The battery in my MX-980 no longer holds a charge, so I swapped it out with the battery from an MX-880 that is currently not in use. It is my understanding that both remotes use the same battery, but I noticed that the original battery in the MX-980 is 1000 mAh, whereas the battery in the MX-880 is 1330mAh. To make matters even more confusing, I checked to see what battery was in my other MX-880, and it's 1100mAh. What would account for this discrepancy? Since they all output 3.7v, I assume that the battery with the higher mAh rating will last the longest between charges. Is this correct?

I plan on buying a new battery, and I came across this one on Amazon:

[Link: amazon.com]

It appears to be 1200mAh. Would it be a good choice as a replacement? Also, is there any downside to going with an aftermarket battery as opposed to the OEM battery?

All the same battery- MX980/MX880/MX810. As you note, the requirement is the 3.7v. The difference otherwise has only to do with the individual suppliers at the point of manufacture.
Using an aftermarket (non-URC) would only void your warranty if you return it for any other reason within the 1 year warranty.

Thanks, Joe! I'm well beyond the 1-year warranty period. I was just worried that an aftermarket battery could somehow damage the remote, or that it wouldn't work as well as the original battery.

Many have used the battery you found with no issue. You could buy a URC branded battery as well, research Batt-MX-950.

No... The difference is the mAh (milliampere-hour) rating on the batteries. The larger the number the more capacity the battery has.

All the batteries in those remotes will work universally but the are not the "SAME".

Yes, there is a difference in mAh. My point is that each supplier sent along a differently rated battery. They all work.

does the orignal battery have "Roofer" on it? Those were known to swell up and not hold a charge, may be worth calling URC , you may get a free one

If you have a roofer, no questions asked, you will be shipped a replacement at no cost.

To Loraquest: I've been using Ultralast UL-NP60s in MX-980s, 880s and 950s for years. They work great and I recommend them to anyone looking for a replacement battery.

Mike

Sorry if this is dumb but,

What is a roofer?

Pretty sure they're referring to the brand of battery.

URC doesnt make it easy for buying replacement batteries. I see no reference to what number to call for new URC batteries. Anyone know the number for customers to call directly and place an order for an MX-980 battery?

Like Surf said, it is a common NP-60 battery. Used in cameras, and even in one of my Yaesu ham radios. The capacity would generally tell you which would work longest before needing a recharge, but online I would not fully trust a mAh claim.

Since Surf has located one that has been battle tested, that is the way to go. Or, buy about ten different cheapies online to find out for yourself. 😳

Any URC will sell batteries. just an FYI - I have had many clients purchase third party batteries online only to see them degrade significantly within one year. By purchasing a battery from a dealer you have a warranty and some level of recourse. A battery should last anywhere from 2-3 years depending on usage.