TX-2 Tape System
Encyclopedia
The TX-2 Tape System was a magnetic tape data storage
technology from the late 1950s. It is the direct ancestor of LINCtape, used on the LINC laboratory computer.
The tape transports used in the system were made as simple and fool-proof as possible, consisting of a read-write head
assembly, two reel drive motors, and a tape guide. The tape system used 10 tracks across a 1/2 inch tape on 10 inch reels.
Maximum reel speed was 920 ips. The system used digital speed control based on a clock track on the tape.
The 10-track head assembly contains five channels; three information, one timing, and one block mark. Each channel
consists of two redundantly paired tracks, and the paired tracks are nonadjacent to minimize the effect of contamination
on the tape surface.
This redundant track scheme was previously used on the MIT Whirlwind
tape system.
Magnetic tape data storage
Magnetic tape data storage uses digital recording on to magnetic tape to store digital information. Modern magnetic tape is most commonly packaged in cartridges and cassettes. The device that performs actual writing or reading of data is a tape drive...
technology from the late 1950s. It is the direct ancestor of LINCtape, used on the LINC laboratory computer.
The tape transports used in the system were made as simple and fool-proof as possible, consisting of a read-write head
assembly, two reel drive motors, and a tape guide. The tape system used 10 tracks across a 1/2 inch tape on 10 inch reels.
Maximum reel speed was 920 ips. The system used digital speed control based on a clock track on the tape.
The 10-track head assembly contains five channels; three information, one timing, and one block mark. Each channel
consists of two redundantly paired tracks, and the paired tracks are nonadjacent to minimize the effect of contamination
on the tape surface.
This redundant track scheme was previously used on the MIT Whirlwind
Whirlwind (computer)
The Whirlwind computer was developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It is the first computer that operated in real time, used video displays for output, and the first that was not simply an electronic replacement of older mechanical systems...
tape system.