Thomas,

If you read along the line of SENSE data you will see
FE.OA.31.18 .xx.xx.xx.

The FE is the FID (FRU identification number)
3118  is the first fault sympton code
see the 3590 Maintenance manual ( SA37-0301-04 ).

IBM Hardware support informed us that codes such as
FE 3118
FE 3117
FE 301C
FE 3542
FE 3A5B
were errors writing the servo-track along the tape.
You will need a new tape - send this one back under it's
warranty.

We experienced this mainly with the early use of 256 track
3590-E1A drives ( along with early microcode ). We still see
this occasionally.

HTH
Ian Smith
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Ian Smith
Ian Smith
Oxford University Computing Services, Oxford, UK.