it should beep on locate at around 8 foot or below, make sure that the pin pointer is in the center, when it's on locate mode, move to the highest pitch to find the collar...get someone to hide the collar in your house and practice trying to find it, if the locator is right up to the collar and it is makes no sound and the pin pointer is in the center and it's on locate mode then there is something wrong with the finder...hope this helps..at least it worked for me