Data storage tape for minimized damage

A data storage device comprising:

• a housing defining a cartridge sized to cooperate with a tape drive;
• at least one tape reel mounted for rotation within the housing;
• a tape mounted to the at least one tape reel, the tape having at least one data zone for storing data, and at least one landing zone to be aligned with a tape contacting component during stopping and starting of advancement of the tape to minimize damage to the at least one data zone caused by stiction;
• and
• a radio frequency device containing a location of the at least one landing zone for communicating with a tape drive to identify the location of the at least one landing zone relative to the tape.

A method for minimizing damage to data tape comprising:

• conveying a base film along a coating head;
• intermittently dispensing a magnetic layer upon the base film from the coating head as the base film passes the coating head;
• and
• intermittently dispensing another coating layer upon the base film that is rougher than the magnetic layer between sequential applications of the magnetic layer from the coating head as the base film passes the coating head to form landing zones for minimizing damage to data zones caused by stiction.

A data storage device comprising:

• a housing defining a cartridge sized to cooperate with a tape drive;
• at least one tape reel mounted for rotation within the housing;
• and
• a tape mounted to the at least one tape reel, the tape having at least one data zone for storing data, and at least one landing zone to be aligned with a tape contacting component during stopping and starting of advancement of the tape to minimize damage to the at least one data zone caused by stiction, wherein the at least one landing zone has a length sized to engage all external contacts within the data storage device.