Rivergate Software Inc. - makers of DVDAfterEdit

Posted May 13,2005 5:10 PM Stevey K

Hi Trai

I've got my nice new ATTO SCSI card and I've obtained two DLT 7000's from E-Bay (badged as Compaq) but no matter what I try I can't get them to be recognised on the SCSI chain. I have other drives which I know work and I have connected up the 7000's in the chain (with the last one in the chain terminated). TFDVDEdit recognises the other two drives but won't recognise the 7000 - they are both SE models. What could be the problem? At first I suspect the leads but, using a 2000 that is internally terminated I checked the leads and they were OK. Both the 7000's I have obtained have the very wide, but very small pin SCSI connectors (not sure what they are called but they aren't the smaller connnectors with the small pins or the great big fat ones either)

Is it possible I have the wrong type - i.e differential I think is what they are called.

Any help gratefully accepted

Steve Kirkham

Posted May 13,2005 6:05 PM larryapple

Hi Steve,

As a start, try removing all devices on the chain except one of the new drives. I have had a drive where the SCSI ID selector didn't work, so it might conflct with another. With SCSI, you should always start with the simplest configuration when you have new drive(s), and test them each individually.

Did the drives come with an active terminator? Do you have a dual-channel ATTO? It is always difficult to mix cable and connector types.

Regards,

Larry

Posted May 14,2005 3:28 AM Stevey K

I got the ATTO UL4S. My fundamental problem is that I don't have a terminator for the new drives - therefore I was connecting another drive which I know both works and is terminated on the end of the chain to give the termination.

I am going out today on a quest for a terminator though in the UK it's not the sort of thing that even PC shops have on their shelves.

Regards
Steve

Posted May 14,2005 1:17 PM larryapple

Hi Steve,

The problem with putting a 50-pin device on the end of a 68-pin drive is that the extra pins won't be terminated. You can get adapters to do that, (I have some). If you can't find what you want locally, you can order it here:

http://www.computercablesource.com/

I'm lucky, in that this company is in my area. But they will ship overseas.

Your best bet is to use the 2nd channel of the ATTO for your 7000's, and just get an active terminator. See the first item on Terminators, HD-68 external, part # SCST-5420, on the site.

Regards,

Larry

Posted May 14,2005 3:04 PM Stevey K

Luckily I have a local Mac dealer who should be able to help me on Monday. If not I can order online at Macwarehouse or the like in the UK. So basically because it's a 68 pin it isn't truly terminated despite having a terminated device on the end of the chain because that device is 50 pin (ain't SCSI wonderful - before I did DVD work i thought I'd waved SCSI goodbye!!!!)

So if I hang a second 7000 (with 68pin connector) and then terminate that it will work (obviously I'll check first with a single DLT drive hanging off the ATTO). BTW: my Atto card only has one outlet...

Thanks for the help and pointers. Greatly appreciated (I spoke to someone at my local PC World and they looked blank when I mentioned SCSI!!!!)

Regards
Steve Kirkham

Posted May 14,2005 10:35 PM larryapple

Hi Steve:

Glad you'll be able to get rolling soon.

Please see:

http://www.computercablesource.com/detail.aspx?ID=963

Part number SCSA-3840T, for high-density 50-pin.

or:

http://www.computercablesource.com/detail.aspx?ID=957

Part number SCSC-3800T, for 50-pin Centronics.

You probably won't find them at your normal outlets.

This will allow you to put your 50-pin devices after your 68-pin devices on the SCSI chain. (Choose according to which interface you have on your other tape drives).

I have these, and they work great! For high-density 50-pin, I use an active terminator. But I have also ran it to a high-density drive and from there to a centronics drive with a regular terminator and it also worked.

Regards,

Larry