i have the same one and it usually doesnt signal farther than about 12 feet for me either, it still takes great pictures though. when you said it wasnt signaling and the flash went off when you turned it off could mean that you may have accidentally turned it all the way on. i have never had the flash go off wheni turned it off unless it was on, not on test mode. but like i said for the price its a great camera, got an awsome pic of my 12 pointer last year at 4 in the morning so you wont be dissapointed.