ECS Question about Tape Drive

[flickertail]

I have an Inty2, an ECS, and a GE Computer Program Data Recorder (CPDR).

 

I have successfully saved programs to and loaded programs from tape. Everything seems to be working fine as far as the ECS is concerned.

 

However, the CPDR won't Rewind or FForward when the "remote" cable is plugged in. Is this just the way the tape drive is supposed to work? Does the remote cable need to be unplugged in order to properly position the tape?

 

Or is this because I'm using a GE cassette data recorder instead of the suggested Aquarius cassette data recorder?

 

Or am I just doing it wrong?

 

It's a minor issue, but it's still slightly annoying. I'm hoping I'm just doing something wrong.

[+Lathe26]

I haven't used the remote cable too much.  However, its intention is to enable / disable power to the tape-deck's motor.  Inside the ECS is a relay that connects/disconnects the power.  When you CLOD or CSAV, the clicks you hear are the relay closing and opening.  The default state for the relay is to be open (i.e. motor's power is disconnected).

 

I forget the exact text that the ECS shows when CSAV or CLOD are used (double-check my spelling of these commands).  However, when you use them, there should be a click and that is when you can fast-forward and rewind.  Experiment a bit with this.

 

 

[flickertail]

1 hour ago, Lathe26 said:

I haven't used the remote cable too much.  However, its intention is to enable / disable power to the tape-deck's motor.  Inside the ECS is a relay that connects/disconnects the power.  When you CLOD or CSAV, the clicks you hear are the relay closing and opening.  The default state for the relay is to be open (i.e. motor's power is disconnected).

 

I forget the exact text that the ECS shows when CSAV or CLOD are used (double-check my spelling of these commands).  However, when you use them, there should be a click and that is when you can fast-forward and rewind.  Experiment a bit with this.

ahh... I get it now.

 

First, it's good to know I'm supposed to be hearing that click. I was worried that it was on it's last legs.

 

As for RW/FF action, based on your post I figured out what I was doing wrong... this is what is supposed to happen...

 

When saving memory in RAM:

(Me - type in): CSAV TEST

(Me - Press Return)

ECS displays: GO

(Me - Push the controller pad)

ECS displays: SET

(Me - FF/RW the tape to the spot where there program is saved.)

(Me - Push the controller pad again)

ECS displays: SAVE

(The ECS saves the program from memory to tape and is ready for command line input again once the cursor reappears and starts to blink)

 

I apparently was trying to use FF/RW between "GO" and "SET" when I should have been attempting to FF/RW between "SET" and "SAVE/LOAD".

 

Thanks for the help!