Messages in this thread |  | | Date | Wed, 4 Dec 1996 01:21:38 -0800 (PST) | From | Ian Main <> | Subject | Re: Linux VCR driver? |
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On 3 Dec 1996, Matthias Urlichs wrote:
> > In linux.dev.kernel, article <32A36F67.642@mail.kdcol.com>, > Brent Glines <bglines@mail.kdcol.com> writes: > > > > "There are controllers available for many PC's that allow a VCR to be > > used as a backup device. This is an inexpensive way to get a lot of > > backup capability on a PC. However, in order to utilize such a system, > > a device driver will have to be written..." > > > > I do not have a tape backup drive handy. I have several VCRs. Has > > anyone ever heard/done anything along these lines? > > > Don't. > > There may be such beasts, but I wouldn't trust my data to them. > Better get a "real" computer tape drive. > > Problems with these video beasts: > - No read-after-write, therefore no decent error control. > - The additional conversion to an analog video signal means that the speed > is nothing to speak of. > - No filemarks, i.e. one backup per tape. > - How do you push the rewind/play/record buttons with the computer? > - Timing of the signal (usually, parallel-port) is likely to be rather > critical -> writing a Linux driver is difficult at best.
Ahh.. yes, but video has a lot of bandwidth. You could put a lot of info on them, everything could be recorded with error correction bits, and at a lower frequency than the actual spectrum allows. I'm sure it could make a fairly safe backup medium if you used the B/W (meaning video bandwitdth.) properly. Certainly no worse then any other form of tape backup.
Although, it could certainly be difficult to have it control the VCR's play/rewind etc.. but did you ever use a VIC20? :-)
"Press Play on tape. Searching... "
(Yes it's cheap and dirty :)
Ian
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