> > That is a normal TK50 (or at least all the ones I have are).  But, inside
> > that box is a scsi-to-tk50 controller, that converts the relatively
> > normal scsi1 to native tk50speak.  I have used the transports
> > interchangeably between the TKQ50 and the scsi outboard boxes.
> > They all seem fine, to me.  The transport even has the black
> > plastic slide-in tray that the BA23/BA123 boxes use.  All mine
> > are -GA marked.
> > 
> Very interesting!  Has anyone ever tried to use this in reverse?  Like
> hang a scsi tape drive or disk off a tk50 controller with the converter in
> between?

Gee, a real, ``Aw doggiedoo, EUREKA!''.  That would sure be a neat way
to get a scsi tape drive to work off a TKQ50 controller, IFF it could
be made to work.

I am all ears on this one..... and I do have a spare board at home
that I might could try it on.

Anyone know of any for-sure gotchas in that sort of approach?

Theoretically, I would expect it to be possible.  Practically, dunno.

HD's would probably not work, but tape drives might?

If that could work, one could hang a scsi 9 track reel deck, or
maybe an Archive 150mb viper off a TKQ50 card.  My, my, how
interesting that would be.....

Someone mentioned they had some TK50 manuals aound?  What about
for that scsi controller card?  Is it an Emulex thing like was
used in the Sun systems (3/160 VME chassis)?  The board does not
look like Emulex built, but more straight DEC built.

Anyway, food for tinkering.....

Crazy... maybe?  But.....

Bob