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DTL-960e Single Channel Colour Digital Video Recorder
User Manual
USING TAPE DRIVES
The Digital Recorder supports the use of both DAT (Digital Archive Tape) and AIT (Advanced Intelligent Tape) devices. DAT
tapes and drives are available in DDS1 (2GB), DDS2 (4GB), DDS3 (12GB) and DDS4 (25GB) capacities. The Digital
Recorder supports only DDS3 and DDS4 tape drives. AIT tapes and drives are available in AIT1 (25GB) and AIT2 (50GB)
capacities. The Digital Recorder supports both.
Both the DAT and AIT devices are available in multiple tape configurations. These are called Autoloader or Carousel
devices. The DAT Autoloader magazine holds eight tapes or seven tapes and a cleaning cartridge. The seven tapes with
a cleaning cartridge configuration is recommended for DAT Autoloaders. The AIT Carousel unit holds four tapes.
While less complex, the operation of single tape DAT and AIT devices is very similar to the multiple tape devices. Most of
the same buttons and indicators are present. As a result, this appendix will cover operation of the more complex
Autoloader units in greater detail than the single tape devices.
USING SINGLE TAPE UNITS
Single tape DAT devices may be used for selective archiving but are not recommended for background archiving operations.
This is because the units have a diagnostic routine that stops the recording operation after each 24 hours of continuous
use. When this occurs, the unit requires that a cleaning tape be inserted before recording operations can begin again.
This presents the possibility that recording may halt in the middle of an extended archiving situation. AIT single tape
devices and Autoloader units do not have this limitation.
The single tape units have an EJECT button, a POWER button, and LEDs for unit status. These may include STATUS
(cleaning required and fault condition), TAPE (tape present or tape fault), BUSY (tape present and busy) and a POWER
indicator. The exact names and quantity of indicators varies with the different manufacturers products and drive type. The
EJECT button will unload a tape from the drive and eject it from the unit. The tape cartridge has a write-protection tab,
which prevents data being written to it.
Too use the unit, press the POWER switch on the front panel. The POWER indicator should light, and the LEDs may blink
or be on steady as the unit performs a self test. When the self-test is completed a tape cartridge may be inserted. The
indicators may blink if the tape cartridge is write protected, and there is normally some indication of a BUSY status before
the tape is fully loaded.
Software drivers in the Digital Recorder control the reading and writing operations of the tape. When the unit is reading or
writing, a BUSY status should be visible. For more information on how to search for and select data for archiving, see
page 25.
To remove a tape from the unit, press the EJECT button. The cartridge will eject automatically. Do not push the EJECT
button while the unit is indicating a BUSY status. To do so will result in lost data and may also destroy data on the tape.
USING AUTOLOADER DEVICES
The Autoloader devices may have a SELECT button, an EJECT button, an LCD display, and status LEDs for tape present
and busy status. The SELECT button is automatically disabled once the tape load sequence begins. Tape selection will
be controlled by software. The EJECT button will unload a tape from the drive and eject the full magazine from the
Autoloader. The magazine has a write-protection tab, which prevents data being written to all tapes in the magazine.
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