) 1231:Travan 1216:(2006) 1214:T10000 1210:(2003) 1204:(2000) 1198:(2000) 1192:(1998) 1186:(1995) 1180:(1984) 1174:(1984) 1168:(1964) 1162:(1958) 1156:(1952) 1150:(1951) 1133:(1966) 1127:(1963) 1121:(1962) 1115:(1961) 1099:Linear 970:  905:  852:  760:  700:  623:QIC-EX 563:4,000 549:4,000 541:60/72 521:2,200 507:1,600 499:40/50 471:40/50 429:28/36 389:Travan 383:Travan 347:QIC-80 343:QIC-40 328:QIC-80 315:QIC-40 231:QIC-36 227:QIC-02 195:QIC-24 189:QIC-11 1448:Data8 1413:ArVid 1387:Sony 1301:DC100 1289:D/CAS 1272:Ditto 1196:T9940 1190:T9840 644:ATAPI 580:1024 574:TR-5 566:1024 552:1024 546:TR-4 504:TR-3 496:62.5 482:62.5 476:TR-2 468:62.5 454:62.5 440:62.5 434:TR-1 426:62.5 182:DC300 142:SunOS 1431:SAIT 1014:2016 968:ISBN 903:ISBN 850:ISBN 758:ISBN 698:ISBN 617:Sony 583:108 538:125 524:125 510:125 493:670 479:800 465:340 451:500 437:400 345:and 341:The 240:and 238:SCSI 229:and 108:SCSI 79:DATs 1466:VXA 1460:AIT 1425:DTF 1396:DST 1389:DIR 1266:SLR 1260:QIC 1243:ADR 1178:DLT 943:Que 899:140 648:IDE 603:is 601:SLR 590:SLR 569:72 555:72 527:50 513:50 485:50 457:36 443:36 363:RLL 361:or 359:MFM 77:or 31:QIC 1505:: 1030:. 1005:. 966:. 901:. 864:^ 772:^ 720:. 682:^ 398:3M 310:. 99:10 39:3M 1083:e 1076:t 1069:v 1034:. 1016:. 976:. 926:. 911:. 858:. 766:. 724:. 706:. 646:( 303:2 299:1 296:+ 294:3 289:8 285:1 282:+ 280:3 275:8 271:3 268:+ 266:2 173:8 169:7 166:+ 164:3 159:8 155:7 152:+ 150:5 95:1 49:4 45:1 23:.

Index

Cartridge (disambiguation)
magnetic tape data storage
3M

capstan
cassette tapes
DATs
servo motor
SCSI


SunOS
SCSI
drive bay
floppy disk controller
floppy drive
MFM
RLL

Travan
Travan
personal computer
3M
Scalable Linear Recording
SLR
Tandberg Data
Sony
Verbatim Corporation
ATAPI
IDE

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.