Ok, so I need a new remote control, and I need a very few specific
features -- PIP, SLEEP, and access to the TV's menus.

I was originally thinking of getting one of the One For All remotes, but at
Fry's today I noticed that there are actual Sony brand universal remotes.
(Plus, since I really only need a few features, I _don't_ need the ability
to work with a zillion different products.. and my existing VCR remote
controls the 'basic' features of the TV like volume/channel/input).


SLEEP obviously does the sleep timer on the TV.. and various "menu" and
navigation buttons (overloaded meaning of the play/ff/rewind/stop buttons
if I read the markings on the remote correctly) will let me go through the
TV's menus (to turn on and off closed captioning for example, or adjust the
contrast, etc.)

But looking a the remote, I couldn't figure out whether it's possible to do
a few things:

There is a PIP button on the various Sony remotes, but there were no
obvious PIP SOURCE, PIP CHANNEL, or even PIP SWAP buttons..

Are these functions actually available on the Sony universal remotes?
If so, how do you do them?

(If not, what use is a PIP button if you can't even change channels or the
video source for the PIP???)

I realize it's sort of bad to give Sony more money after the TV's remote
went bad, but I actually like the shape and layout of the remote a lot and the
Sony universal remotes are similar. (And the cheapest one is $8!)

None of the above seemed to vary on the more expensive Sony remotes either.
(Actually, some of the most expensive ones didn't even have a PIP button.)

Any help solving this would be great. Thanks.

By the way, I *have* heard about the Cinema 7 and will
probably get that if the Sony one doesn't work, but
I really only need a FEW functions (PIP, SLEEP, access to
TV's menus), *not* a remote to control a ton of devices.

The soon-to-be-released RM-AV2100 has full PIP control, including PIP On/Off, PIP Input, PIP Move, PIP Off, PIP Still, PIP Swap, PIP Chan+, PIP Chan-. There's a screenshot of the TV device here.

I was asking about the low end Sony remotes..

Actually I got a response from someone about the RV701
universal remote (they said it was about $20).
Hopefully this also applies to the cheaper Sony remotes.
(The cheapest one at Fry's is $8!) I can afford more,
but I really only need PIP/Sleep/menu functions as my
VCR remotes do everything else.

In order to send pip commands to the tv, you must activate it by hitting the
pip button (the window pops up on-screen) while also pressing the various
control buttons. For example

pip and disp - turns on/off the window picture
pip and CH+/CH- changes the windowed channel
pip and tv/video-changes the input mode of the windowed picture
pip and 1-moves the window
pip and 2-swaps the window with the main screen picture
pip and 3-freezes the window picture

the zenith Remote 7 home theater remote is a pretty darned good remote for 17 bucks. It will do some of the upper level Sony tricks, color, tint, balance, etc. but _will not_ do any PIP functions. It has 7 programmable keys, you could (I do) control 2/3/4 VCR's, 2 (or more different brand) TV's, stero, DSS,
etc. If only it had PIP!

I read your critiques that dated back a few months and I am still wondering if the Sonv RM-V701 does program PIP even in older Sony sets. I bought a 1991 Sony 46" KPR-46ER25 without a remote. I only paid $200 and the picture quality is superb. All I want is a Low-End Remote that will do the "PIP" and menu for color adjustments. (Setup would be nice to include selection of incoming ports!).
I called Sony and they said that my TV could be accessed by Sony Model RM-786 and I can find Nothing about this remote ($93.95).
You cannot buy the original any more.
Any ideas.... Anyone?
Gene Billeaudeaux

Sony's website says the $10 RM-V8A controls the PIP and has TV menu. Of course, it doesn't control many devices. I've never used it myself.

I like the 8-device RM-VL900, but it is $50 and the PIP commands are a bit confusing: Play, Stop, FF, and RW are buttons to work the PIP for example. Without the device in my hand, I can't even remember which does what.

I have a older sony xbr TV that has PIP.I happen to press the PIP button on my madrigal IRQ. I now cannot get the PIP to turn off.I also have a All In One AV 8 remote a SL=900 a Radio Shack6-1 none of them will turn this stupid PIP OFF!Please help me my wife is ready to throw me out with all my remotes and TV!

You don't have the original TV's remote any more?

Original remote has been missing for some time now

Ah. Well, it looks like you want the "PIP OFF" code. I know the Sony RM-AV2100 has it.