Ricoh Drive
10 messages in this thread
I was wondering if you have any info on the specs of the Ricoh
RH5500 removeable cartridge drive? I have a Supra Wordsync controller
that I have been using, but it does not directly support the Ricoh
drive, only the Syquest. The Ricoh drive I got was marketed thru GVP
so I thought you might help me. I need to know the number of cylinders,
blocks per track, interleave, etc. if possible.
Thanks-Deirdre McAlpine
loCyl = 1
HiCyl=1283
sect/cyl=37
2 heads
The important figure is 95015 total blocks.
BTW, don't bother with GVP on a Ricoh. They managed to build thier
sSCSI device so it renders the cart unusable. THey do this by
assuming that the data fields of some of thecommands for LLFormat snd
BB remap are the same as Syquest. THey willl aslotel you to format
your drive using SYquest params which cause you to loose a meg or
two.
I had problems with a Ricoh and GVP controller for over two years and
GVP was no help whatsoever. I ended up having to get lots of help
and "revival" services on carts that GVP ruined by going to a local
imaging systeme VAR house that uses all the Ricoh and Syquest line of
carts. BTW, I'm selling my RH5500 and 5 cartridges as soon as I get
my 128 MO going (about a week). If you are intereseted make an
offer. 4 of the carts are only a few months old with very light
usage. the 5th is 2yrs old with moderate use.
I thought GVP dropped SyQuest and went with the Ricoh drive… in fact
I know they did that because when I wanted another drive I had to buy
it somewhere else.
I think what happened (at least what I was told at the Creative
Computer store in Santa Monica at the time) was that GVP orginally
tried the Syquest but there were reliability problems. So they
switched to Ricoh. Then Syquest got their early bugs worked out and
Ricoh supplies and prices did not trake Syquest. The Syquest became
increasingly popular with Amigans so GVP swithced back to supporting
Syquest again. I don't believe GVP sells a Ricoh product anymore.
I always wondered why the formated capacity comes out so much lower
than anticiapated. Regrettably, I bought my GVP SCSI/Ricoh when GVP
was telling customers "We will be supporting this cuz it's much more
reliable than the Syquest." The second part may have been true but
the first part sure isn't.
I may have an interest in your drive/carts. Actually, I have no
interest in the drive but the carts are pretty pricey so a deal which
gets me carts for a good price would interest me. Thanks.
Hi Art – You know, I'm still using AtomClock from wayback when – what was
it, 1988? Have you ever thought of doing an update to allow the serial
device and unit number to be changed, for instance via a Tooltype? I'd
pay another shareware fee for that uptdate.
As for the carts, EMail me an offer. To be honest, my preference is to
sell drive and carts together since I think that is more more likely to
get the drive sold, but I will entertain reasonable offers to the
contrary.
wmc – via Autopilot!
Another shareware fee? <Chortle> Hope you didn't pay one the first
time since Atomclock is free. No, I haven't considered an upgrade
since I pretty much gave up recreational programming when I became a
daddy. There are more recent Arexx scripts floating around that
offer more flexibility than AtomClock. — Art
WHo needs flexibility? Set a few tooltypes to tell where to send the
commands and how to adjust the GMT then click a button – thats all I need.
Heck, its only asking for the time!!! :^}
wmc – via Autopilot!
Arexx scripts to replace AtomClock? I am also still using
AtomClock…and I have never seen any other program/script which
serves, or claims to serve, the same purpose.
Thanks for a very handy little(?) utility!
You don't need to know the number of cylinders… and that stuff.
SCSI is block orientated. You can define any cylinders/head/…
values that result in a total number of blocks supported by the
drive. The number of blocks supported by the Ricoh drive will be
yelled by the drive to the GVP setup software. Simply don't care…
simple?