Two of those, welded on top of each other or mounted with some spacers, would make a perfect lan party case. Space inside would not be an issue, today you can get just about any PCI extension you want. Gone are the days when we'd be restricted by width. :)
Very interesting video. Nice TO3 transistor controlled PSU. Very nicely populated circuit boards. The tape looks like a full auto-reverse set up. Interesting that there is no capstan - pinch-roller drive to the tape. There could be a analogue to digital converter circuit somewhere so that data is transferred to the tape in sequences hence the stepper motor drive.
Seeing the four heads on the tape unit leaves me to believe it works just like an auto reverse cassette deck. Clearly a more advanced system for keeping tension and speed but otherwise the same principles. This would give the advantages of never needing to be rewound saving stress on the tape will also eliminating the possibility of missing the critical moment when something went wrong. Also it would have an advantage over the other flight recorders continuous tape design in the fact it could be rewound or fast forwarded at will. This could be particularly useful when reviewing the data on it. Continuous tape setups can only be fast forwarded.
That's really interesting! Love your "taking stuff apart" videos. I've got some radiosondes here I used to mess around with. I didn't know you could buy flight data recorders on ebay.
Pretty sure you will find that it records on 1 side of the tape then gets to the end and goes back in the other direction recording on the other side. Looking at the fact the tape transport mech seems to be mirrored. You wouldnt want to rewind the tape as seeing as the tape is always contacting the heads it would wear the tape out for no reason, and also it would mean there was dead time when the recorder wasnt recording. And i dont think it would pass the FAA regulations if that was the case.
Good stuff as always! I ought to do a tear down of my flight augmentation computer (FAC) from an A320, was given it by someone who recycles airliners when they go for the chop.
+ROTARYCOMPTECH Seeing the four heads on the tape unit leaves me to believe the same thing. 2 write and 2 erase heads, I bet in principle it works just like an auto reverse cassette deck
Really anciet design. Reminds me of RCA TV-studiocameras I took care in the 70’s. Typical US electronics. I’d like to see a Japanese one. Bet it was much more sophisticated.
Aussie50 Yep I was thinking the same thing as soon as I saw the tape mech - one set for left to right, other set for right to left; and like an 8 track, they probably record interleaved so that the recording isnt interrupted (much) when the tape shifts direction :) * goes off on ebay looking for a FDR* :P
dash8brj its a nice setup!, there is a CVR going cheap out of Israel but it looks mutilated (pins bent up, numbers ground off, I bet there is no tape either or its been cut)
Probably doesn't rewind, it likely records in both directions with 'Interleaved heads' such that it records every other track in one direction, and the opposite tracks in the other direction. The 4 heads are likely 2-erase heads, and 2-record heads arranged for the appropriate direction of tape travel. I'm surprised there's not a capstan or similar to control the tape speed, as the single belt driving on the outside diameter of the tape reels will end up with slack in the tape due to differing diameters as it travels from one reel to the other. I've got a Fairchild F1000 that uses a memory board instead of magnetic media. One day I'll do a teardown video on it, but need to get a reasonable camera and some time/space to do it. (I would also like to power mine up, however mine has 'BAD' written on the interface board on the outside of the crash shell, and I don't have the pinout for the connector on the back of the FDR)
icesoft1 The difference in diameter cancel each other out. thus the tape speed is always the same. Also the tape tension is always the same, this is not possible with a capstan drive.
Very nice Ed! I love you videos! UA-cam is my only form of entertainment. You, V8Jagnut jgcertified ***** powerstrokehelp bionerd23 have give me so much. Thank you!
7:53 The gold top IC is from Analog Devices. The big round metal cans is Opamps.
Two of those, welded on top of each other or mounted with some spacers, would make a perfect lan party case. Space inside would not be an issue, today you can get just about any PCI extension you want. Gone are the days when we'd be restricted by width. :)
This is the same tape system as in a QIC drive. No capstan only one belt.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter-inch_cartridge
Very interesting video. Nice TO3 transistor controlled PSU. Very nicely populated circuit boards. The tape looks like a full auto-reverse set up. Interesting that there is no capstan - pinch-roller drive to the tape. There could be a analogue to digital converter circuit somewhere so that data is transferred to the tape in sequences hence the stepper motor drive.
RODALCO2007 yeh that PSU is solid!.
it should have a ADC. Read Amp, Write Amp, Syncro Multiplexer, CPU, interface, and PSU cards. in theory :p
Seeing the four heads on the tape unit leaves me to believe it works just like an auto reverse cassette deck. Clearly a more advanced system for keeping tension and speed but otherwise the same principles. This would give the advantages of never needing to be rewound saving stress on the tape will also eliminating the possibility of missing the critical moment when something went wrong. Also it would have an advantage over the other flight recorders continuous tape design in the fact it could be rewound or fast forwarded at will. This could be particularly useful when reviewing the data on it. Continuous tape setups can only be fast forwarded.
I believe these work more like an 8 track deck. as in the tape is a loop.
My mistake. the 4 heads are probably voice read and write/ Data read/write
That's really interesting! Love your "taking stuff apart" videos. I've got some radiosondes here I used to mess around with. I didn't know you could buy flight data recorders on ebay.
it would be really interesting to dedode this thing while running with dave from +EEVblog
Very nice Ed! Maybe the tape has no need to rewind and can simply keep recording in reverse on another track?
Pretty sure you will find that it records on 1 side of the tape then gets to the end and goes back in the other direction recording on the other side. Looking at the fact the tape transport mech seems to be mirrored.
You wouldnt want to rewind the tape as seeing as the tape is always contacting the heads it would wear the tape out for no reason, and also it would mean there was dead time when the recorder wasnt recording. And i dont think it would pass the FAA regulations if that was the case.
Very nice Ed , Enjoyed seeing those !!
Good stuff as always! I ought to do a tear down of my flight augmentation computer (FAC) from an A320, was given it by someone who recycles airliners when they go for the chop.
TheMacandpcguy now that would be somthing to see!
Please make that video
they should make engine ecus like a flight recorder, maybe they will last longer that way.
Seeking a full fledged training on repair and maintenance including extraction of data.
I bet it records in both directions
+ROTARYCOMPTECH Seeing the four heads on the tape unit leaves me to believe the same thing. 2 write and 2 erase heads, I bet in principle it works just like an auto reverse cassette deck
very well made it would be great to have a machine that would play these tapes.
Seeing that tape, what a bobby dazzler
***** Dave does a more thorough job, he really knows his stuff!, I would love to see what he has to say while taking one of these apart.
***** damnit you mentioned EEVblog before me!
Is there anything on the tape? Thats the question....
pommy192 yeh decoding it will be the hard part!
Aussie50 Sounds like a challenge then :)
So, what do you do with sensitive equipment after you're done tinkering with it? Do you trash/recycle it?
Doom Video Vault he said in the video that he wanted this for his collection, so.. yeah.
You should dump and analyze the ROM :] That would be neat.
looks like the computer tape back up with the reels.
Really anciet design. Reminds me of RCA TV-studiocameras I took care in the 70’s. Typical US electronics. I’d like to see a Japanese one. Bet it was much more sophisticated.
You do know this is from the late 70s right?
Could be a fun way to store music on, proper metal tape... :P
***** haha I want to try recording stuff on a CVR :D
Auto reverse Ed. 4 heads, 1 forward 1 reverse for record and the same for playback. That way you don't get an interruption in recording.
toymotorlux yeah you are absolutely right!
Aussie50 Yep I was thinking the same thing as soon as I saw the tape mech - one set for left to right, other set for right to left; and like an 8 track, they probably record interleaved so that the recording isnt interrupted (much) when the tape shifts direction :) * goes off on ebay looking for a FDR* :P
dash8brj its a nice setup!, there is a CVR going cheap out of Israel but it looks mutilated (pins bent up, numbers ground off, I bet there is no tape either or its been cut)
Probably doesn't rewind, it likely records in both directions with 'Interleaved heads' such that it records every other track in one direction, and the opposite tracks in the other direction. The 4 heads are likely 2-erase heads, and 2-record heads arranged for the appropriate direction of tape travel.
I'm surprised there's not a capstan or similar to control the tape speed, as the single belt driving on the outside diameter of the tape reels will end up with slack in the tape due to differing diameters as it travels from one reel to the other.
I've got a Fairchild F1000 that uses a memory board instead of magnetic media. One day I'll do a teardown video on it, but need to get a reasonable camera and some time/space to do it. (I would also like to power mine up, however mine has 'BAD' written on the interface board on the outside of the crash shell, and I don't have the pinout for the connector on the back of the FDR)
icesoft1
The difference in diameter cancel each other out. thus the tape speed is always the same.
Also the tape tension is always the same, this is not possible with a capstan drive.
pcuser80 Yeah, I was thinking of driving the reels from the center instead of driving the tape surface directly as this does...
Looks like it has 4 sets of heads two record two erase
ROTARYCOMPTECH spot on, I never thought about auto-reverse tape decks, for some reason I still have VHS in my head :p
I love these vids, even though I have literally no idea what any of the words being said mean.
nicejob!
he has a steam
A Substandard flight-recorder? LOL
Well, good enough for Australia.
ARINC specs are secret???? Pfft.
CrobbDawg its more that the docs I have were not supposed to be shareware ;)
But can you play Doom on it?! XD
Very nice Ed! I love you videos! UA-cam is my only form of entertainment. You, V8Jagnut jgcertified ***** powerstrokehelp bionerd23 have give me so much. Thank you!