Customer Reviews

Sony RM-AV3100 18-Device Fully Editable Touch Screen Universal Remote Control

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I was disappointed. I should have spent more time searching for user reviews of this model and its predecessor. Briefly, pre-program commands were limited, the unit froze occasionally during programming, the buttons were not backlit, and the touch panel, although adjustable, didn't have sufficient contrast.

While the remote can be programmed to handle almost any piece of equipment, the pre-programmed equipment codes are limited. For those that are present, common commands were sometimes missing for my non-Sony equipment. For non-Sony equipment, no separate on and off commands were included.

The component selector buttons are pre-programmed with Sony codes. If your piece of equipment is not listed, it is best to clear the equipment selector button completely before learning the commands from your equipment's remote, as apposed to replacing the Sony commands on one by one basis using the learning function.

The manual is tedious but thorough. An overview of the steps needed to program the remote would have reduced frustration. If you haven't programmed a remote, plan on investing some quiet hours reading the manual.

Occasionally, the unit completely froze while erasing learned key commands or groups. Freezing was common during erasure of learned commands assigned to the remote's volume up and down buttons or the buttons in the ring shaped grouping. Battery removal/re-insertion cleared the freeze. Repeating the operation repeated the freeze. Erasing an entire group, such as TV, without erasing all the learned commands within the group sometimes froze the unit. Erasing all the learned commands within the TV group individually, before clearing the TV button, eliminated the freeze problem but the TV button then refused to accept a new equipment code. Clearing the ENTIRE remote proved necessary to resolve the problem.

On one occasion the unit froze when a button for a learned command was pushed. Clearing the entire remote was required was required to eliminate the problem.

After finding these defects, I found a user forum where users of earlier Sony models had complained about the same things. In my opinion, this new model is truly defective and should be taken off the market until fixed. Alternatively, these defects should be included in Sony's product literature so the public knows before they buy. If you buy one, I suggest you write your planned key assignments and macros down first. Do not attempt do to anything "on the fly" or you won't know what to avoid if the unit freezes.

At one point if I wanted to see a movie or watch TV or do anything else with my system I had to go through a tedious process of (finding! then) using up to 5 different remotes. Although each of my components had a "Universal" remote, I could change the volume with one, but not skip forward. Or change the channels but not turn anything off. Having a row of 5 remotes set up in front of me got a bit too tedious.

Months later, I can say that I would miss not having this remote around. It does everything I want it to, and it can do more.

The challenge is learing how to use it. Prepare yourself for a morning alone with your system, this remote, and the manual. It would help to have a laptop nearby so you can check for quick ideas online. It took me over two hours to do it correctly, and I consider myself pretty technologically advanced. Once it was set, I didn't ever really have to think about it again. Even changing the batteries was a snap. Take the old ones out, put the new ones in, all the settings remain.

I've seen this in big electronics stores for $200. At that price, it's not a very good value. At half the price, it's a great addition to your HT system and it will make the times you want to sit down and just watch the game a lot easier. It could use some extra features, but it does what it is supposed to do very well.

I was hesitant to purchase this product based upon some of the reviews that I read about it being buggy and freezing and things such as that, but I did anyway because it seemed that it would do exactly what I wanted for a good price.

Before making my purchase, I read reviews on this site as well as a troubleshooting forum and determined that most of the problems being experienced were user error and could be avoided.

When I received the package I immediately opened it and started looking through the manual for the portions that pertained to me and how I was going to use the remote. I entered the codes given for my listed devices and tested them. My TV however didn't have a listed code, but the instructions on how to find a devices frequency worked flawlessly and my TV was programmed with basic functionality within minutes. I had all of my devices (Technics receiver, Sony DVD, Phillips Tivo, and Sansui TV) all working on the remote within an hour.

Since I have had the remote about a month I have continually tweaked the functions of the devices controlled, often times using learning from my OEM remote to the Remote Commander (RMAV3100) and and continually satisfied with it's performance.

I upgraded my receiver to a Harman Kardon AVR series and have changed the AMP functionality over to it instead of the Technics. Just entering the code for the device didn't give me everything that I wanted to control with the remote, but with a little thought, tweaking, and remote learning I have programmed it to do everything and I no longer use the OEM remotes unless it's to learn a buttons function.

Information that I gleaned from forums to avoid problems:
When you change the batteries, remove all of the old ones and throw them away. Wait at least 20 seconds before installing any batteries. Then replace the batteries with all new and fresh AA's.

I did have the remote freeze up when I hit a newly learned button from the new receiver. When this occurred I removed the backing, removed the batteries, and waited 2 minutes before replacing them, just to be safe. Then I started the remote back up, deleted the offending button, relearned it, and have had no problems whatsoever since then.

I bought this remote despite what I had read concerning setup, etc... Most of my components are Sony so I assumed that it would be a slam dunk as far as programming. The remote is supposed to be pre-programmed for all Sony products. It did not however control my Sony receiver (985). It was easy to have the 3100 learn the commands if you have your original remote.

I was disappointed that I had to program it for my PVR. You would think in this day and age the codes would be out there.

I did eventually get the remote to control all of my components, but ran out of patience trying to get the system control macros to control the misc functions.

I recently purchased the Logitech 659. It really is a much easier product to program and adjust. I would take a look at it before purchasing the Sony.

Preamble: I originally purchased a Harmony 659, it has interface to Internet, it's easy to use, well that's what all the reviews said. Anyway, Web interface was a pain and had it set up after a lot of hassle; it couldn't handle my Sony Multiple Play DVD, couldn't handle by Panasonic TV properly, and the multiple componants/system option always ended up turning off the wrong componants. And lets be honest trying to read that tiny screen to determine where I was was ridiculous, plus other problems stopped using it after a day.

Forward to last week: saw the new Sony NX7000 (500+ bucks no thank you, but lets check out the rest). Checked reviews on Amazon for the 2500 and the 3100 many people claimed hard to program, limited codes no PC interface, hangs - doesn't sound to good really. Checked out remotecentral.com, very detailed review and cnet (this was the previous AV3000), interestingly punters like it better that the editor (who likes the previously mentioned 659!). So I was a bit skeptical at those reviews that really liked it and said how they had it up and running in 1 hour or so. Hmmm, Checked remotecentral.com in detail, and given the Amazon price thought I'd have another go at a 'Universal' Remote.

Well, I really did have it up and running with all my components, including programming the remote I bought for my Ipod, in less than an hour. And no hangs! Couldn't believe it absolutely ecstatic. Other remotes now in spare room in a box!

Upsides:
Really not that difficult to set up.
Easy to flip between components
Bargain - Look at the that Amazon price!
Works as stated
No other remotes on my table.

Down sides:
Screen contrast not too hot, but useable.
Generally need two hands to use
Finger prints on screen
Codes not extensive, no Codes for TIVO Series 2
Ohh and batteries not included!

They've just bought out the AX 4000, which does link to a PC! (but not Mac - what have Sony got against Apple?), (but of course it is full priced at around $199)
Apparently consumes batteries (so I bought lots!)

For a product that I am very satisfied with, I will say that there are four things to consider before buying this remote: First, it is fairly large (slightly larger than a James Patterson paperpack), fairly heavy (if you had to constantly pick it up and move it, it would probably get annoying - mine sits where I can see and operate it; I don't move it much), you will need the user's guide and a short learning curve to effectively utilize all the programming capabilities), and although there is nothing wrong with the touchscreen, a white light backlight rather than the existing blue/green I believe would make a nice improvement.

That said, this is a remote you will certainly appreciate. It took some reference with the user guide to get into the proper programming mode, but once I was there, I was able to just "beam" each button into the remote commander to teach it, and things went quickly from there. I love being able to hit one button and turn on all my components, programmed in the order I want them turned on (the macro turns my amp on first, since it has the longest "power-up" time, and my cable box on last, which leaves the remote in cable box mode, ready for me to surf channels). For a large remote with backlit touchscreen, my battery life, at 6 to 8 months, is also decent.

This remote is not the "be all to end all," but a very capable and usable device with features you will appreciate. Take some time and thought setting it up, and a great deal of button pushing can be consolidated to one-button execution (I select a dvd from my shuttle and the remote is programmed to switch to the proper dvd monitor setting on my tv, the proper dvd monitor setting on my amp, and turn the power off on the vcr and cable box; switch back to tv and the process is reversed). You make also hide buttons which display by default but which you don't ultimately end up using. It's size and weight are not a good trade-off if you are simply replacing one or two remotes, but I had six, and now access all features smoothly.

I bought this remote on JR.com for $99.88. I spent about 6 hours in total dedication reading the manual and programming it. Once done, it replaced 7 other remotes (TV/Dish/VCR/DVD/CD/AMP/Min-HiFi). I plan to add my to-be-purchased-X10 lighting system's remote capabilities to my RM-AV3100.
Programming the RM-AV3100 with device codes that are preset is easy but the inbuilt database of IR codes for devices is limited and hence I ended up teaching the remote the commands from my DVD(OPDV971H)/Dish(811)/Amplifier(Yamaha RXV-650). Teaching the remote commands from Dish (811) and Amplifer was easy enough. And when I say teaching, I went all the way including re-labling etc. However, teaching the RM-AV3100 with the DVD's commands turned out to be quite a challenge. I taught one command which later on when I tried to "unteach," the remote froze. When it froze, I reset it by removing and re-inserting a battery. Then trying a second time, it froze again. Then I tried to "unteach" the entire DVD device i.e.. delete all of the learned codes for the entire DVD device and it froze again, it just would not let me delete the DVD device. I had no option other than resetting the RM-AV3100 back to its factory setting, yessss, losing all of my earlier settings. This second time around, I taught the RM-AV3100 my DVD remote first, went through all the testing and then taught all of my other devices and voila! this time I seem to have got through all the way. I have even programmed the macros. I now have several macros, the most impressive of which does the following: Turns the TV on, switches the TV's input to DVD, turns the Amp on, switches the Amp's input to DVD, turns the DVD on and opens the DVD's drawer (so its waiting for me to pop in the DVD and touch the tray to close it, let the show begin!)

Very flexible remote, would buy again.

Good points:
- Lots of configuration options
- Instruction book is well written
- Great learning function (unless it gets "*confused")
- Edit text on four buttons per screen, very nice.
- Very good transmit range
- Four AA's... should last awhile


Cons:
- *You can confuse the learning function if it does not see a clear signal to record. Seems to cause a buffer overrun and the remote locks up. (Remove a battery for about five seconds then re-insert, then DEL/clear the offending button to bring it back to life).

- NOT a bad remote for someone with decent eyesight but, if you're an old guy like me... hard to see the small touch screen buttons at night. Sony, please note that many boomers are in the same shape and there is a very large market for a decently priced remote with LARGE touch buttons.

- Component select buttons should light up.

- The contrast adjustment is not useful... only brings up unwanted text.

I spent alot of time with this remote and its instruction book.
I found it to do everthing I asked of it. I was easy to program non-Sony gear(I dont own any Sony Gear). I found it faster and easier to program each command button exactly how I wanted it.
I adjusted it for multiple tasks on a single button push.
Example, push (SYSTEM1) button and it goes into my theatre mode.
The single one button command..turns on monitor, switches monitor input, turns on DVD, turns on Amp, adjust amps volume, adjust amps sound field, dims lights. It would do more but this is all I needed it to do in this single command. It was easy to program this multiple comand.
Reading the "Instruction Book" from cover to cover, first, was the key to understanding how this flexable remote worked.

The remote works fine for my mostly Sony systems. Programming does take some time and will require supplemental advice beyond the provided manual (go to remotecentral.com for manual corrections and elaborations). If you own a late-model Sony receiver, you need to change the receiver to AV1 mode before the remote will communicate with it.

Lots of flexibility in programing and assigning alias functions to the controls. One button to turn all systems on/off, volume controls can be set to only operate your receiver volume control. My family loves the fact that this remote is very simple to operate once programmed - only 27 hard buttons vs 50+ on most programable remotes. The rest of the functions (infrequently used) are on the touch screen. Good design, lousy manual.