A servo track has identical servo pattern frames including two pairs of parallel magnetic transitions, the transitions of each pair spaced apart an equal distance, the transitions of the first pair at an azimuth angle to the longitudinal axis of the tape, the transitions of the second pair at an opposite azimuth angle. A servo channel receives signals at first times corresponding to when a servo read head detects the first and second transitions of the first pair of parallel transitions of a servo pattern frame, and second times corresponding to when the servo read head detects the first and second transitions of the second pair of parallel transitions. The servo channel determines a relative lateral movement and velocity between the tape and the tape head based on the azimuth angle and the ratio of the difference of the first and the difference of the second times.