Fostex R8 Trouble -- Any Ideas?

[MazdaBoi]

Hello all,

I am a proud new owner of a Fostex R8 reel to reel. Overall, it seems like a very nice machine. Sounds good, and has some cool features.

I'm having a bit of an issue with it though, and I cant figure out what is causing it...

I'm running Ampex 457 tape on 7" reels (both takeup and supply)... Everytime I record or play, it stops at almost exactly half of what the full tape length should be... It's normally somewhere between 11 minutes and 14 minutes. It will repeatedly stop at that same -exact- point until I rewind the tape and power down. The next time, it will pick a very close point to stop at -- not the same exact point, but normally within seconds of it.

Now, the R8 has some sort of "Zone Limit" feature, which I believe might be what is causing me problems.

However, I have Zone Limit turned off (I think), all the memory points cleared, and no Reel Zone Limit (that I know of) set...

What else could be causing the mysterious behaviour?

It doesnt show any error messages, and seems to work fine. But it just stops at like 1/2 of the reel, and blinks the Locate light.

I have no clue what that means. Can someone help me?

Thanks in advance!

 

[nomadnz]

Fostex R8 problem

Umm, a bit of a shot in the dark here, but check all the buttons on the remote panel very carefully, and make sure that none of them are jammed in the on or down position... If you know what I mean.
My G24S use to jam the reset button and so the tape time counter wouldn't count.
Have you done a complete microprocessor reset? I dunno but there could be like some kind of embedded corrupt locate point that's screwing things up. See how you go.

 

[MazdaBoi]

Re: Fostex R8 problem

Umm, a bit of a shot in the dark here, but check all the buttons on the remote panel very carefully, and make sure that none of them are jammed in the on or down position... If you know what I mean.
My G24S use to jam the reset button and so the tape time counter wouldn't count.
Have you done a complete microprocessor reset? I dunno but there could be like some kind of embedded corrupt locate point that's screwing things up. See how you go.

All the buttons are in the full upright position Good thought tho... Wish it were that simple...

I contacted Fostex... The email I received in reply to my problem was as follows (and I am quite serious):

"The unit may need to be sent in for maintence repair."

That's all they really said...

So, I called them, jumped through a few hoops, and finally got ahold of someone who was very nice. He also agreed that most likely it would need to be sent in, at which time he gave me the phone numbers of a few repair centers in my state. I contacted one of them, and once again was greeted by a very friendly person. I have yet to get the box shipped out yet though... Got it all packed up, but cant seem to get my butt into the shipping center. I'll do it this week.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[nomadnz]

I guess if you or I were a Fostex service rep then we'd be pushed to come up with anything better than what you got told..
Umm another possibility... Is the tape base thickness set properly in the system menu? Again, I'm only going by what the G24 is like... but as far as I know they're not all that disimilar. I'm running 499 on mine, and that's about #52 or #53. So a 457 which is 2/3 the thickness would be.... Ummm... I guess about #38 or #39. Like I said, I dunno the R8 that well so I might be talking through a hole in my arse... Now that I think of it, the numbers might go the other way... lol. So it might be up around #70. Have you got a manual? I can email you bits of the G24 one if it'll be any help.
Since you've only just bought the machine, it might be worth just biting the bullet and getting the once over done first up.
Viva La Analogue!!