A lot of people got burnt trying to use an MFM drive with RLL. While

it _could_ work (and did for many), there was a risk of losing data,

because some MFM drives couldn't reliably handle the higher density of
RLL. From memory, the drive technology was basically the same, it was
a matter of the exact specs of the drive. Using a certified RLL drive meant no hassles.

The same technology, but more sectors per track.

Yes, and higher data density, which means tighter specs for RLL drives.

While I've limited to no, experience with RLL specifically, have had many MFM drives in the past. I'm led to believe, there was no difference in manufacturing between both drive types, and at least one manufacturer, don't recall who or where I read it now, didn't specifically make an RLL drive only MFM. Although said manufacturers drives were often used for it with great reliability... I don't think to many of mine would've passed muster for extra data. And as I've mentioned before, there was always the clowns in the Trading Post, trying to flog, 160Mb HDs, an 80Mb MFM with RLL and SuperStore. Chuckle... recipe for disaster right there. Trading Post for non Aussies, was a weekly "newspaper" with nothing but sale ads in it for all sorts of stuff.

Spec


--- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
* Origin: (21:3/101)

On 01-22-21 06:16, Spectre wrote to Vk3jed <=-

While I've limited to no, experience with RLL specifically, have had
many MFM drives in the past. I'm led to believe, there was no
difference in manufacturing between both drive types, and at least one manufacturer, don't recall who or where I read it now, didn't

I'm led to believe the same, and the difference was whether the drive was certified to work with RLL or not. If it was, great, if not, then running RLL on it was a gamble - sometimes it paid off, sometimes it didn't. :)

specifically make an RLL drive only MFM. Although said manufacturers drives were often used for it with great reliability... I don't think
to many of mine would've passed muster for extra data. And as I've

Yeah, I had success with RLL. To be honest, I can't recall if the drive I used was certified or not. It was 30MB with RLL, in any case.

mentioned before, there was always the clowns in the Trading Post,
trying to flog, 160Mb HDs, an 80Mb MFM with RLL and SuperStore.
Chuckle... recipe for disaster right there. Trading Post for non
Aussies, was a weekly "newspaper" with nothing but sale ads in it for
all sorts of stuff.

Haha, the good old Trading Post. I bought a bit of CB gear from it, generally did well. :)


... Anything, when cooked in large enough batches, will be vile.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
* Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)

A lot of people got burnt trying to use an MFM drive with RLL. While

it _could_ work (and did for many), there was a risk of losing data,

because some MFM drives couldn't reliably handle the higher density of
RLL. From memory, the drive technology was basically the same, it was
a matter of the exact specs of the drive. Using a certified RLL drive meant no hassles.

The same technology, but more sectors per track.

Yes, and higher data density, which means tighter specs for RLL drives.

While I've limited to no, experience with RLL specifically, have had many MFM drives in the past. I'm led to believe, there was no difference in manufacturing between both drive types, and at least one manufacturer, don't recall who or where I read it now, didn't specifically make an RLL drive only MFM. Although said manufacturers drives were often used for it with great reliability... I don't think to many of mine would've passed muster for extra data. And as I've mentioned before, there was always the clowns in the Trading Post, trying to flog, 160Mb HDs, an 80Mb MFM with RLL and SuperStore. Chuckle... recipe for disaster right there. Trading Post for non Aussies, was a weekly "newspaper" with nothing but sale ads in it for all sorts of stuff.

Spec


--- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
* Origin: (21:3/101)

On 01-22-21 06:16, Spectre wrote to Vk3jed <=-

While I've limited to no, experience with RLL specifically, have had
many MFM drives in the past. I'm led to believe, there was no
difference in manufacturing between both drive types, and at least one manufacturer, don't recall who or where I read it now, didn't

I'm led to believe the same, and the difference was whether the drive was certified to work with RLL or not. If it was, great, if not, then running RLL on it was a gamble - sometimes it paid off, sometimes it didn't. :)

specifically make an RLL drive only MFM. Although said manufacturers drives were often used for it with great reliability... I don't think
to many of mine would've passed muster for extra data. And as I've

Yeah, I had success with RLL. To be honest, I can't recall if the drive I used was certified or not. It was 30MB with RLL, in any case.

mentioned before, there was always the clowns in the Trading Post,
trying to flog, 160Mb HDs, an 80Mb MFM with RLL and SuperStore.
Chuckle... recipe for disaster right there. Trading Post for non
Aussies, was a weekly "newspaper" with nothing but sale ads in it for
all sorts of stuff.

Haha, the good old Trading Post. I bought a bit of CB gear from it, generally did well. :)


... Anything, when cooked in large enough batches, will be vile.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
* Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)