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The second change is with the LCD screen�s overall contrast range. The RM-AV3000�s screen came set from the factory to the lowest of 16 settings, causing many owners (who understandably had difficulty sorting through the �manual�) to complain about the display�s weak contrast. The RM-AV3100 has the same number of settings and again comes set to the lowest value, but the whole scale has shifted darker by about 6 steps. Consequently, the screen no longer appears abnormally weak out of the box and the adjusted scale now covers a more sensible range.
It�s not nearly as hard to find software changes, with the RM-AV3100 boasting four significant new features: key aliases, key macros, micro macros and key hold time. Let�s take a closer look at each.
A reason to like linking.
The first new feature, key aliases, is one of the more useful additions. When created automatically in a group, �aliases� are sometimes referred to as �punchthroughs�. On some remotes it is possible to punch the amplifier�s volume controls through to the television, or a VCR�s transport controls to the DSS receiver. An alias is basically a memory efficient way of linking one button to another � think of it as similar to a Windows �shortcut�.
The Sony RM-AV series already has one form of punchthroughs available for volume controls, but key aliases take this capability to a whole new level: any in-device key can now reference any other in-device key. So, you could copy the TV�s [Wide] function to several devices without having to learn the command multiple times from the original remote. Aliases will work with preprogrammed or learned codes and even key macros, and there�s no fixed limit on how many of these you can have.
Buried deep at the back of the RM-AV3100�s extended list of components is a new device named �Multi�, replacing the former �LD� position. This is an example of what Sony calls a �multi component key�, which is basically any device that contains aliases to other devices. By default, �Multi� is set up with commands for televisions and DVD players. The way aliases work, if the commands stored on the actual �TV� or �DVD� devices are changed �Multi� will automatically (and conveniently) reflect those changes.
Since �Multi� is merely a sample aliased device, it can be reset to work as a normal programmable key, for instance if you want that �LD� device back. Just as with other Sony remotes, the RM-AV3100 is picky on exactly what can be changed after a device has begun customization. If a component has a learned key, alias or macro, the preprogrammed code can no longer be altered. The built-in �clear all aliases� procedure should be enough to allow entry of a new code number but, just like the RM-AV2500, it wasn�t enough for the RM-AV3100. I also had to perform the �clear all learned codes� function � even though there were no learned keys to remove.
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