5/17/2012
Sony RM-AV3100 18-Device Fully Editable Touch Screen Universal Remote Control Review
Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)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.
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