Well if it has developed a fault where it transmits continuously this might explain how the batteries are getting flat. My new mark 2 was manufactured in April so it would be very strange for the battery to be dead already. I've got some new AAA batteries here and the expiry date is in 3 years time.

Remember that the remote ships with the strip of plastic in the battery compartment isolating the battery, so it's effectively brand new when you get it.

And i've had my Mk 1 since 99 and the original battery is fine. When the RIO remote dies, the Mark 2 still responds to the kenwood remote from my mark 1, so it seems to be the remote and not the player.

I'll get a new battery and see if that fixes the RIO remote, but if it is malfunctioning and transmitingt continously, then it will just run the new battery flat after a period of time. Unfortuantly i don't have a camcorder to do the test mentioned