At 12:44 PM 2/4/97 -0400, Alan AMBERS  also wrote:

<snip>

>380 bytes * 9 = 3420 bits  / 6250bpi = .5472"

<snip>

I think the conversion into bits (the multiplication by 9) is a bit of a
red-herring here as the tape is 9-track; i.e., the 9 bits comprising each
byte can be considered to be stored across the width of the tape. Thus the
6250 bpi in effect is bytes per inch for tape capacity calculation purposes.
So all the final calculated figures provided by Alan need to be multiplied
by 9. (Or have my systems analysis skills (ca. 1966) failed me here?)

Eric Bender