Problems with Deben Mk3 magnetic ferret finder

[nessie122 0]

Hi,

 

I have used a Mk3 ferret finder for the past season, it originally came with one of the older non-magnetic collars that clipped together in two parts. This worked pretty well & I had very little trouble in locating my ferret. I lost this collar & bought one of the new magnetic collars. This has been nothing but trouble. If I set the collar on the ground before I go out ferreting it usually works OK. But once I put the ferret underground it starts to mess about. It will sometimes bleep and at other times it wont. Also the distance reading goes crazy, the reading jumps about all over the place, then at times when there is no beeping the ferret pops up beside me, there are times when I can point it straight at the ferret only a few feet away and it still messes about.

 

I sent it back to Deben who said it had been checked and was OK, (and quite patronisingly they said if I didn't know how to work it to ring then up & they would talk me through the correct workings of the kit), I took it out the following weekend and it was still messing about the same way. There was no way that it would have been possible to accurately dig down for a ferret, (thank god I didn't need to that day). I contacted Deben again to let them know that I was still having the same problems as before and let them know I wasn't happy with the Mk3M kit, they admitted that they just gave it a quick test at their factory and have advised me to send it back again for a more thorough test. (even though I had explained to them the first time that the fault was intermittent.

 

What I want to know is if anyone else out there has had similar problems with the new Deben Mk3 Magnetic Ferret Finders???

Edited February 14, 2010 by nessie122

[stubby 175]

points to look at;

 

age of batteries in both collar and locator, dull batteries will work well above ground, but go crazy when used on warrens, I always use new collar batteries every outing

do you have a mobile phone in your pocket when ferreting, these can cause problems

do you fix the collar/locator to the underside of chin, or back of neck

[hunterdave 27]

i had that 1 same prob give it away got the old mark 3 collar now bril

[nessie122 0]

Stubby, I have tried new batteries but they made no difference, I usually fix the collar to the top of the neck, but it often slips to the side or underneath.

[albert64 1,882]

always put mine so that its under the chin never had a problem

[ferretville 69]

Put the collars under not on top of neck. If you look at your diagram for testing the battries its upside down in the picture. I`ve spoke to deben a few times mate and the engineer even told me they can be as far as 2ft out but this is when your not on top of the ferret. Example she gave me was say your 4ft down your finder may actually say its 5=6ft. As for batteries i`ve seen em tested and seem to be working fine and then literally not be able to pick up any signal so there can be no warning when your battery is suddenly going to die.

I have me mobile on me all the time when im out and don`t have any trouble . Just could be the case that you have a faulty box it happens hope you get some joy from them

[nessie122 0]

Thanks for the tips Ferretville, I was out today & its still messing about, (although not just as bad as before), I am going to send it back to Deben on Monday as that is me finished ferreting for the season now, so they can have it to check it out.

[Guest warren]

Hi nessie, send both the collar and the locator back and be sure. I think it could be your locator! Regards Warren

[dixyhmr 62]

Ive had same problem. Been back to deben, they said it was fine, took it out didnt work !!

 

It works fine, then all of a sudden will just stop.

 

Other two collars work fine.

 

Not impressed with their aftersales.

[nessie122 0]

I agree Dixy, the aftersales service at Deben is rubbish

[Pesti 0]

 I hav a mk3 ferret  finder and coller it's the  two piece on great  little  coller why change  to magnetic  when  that worked just  fine

[Pesti 0]

Okay 

[Delbhoy 0]

Hi all I've a mk3 finder and was working great till the other day when I was changing the batteries in both the collar and box when changing the batteries in the collar I sat them on the counter and accidentally put the box down on them and they stuck to the bottom of the box where the magnetic bit is to turn the collar on and off since then it's not turning the collar on then when I manage to get it on it won't turn it off anyone had this issue before