Wanted: HP85 tapes

[vbriel]

I'm in the need of a tape for the HP85, I think they use DC100A tapes. I scored an HP85 for a good price and want to try out the tape drive on it. If anybody knows of a source for new tapes that would be great!

Vince

[nige the hippy]

Beware of second hand DC100A tapes, if they're getting on a bit then the oxide tends to flake off and render the tape useless
Athana have them but recommend upping the drive current to the head (see below)

Apparently DC1000 tapes work

A link ....
http://www.vintagecomputers.freeserve.co.uk/hp85/tips.htm#tapes

and just a random thought... I used to re-splice cassette tapes, maybe a cassette tape of about the correct coercivity(?) could be spliced in instead of the worn out tape (it's the same width).

[chuckcmagee]

Oh good, on that link that Nige provided, BE SURE to read about "gooey tape capstan" problems. Both of the HP85 I have had that problem, where the tape capstan turns into a brown gel. I did the "find rubber surg. hose, cut piece off and repair capstan" procedure on one of them so far. Still have to do the other one. I purchased a 9121D floppy drive instead so might not ever fix the first one. The tapes are SO slow.

hmm, try this url http://hpmuseum.net/display_item.php?hw=33

[vbriel]

Yeah, the tapes are slow but is a must to at least have the 1 tape. I know about the capstan issue and I expect to find a gooey mess when it arrives.

Sad thing is, I had one of these working about 3 years ago and sold everything off including the original manuals, software, and a rare hard case. I won't make that mistake again!

Vince

[vbriel]

I found a site here with the original HP tapes:

http://www.plccenter.com/buy/Agilent/HP98200A

$10 each isn't horrible, other places wanted 28 euro plus shipping.

Vince

[chuckcmagee]

Hope they weren't made 20 years ago! All the original HP tapes I got had delaminated, making them useless. $10 is a good price these days. As you found out, and as I already knew, hard to find little buggers.

[vbriel]

I think NOS tapes will be fine if they have been stored properly. I don't want to tweak the drive to make tapes work, I would like to keep it stock. This way if I come across the used software it has a better chance of working.

I'll post a reply to this forum once I receive the tapes to let you know if they are good or not. I'll check the drive while waiting.

Vince

[nige the hippy]

The mod increases the write current to the head slightly to write to tapes that need a little more coercion (?) it won't affect the read at all, and shouldn't affect writing to original tapes.

[vbriel]

I knew it was too good to be true. The supplier called to inform me that this product was no longer available, yet they have it on their website. I hate places that don't update their product pages.

The search continues....

Vince

[nige the hippy]

Not too sure it isn't deliberate.
I've found something "rare" at a suppliers & bought some other bits I didn't need to make up the minimum order while I was at it, then been told the "rare thing" was unavailable.
makes you doubly cross!

[vbriel]

Yeah, ePAY, $5.50 unopened cartridge DC100A. I still haven't even opened the 85 and looked at the drive yet!

Vince

[jgavila]

Hello!

I'm in the need of a tape for the HP85, I think they use DC100A tapes. I scored an HP85 for a good price and want to try out the tape drive on it. If anybody knows of a source for new tapes that would be great!

Vince

I have some NOS HP98200A tapes (newer type, with white labels), in its original packaging.

Best regards,

JOSE