Out with the freelander this weekend and when returning to the car the fob wouldn't unlock the car as I walked up
Eventually it opened when I held the fob right up infront of the windscreen
From that point on its been pretty rubbish managed to get it to work when needed but it can take a while sometimes

Is this a sign of battery in the fob? Or something else
I cannot try the other fob as its dead I managed to kill it trying to swap the battery I have successfully swapped soldered in batteries before in other fobs but managed to over heat the circuit board this time and damage it
So not wanting to kill this fob I will be looking to get a spare fob before I attempt battery swap on this fob
So as I asked earlier is this how they normally fail and so quickly as it had greatv range in the previous uses or should I be looking for a fault on the car ?

I would have another fob keyed into the car first. Fobs with a replaceable battery are available even for older MYs. I have one.

...and make sure that you have the emergency key in the fob! I bought a replacement fob and swapped over the internals, but not the key (there was a good reason for this, not just stupidity!) which was all good until the new fob's battery packed up after about a year, leaving me in the B&Q car park with a trolley-full of building materials and no way to get into the car!  2005 D3 2.7 Auto
Previously:
2010 MY FL2 TD4e GS - Now gone at 199,500 miles, about 135,000 of them mine.
‘93 Defender 110 200TDi CSW
‘87 Defender 90 4 cyl Petrol
‘83 110 CSW V8 - best ever!
Range Rover 2-door V8 (not sure of year - 4-speed box and vacuum diff switch)
Series III SWB Diesel

Is it happening all the time or just this once as radio interference can effect the range of the fob , had this happen at a company with high power transmitters in use before.

Richard FL2 07 TD4 GS Auto
Ex 02 TD4 Auto

IIRC, the receiver (key fob signal) is
located in the roof between the D posts.  DAVE.

https://youtu.be/_jACSPipPSE

I have to try this^^^^

So I decided to buy a new key off ebay complete and the autel ap200 that can program the keys
Arrived today and I have the wrong thing it seems I have the ap200C and I need an ap200m
Marvelous now I need to go through all the ago of sorting that mess out

My local Timkins says that its Tesco shops can supply and program new FL2 keys, and cut the blade. Around £90. Worth a try.