General Computers Inc. purchased a computer server for $$69,000.$ It paid $30\mathrm{.}00\%$ of the value as a down payment and received a loan for the balance at $9\mathrm{.}00\%$ compounded semi$-$annually. It made payments of $$2,550\mathrm{.}74$ at the end of every quarter to settle the loan. a$.$ How many payments are required to settle the loan?