VIDEO TAPE EQUIPMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04770A002700040017-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 16, 2005
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: February 7, 1966
• Content Type: MF

Approved Foie Release 2005/06/23 : CIA-RDP78B04719A002700040017-2
SECRET
Declass Review by NGA.
NPICAWS/D/6-713
7 Febreery 1966
MEMORANDUM FOR : Chief, Collateral Support Diviaion, I C
SUBJECT: Video Tape Equipment
Letter NPIC/C3D625-65 of 6 December 1965
1. Initial inveetigetien of Video Tape equipment And procederea
hao indicated the following:
(e) The yroblem erect for obtaining good qpality herd copy from
megeetic Video Tape is the play back equiment itself, not the photo-
graphic hard copy reproduction technique.
(b) Standard or transverse recorded Video Tape imposes no
great problem. Good ci.rnlity basic eqeipment is evaileble for
apxroximateiyI I Ztop motion and heed copy eqpipment coiled be
added for about
(e) Video Tape recorded by helical scen deveces, i.e., potteble
units, are a real problem due to (1) the nature of the system ane
(2) the leek of standerdieetion. A piece of eqeipment that woad ee
capable of reading any helical scan tape would require development
and would be a costly item.
(1) Investigation thee far indicatee that no eqeipment exiets
that can conv magnetic tape from one system to another oyster
(64/50 cps o 5/60 cps, etc.). Developient o thie type of equip-
ment would be costly end weld probably be less than dearable eLw
to expected lose of quality during conversion.
(e) The pieces of eqeipment concerned are complex, sophisticated,
special purpose, electronic devices end for optimum utility and
performance will have to be operated by tochaical personnel who ere
knowledgeable of such equipment
2. In view of the above mentioned items various possible
directions of action are iadicated? depending upon cost, quality,
revirements risk etc., and poseible trade-cite to be consideree.
Following are possible 'venues of approach;
(a) Obtain high quality commercial equipment for tee= verse
scan Video Tape with disk type stop motion and photographic hard
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accessories. This would be primarily an off-the*shelf prmuremant
with a small amount of black box R&D interfacing and ::ould provide
*top motion and hard copy from any type of 2 inch transverse sc1.411
Video Tape (525 scanline/60 cps and 625 scanline/50 cps). WIC would
still be without a helical scan capability.
(b) Procure off-the-shelf helical scan readers of the same
manufactureaa modification as eqpipment used in the field. This
could eaaily amount to half a dozen recorders. An interfaced dish
type stop motion and hard copy device could be added ts aceessery
eqpipment. The expoeeted cost of this approach would be unpredictable,
and maintenance, replacement parts, and operation would be a connider-
able problem. The eqeipment would provide a helical Video Tape
capability. (Very rough estimate in addition to (a) above)
(e) Develop a special, single piece of eleipment to handle all
helical scan tape. This approach would be. expensive, have a, lOng lead
time and would be a high risk item, (Nonexistent High R&D ?este)
r(d) Develop equipment to convert one Video Tape sip% tO
another, i.e., 625 scan/50 cps one inch type. to 525 scatl ne/60 cps
tranoverse. scan 2 inch tape, ete. This would be a high cost? high
risk, long lead time approach. A considerable loss of quality thliougil
conversion can be expected. (Nonexistent . high R&D =ate)
3. At the present time, no definitive requirement baa been levied
an the Plans and Development Staff for deveioppent of equipment 0:7
the type described in paragraph 2- (b) (c) and (d). It is therefoee
our intention to proceed ,eith the tTproach described in 2 (a).
Development objectives are being written and will be circulate4 to
eppropiate menufacturere. It is anticipated that developmett'time
after the contract is let will be approetmate3,y four months.
4. Plans and Development Staff pereonael will coetinue te
conduct liaison with otherzovernmental,e.geeciee have cognizance of
the other avenues of awroach and will be'prepared to enter into more
extensive development *cad a firm requirement for such develepment
arise.
Distributiewe
Oeig & 1 - Addressee
2 - DB/P&D (99753-6)
NPIC/P&DS, (7 Feb 66)
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