Gr8 White Jr Report post Posted June 25, 2012 Has anybody had any issues with their Covert II trail cameras? Up until recently I had owned 5 Covert II trail cameras. Two of them I was never able to really use because after the first time I had set them out, some low life found them and decided to steal them, leaving me with two destroyed bear boxes. Expensive loss! So now I am down to 3 cameras. Just my luck, two of the three cameras I have left are having issues now. One of them is having problems with the IR lens activating randomly during daylight hours and quite a few pictures are coming out over exposed and completely "whited out". The other camera has something wrong with the remote port. When I plug a remote into it, the remote screen stays completely blank. It doesn't even light up or show any indication that it is plugged in. I have tried several different remotes with same results so I know it is the camera and not the remote. I sent both cameras in to Covert and was very surprised with the options (or lack there of) they gave me. They will not try to fix either camera. The only thing they will do is sell me two refurbished cameras for $50 a piece. The catch is these cameras they would be selling me are the older 2GB cameras. That would be okay for one of my cameras as it is an older 2GB but my other camera is one of the newer 4GB cameras. So basically I will be paying $50 to down grade my camera. This is the one that really upsets me because although I only had it out in the field for less than six months, the warranty is expired because it has been more than a year since I purchased it. The other great catch to this is if I do decide to purchase these refurbished cameras they will come with NO warranty. So if I have a problem with them from day one then I am on my own. I absolutely love these little cameras when they are working correctly but after this experience with their customer service I am not sure I want to invest any more money into their company by purchasing any more of their cameras. Right now I am 2 out of 3 on Covert cameras not working correctly and for a product that cost over $200 a piece that is unacceptable IMO. Has anybody else had any issues with their Covert II cameras or were my two cameras just a fluke? Thanks for any input! -Tracy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted June 25, 2012 I had the over exposing problem and they gave a update to load into the camera. It didnt work too well but I was lucky and it was still under warranty. As for the remote problem I've noticed if the batteries are low the remote will not work properly. Have you replaced the batteries in the camera? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
123456 Report post Posted June 25, 2012 Moultrie camera's IMO are a great camera for the money. I own 5 and have never had a problem. 2 of them are a little larger than most, but great pictures with no problems. Just giving you a different camera option if you choose to switch over. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gr8 White Jr Report post Posted June 25, 2012 As for the remote problem I've noticed if the batteries are low the remote will not work properly. Have you replaced the batteries in the camera? I did try brand new batteries. When I first plugged the remote in and it didn't light up I figured the batteries were dead. I put brand new batteries in the camera and still nothing. When I unplugged the remote I noticed the red LED light blinking so I figured my remote was bad since the camera was working. I have four other remotes that I tried with no luck. I am very disappointed that Covert wont even try to fix my cameras. I was shocked at how very unhelpful the guy was that I spoke to on the phone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues 'n' Sheep Report post Posted June 25, 2012 Whenever I have a problem with any Covert: I put an empty card in, brand new batteries, turn it on, and then remove the batteries... I was told to try this by someone at Covert and it has fixed everything from runaway pics, to overexposed photos, and control paddle issues.... They called a a "hard reboot"? That is all the advice I have for you Pal. Good Luck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gotcoues Report post Posted June 25, 2012 Hopefully the "reboot" works. That's more advice than Covert gave him. Good to know Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted June 25, 2012 Yeah, try the reboot. If that doesn't work, just bring them to the Marshall Lake campout and I will exchange them for two of the brand new Extremes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gr8 White Jr Report post Posted June 25, 2012 Whenever I have a problem with any Covert: I put an empty card in, brand new batteries, turn it on, and then remove the batteries... I was told to try this by someone at Covert and it has fixed everything from runaway pics, to overexposed photos, and control paddle issues.... They called a a "hard reboot"? That is all the advice I have for you Pal. Good Luck. I have never heard of any "reboot". I went back and forth with Covert through emails about the issues I was having and they never once mentioned a "reboot". They just told me to send it in. I feel relieved that there may be a fix for them. Thanks for the input Gino! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gr8 White Jr Report post Posted June 25, 2012 Yeah, try the reboot. If that doesn't work, just bring them to the Marshall Lake campout and I will exchange them for two of the brand new Extremes. Wow! That would be awesome Amanda! The cameras are still at Covert since I told them that I wanted to think about my options for a few days before making a decision. I will call Covert in the morning and ask them to ship the cameras back to me. Not sure if they will make it here before next weekend. I will definitely try the "reboot" first. Hopefully that will resolve the issues I am having. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cmc Report post Posted July 5, 2012 I'm suffering from the run away photos on my Covert II in which it will continuously take photos even if I set the camera facing down on a desk without anything to trigger it. I have tried to reboot it but thus far, no sucess. To make sure I'm doing that right - are you guys leaving the remote in or removing it? I put in 8 batteries, a blank formatted card, removed the remote, and turned on the camera, waited about 5 seconds and then proceded to remove the batteries as fast as I could. Am I missing something in that procecdure? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted July 5, 2012 CMC, How long have you been using that camera? The runaway problem should have showed itself with the first use and the camera could have been returned for a new one under warranty. I forgot the exact procedure for that reboot, but it is not likely to fix that runaway problem. Did you buy that camera from me? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cmc Report post Posted July 5, 2012 Yep it's the one I got from you when you put them on close out sale. First time I used it was my spring bear hunt last year where it sat out in the woods for 2.5 month due to closed forest and took 2700 photos over that time working great. First photo was me leaving and last photo was me coming back 2.5 months later to get it. It's been in my gunsafe till a month ago where I set it out scouting for my elk hunt and when I checked it last weekend it took 6001 photos, maxing out the SD card of course, as the photos were al within a 6 hour period from when I set it that day to 6pm later that same day. I've been testing it at home and as soon as it turns on it takes pictures till it's turned off. Same goes for video if you switch to that setting. I take it warranty is up so I'll give Covert a call and see what gives. I have a HR8 Covert out right now and fear that one is doing the same thing based on how many pics it took during setup. I just thought my son running around was triggering them all but doubt he was the issue. I'll know more on that one after I check it this weekend. That one I didn't purchase at cwt.com. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted July 5, 2012 The HR8 didn't have the runaway problem, it just affected some of the Covert 2s (as well as the identical Bushnell trophy cams). If you can't get the Covert 2 to work, let me know and I will swap it out for you for a new covert. Either the MP6 or the Red40. You are past warranty I am sure, but I want you to be happy with the camera and so am happy to give you a new one. You can check out the new cameras in the new store: http://store.coueswhitetail.com/categories/Trail-Cameras/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cmc Report post Posted July 5, 2012 Amanda thank you for the offer - and well above the call of duty! I sent you an email. Thanks cmc Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
