I have been the proud owner of a Sony RM-AV2100 for a little over five years. I'm looking for a remote that's just like it, plus with the ability to have macros with the on-screen buttons. This seems like a small thing to ask in five years, which is an eternity in the world of technology.

So, has Sony produced such a remote yet ?

A couple years ago, I looked at the RM-AV3000. I couldn't live with it, because it only has 7 hard component buttons. I need all 12, which the RM-AV2100 has. I had to return the RM-AV3000. The RM-AV3100 seems to have the same number of component buttons as the RM-AV3000, so it's out as well.

I see that Sony has released the RM-AV2500. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to have on-screen macros either. And it has fewer on-screen buttons, which is no good - I just get by with the size of the screen on the RM-AV2100 now, and I don't want to use a second screen for each component.

I don't care for interfacing the remote with the computer at all. I'm not a Windows user, I use OS/2 and Solaris primarily at home, and I wouldn't expect Sony to produce software for them. I don't want to pay for a fancy remote with those capabilities that I just wouldn't be able to use.

You may ask why I need the macros to be on the screen specifically. For me, and especially for my partner, and occasionally guests, it has to do with basic ergonomics. Nobody else can ever figure out how to switch to those 4 devices. I get calls at work when my partner wants to switch the device because there is no macro . These have to stop !!!

I have a setup with a Yamaha receiver and a component video switch that requires sending two discrete signals to switch to 4 of the components - one to the receiver, and one to the component switch. I use the "amp" component and the on-screen buttons to do all the device switching.

I can't use the 3 system control buttons because they are just unintuitive - why do the switching with those buttons for a few components with those, and use the Amp device for all the others. Besides, 3 is short of the 4 macros that I need.

The RM-AV2100 also has macros on each of the 12 hard component buttons. But I can't use those either, because I don't want the amp to automatically switch just because I'm sending a command to a particular device. I often want to send command to devices that aren't active, such as to turn them on or off, pause, or stop a recording. Most critical is the ability for me to have one source be selected for audio and the other for video. Sometimes I will watch a TV show on the DVR with the captions on, and have it selected for video on my amp, but the CD player selected for audio and listen to music instead of the show's audio. If the hard component button does the switching automatically, it will mess up my classical music everytime I want to press "skip" on the DVR, as it would reset my amp to select the DVR for both video and audio. I can't lose that ability, and thus I can't use the macros on the component buttons ...

I only need four macros to be on the screen of my amp device. I'm happy with everything on the 2100 otherwise.

So, Sony, are you listening ? Can I get my remote upgrade now, or do I have to wait another 5 years ?

Incidently, if somebody knows of a remote of another manufacturer that fits my needs now, I'd like to know about it, because I sure can't wait anymore.

THE 3000 AND 3100 HAVE 18 COMPONENT BUTTONS, and you can set up a 32 step macro on any of those. You can set a four step macro on any of the touchscreen buttons.(on the 3100 only).
On the 2100 you can set the copmponent buttons to execute a 32 step command also.
you have to hold down the component button four 2 swconds to execute the macro command.
On the 3000/3100 you can set the time from zero to 2 seconds (time you have to hold down the component button)

On the 3000/3100 you have 6 hard component buttons and 12 touchscreen component buttons that you can relable and have them operate whatever you want,
(just keep pressing "other)
If you like the way the 2100 works you will love how the 3100 works. Give it another look.

On the 2100 you can also do micro-macros (teaching multiple commands into one button) its kinda tricky but it works.

The 3000/3100 only have 6 hard component buttons. On-screen component buttons don't count.

I will look into the micro macro. But I'm afraid I need real key macros, because one of the devices - the component video switch - didn't come with a remote at all - it just works with certain presets which are available on the 2100 - so there is no second source remote to learn a micro macro from.

why dont the on screen buttons count? how hard is it to press
"other" then select a source?
my 2\
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