I just got my MX-980. Programmer showed me how to operate it. Left. Next day I took it off its base and it was dark. Off. Today I picked up a new battery at the store. Charged it. Still dark. Reading the threads it looks like I have to play with how the remote sits in the charger. Let me just say that this is bad design. I have owned dozens of items, from cell phones, iphones and remotes that had chargers and there was never a case where one had to think about how careful you are in placing the instrument in its holster. I will go back and play with it. But for the money spent, the company should be fixing the problem and supplying replacement holsters. Learn from Toyota. No one is dying here. But this is a design flaw that should be fixed in an instrument as otherwise well regarded as this. Also, if it is true that it gives 2 hours of life, I will be returning it.