Sony RM-V401 User Manual

• If you are using more than one receiver (or amplifier) and have set

it on the CBL/SAT, CD, AUX or DVD button, when selecting these
buttons you cannot control the volume of the receiver (or
amplifier) of the RCVR button.

• If you change the setting of the RCVR button to a component other

than a receiver or amplifier, the volume control setting of video
components will return to “TV” even if you have changed the
factory preset volume control. In this case, you will not be able to
control the volume from audio components other  than a receiver
or amplifier.

In step 3 above, press VOL– instead.

1 Press the button of the desired

component on the Commander.

2 Point the Commander directly at the

component.

3 Press the button for the function you want to use.

See “Remote Button Descriptions” for complete descriptions of the
buttons on the Commander.

Basically, use this Commander in the same way as the Commanders
supplied with your components.
• Using this Commander will not increase the functions of your

components. The functions of the Commander are limited to the
functions of the components themselves. For example, if your TV
does not have a MUTING function, the MUTING button on this
Commander will not function with your TV.

• Some functions of the component may not work with this

Commander.

• If your cable box can control volume, be sure to set its volume

switch to a medium position. If the volume on the cable box is
turned down completely, you will not be able to adjust your TV’s
volume with the Commander.

You can program the Channel Macro function on any of the buttons
listed below (macro keys).
For example, instead of pressing 

, 

, and then ENT button to

change the TV channel, you can perform these operations by
pressing only the N button.

The macro keys are:
N

, m, M, x, X, and zREC.

(During TV, cable box, or digital satellite receiver operations only.)

The series of operations that can be programmed must be consisted
of two to four sequential pressings of 

 to 

 buttons or ENT button.

The Channel Macro function may not work correctly for some
components.

1 Press the desired component select button.

(You can select “TV”, “cable box”, or “digital satellite receiver”
only.)

2 While pressing the desired macro key, press the buttons required

for the operations in sequence.
For example,  to program 

 t   t ENT on the N button, hold

down N first, press 

, 

, and ENT in sequence, and then release

N

.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits
for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential installation.  This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference  to radio communications.  However, there is
no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation.  If this equipment  does cause harmful interference to
radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning
the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from

that to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
You are cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly
approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this
equipment.

The Commander is preset at the factory to operate Sony brand
components.
If you’re using  the Commander with a Sony component, you won’t
need to preset the Commander before you start using it.
To set up the Commander to use with other (non-Sony)
manufacturers’ components, or to use with a component that is not
preset at the factory, you’ll need to follow the instructions in this
manual to preset the Commander with the correct code number for
your components. (See the supplied “Component Code Numbers”
also.)

• The Commander can be set up to operate only one component per

button – unless their code numbers happen to be the same.  For
example, you cannot set up the Commander to operate a Sony TV
and a Panasonic TV simultaneously (because they use different
code numbers).

• You may not be able to operate even a Sony brand component with

the factory presetting. In such a case, follow the procedure in
“Setting the Code.”

Slide open the battery compartment and insert two size AA (R6)
batteries (not supplied).
Be sure to line up the + and – on the batteries with the + and – on the
battery compartment.

Under normal conditions, batteries will last up to six months. If the
Commander does not operate properly, the batteries might be worn
out.  Replace the batteries with new ones.

• Replace both batteries with new ones.
• Do not take more than 20 minutes to replace the batteries;

otherwise, your setting of the code numbers will be erased.

• Do not mix old batteries with new ones or mix different types of

batteries together.

• If the electrolyte inside the battery should leak, wipe the

contaminated area of the battery compartment with a cloth and
replace the old batteries with new ones. To prevent the electrolyte
from leaking, remove the batteries when you plan not to use the
Commander for a long period of time.

Follow the steps 1 and 2 below for each component you plan to use
with the Commander.

1 See the supplied “Component Code numbers”, and find the three-

digit code number for the desired component.
If more than one code number is listed, use the number that’s
listed first to complete the steps below.
For example, if you’re setting up a Philips’ VCR, you would use
the code number 035.
If your component isn’t listed, see “Searching for the Correct
Code.”

2 Press the SET button with a ball-point

pen tip etc., and release it.

3 Press the button of the component that

you want to set up.

On the CBL/SAT, RCVR, CD, AUX, and DVD buttons, “cable box”,
“receiver”, “CD player”, “tape deck”, and “DVD player” are
assigned respectively at the factory. But you can also assign other
components on these buttons. For details, see “Changing the
Component Type on the CBL/SAT, RCVR, CD, AUX, and DVD
buttons.”

4 Enter the component’s code number.

For example, if you’re entering the code
for a Philips VCR, you would press 

 

.

5 Press and release the ENT button to store

the code number in the Commander’s
memory.

6 Go to “Step 2: Checking if the Code Number Works” to finish

setting up.

1 Power on the component you want to set up.

2 Aim the Remote Commander at the component and press a button

to check if that button works.
For example, press the POWER button to see if it works on your
component .

3 Check that the other buttons of the Commander is operating the

corresponding functions of the component.

• First, try repeating these setup procedures using the other codes

listed for your component (see the supplied “Component Code
Numbers”).

• If – after trying all the codes listed for your component – you still

cannot get the Commander to work properly, try the search
method described in “Searching for the Correct Code.”

Tip
You can write down the code number on the label inside the battery
compartment lid.

If you’ve tried all the code numbers listed for your component and
you still cannot get the Commander to work (or if your component is
not listed in the “Component Code Numbers” tables), try these
steps.

1 Power on the component you want to set up. Insert a tape or disc

if necessary.

2 Press the SET button with a ball-point pen tip etc., and release it.

3 Press the button of the component on the Commander that you

want to set up.

4 Press and release the CH+ button. Then press and release the

POWER button.

5 Repeat step 4 until the correct code number is found.

Each time you press the CH+ button and then the POWER button,
a new code number will be transmitted.
Keep trying until your component operates by receiving the
transmitted signal from the Commander (e.g., the power turns off,
the CH+ function works, playback starts, etc.) Be patient as you do
this; it may take about 100 tries until the correct code number is
located.

6 When the correct code is found, press the ENT button to store the

code number in the Commander’s memory.

7 Check that the Commander is operating the other functions of

your component by pressing the corresponding  buttons on the
Commander.  If they seem to be working properly, you’re done
setting up the Commander.

If the component does not operate properly, repeat steps 1 to 6 and
search for another code.

If you still cannot get the Commander to work properly, see
“Troubleshooting.”

At the factory, “cable box” is assigned on the CBL/SAT button,
“receiver” on the RCVR button, “CD player” on the CD button, “tape
deck” on the AUX button and “DVD player” on the DVD button. By
completing the following procedure, you can change this setting so
that you can set up any component on these buttons.

1 Press the SET button with a ball-point pen tip etc., and release it.

2 Press the CBL/SAT, RCVR, CD, AUX, or DVD button.

3 Press and release the x (stop) button.

4 Press and release one of the following buttons;

 to assign a VCR

 to assign a digital satellite receiver

 to assign a receiver

 to assign a CD player

 to assign a tape deck

 to assign an MD deck or a DAT deck

 to assign a TV

 to assign a cable box

 to assign a DVD player

5 Press and release the ENT button.

6 Enter the component’s code number by following steps 2 to 6 of

“Entering the Code Number”, or steps 1to 7 of “Searching for the
Correct Code.”

The Commander is factory preset based on the assumption that you
hear the sound of your video components from your TV’s speakers,
and that you hear the sound of your audio components from the
loudspeakers connected to your receiver (or amplifier).

*

If you assign an audio component on the CBL/SAT, CD, AUX or DVD button,
you can control the volume of the receiver (or amplifier) on the RCVR button.
If you assign video components on these buttons, you can control the volume
of the TV.

Thus you can control the volume of your TV or receiver (or
amplifier) while operating a video or audio component without first
having to press the TV or RCVR button. For example, to control the
volume for your VCR channels, you don’t need to press the TV
button first.
However, if your video components are connected to an audio
system, you probably hear your TV’s or VCR’s sound from the
loudspeakers connected to your receiver (or amplifier), not from
your TV speakers. In this case, you need to change the factory setting
so that you can control the volume of your video components
without first having to switch to the receiver (or amplifier).
To change the factory setting for the volume control, follow the
procedures below.

This feature is effective only when a receiver or amplifier is set up on
the RCVR button. You cannot control the volume of a receiver (or
amplifier) set up on CBL/SAT, CD, AUX or DVD button while
operating a component of another button.

1 Press the SET button with a ball-point pen tip, etc. and release it.

2 Press the RCVR button.

3 Press the VOL+ button.

4 Press the ENT button.

The volume control setting is changed to “receiver/amplifier.” You
can control the volume of the receiver (or amplifier) of the RCVR
button while selecting any component.

VCR, CBL/SAT*, DVD*

CD*, AUX*

TV

TV

Receiver (or amplifier)

Receiver (or amplifier) on the RCVR
button

TV

VCR

Cable box/Digital satellite receiver/
Receiver/CD player/Tape deck/
MD deck/DAT deck/DVD player/
TV/VCR

Sony TV

Sony VHS VCR

—

Sony receiver

Sony CD player

Sony tape deck

Sony DVD player

3-220-548-11(1)

Remote Commander

© 2000 Sony Corporation  

Printed in Malaysia

Your Code Number

z

Turn on/off the “window” picture.*

PIP and ENT

Turn off the “window” picture.

m

 or M

Change the TV channel in the “window” picture.

PIP and TV/VIDEO

Change the input mode of the “window” picture.

x

Move the location of the “window” picture.

N

Swap the “main” picture and  the “window” picture.

X

Freeze the “window” picture.

3 To select numbers 10 and

above. For example, to select
track 15, press PIP and then
press 5.

4 N: To play.

m

: To rewind.

M

: To fast-forward.

x

: To stop.

X

: To pause.

5 To display the title menu.
6 To move the cursor upward,

downward, to the left, or to the
right.

7 To display the DVD menu.
8 To clear the selected characters

from the screen.

3, 4, and 5

TV: To operate the Picture-in-
Picture function. Press each
button or combination of
buttons as described in the
table below.
VCR:
N

: To play.

x

: To stop.

m

: To rewind.

M

: To fast-forward.

z

REC: To record, press N

while pressing z.

6

TV/VCR: To move the cursor
upward, downward, to the left,
or to the right.

7

TV/VCR: To call up the MENU
display.

Approx. 7 m (23 ft) (varies depending of the
component of each manufacturer)

Two size AA (R6) batteries (not supplied)

Approx. 6 months (varies depending on frequency of
use)

Approx. 62 

×

 207 

×

 41 mm (w/h/d)

(2 

1

/

2

 

×

 8 

1

/

4

 

×

 1 

5

/

8

 in.)

Approx. 100 g (3.5 oz.) (not including batteries)

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

1 To turn on and off the power of

the selected component.

2 Component select buttons. To

switch to the operations of each
component, press the button on
which that component is
assigned.

9 *Volume up: +

Volume down: –

q; *To mute the volume on TV or

receiver (amplifier).

qs To set up the Commander.

*

These buttons control the volume of
either TV or receiver (amplifier). See
“Controlling the Volume of Video
Components Connected to an
Audio System” for details.

qa

TV: To display the current
channel on TV.
VCR: To expose the on-screen
display.

qd and qf

To change the channel. For
example, to change to channel
5, press 0 and 5 (or press 5 and
ENT).

qg

TV/VCR: To enter the selection.

qh

TV: To operate SLEEP function
on the TV. (Works only for a
TV with the SLEEP function.)

qj Channel up: +

Channel down: –

qk

TV/cable box: To operate
JUMP, FLASHBACK or
CHANNEL RETURN function on
the TV depending on the
setting of the TV's
manufacturer.
VCR: To cancel.

Notes
• There may be cases you may turn on/off the cable box by pressing the CH+ or

CH– buttons on the Commander.

• If your cable box can control volume, be sure to set its volume control to a

medium position.  If the volume on the cable box is turned down completely,
you will not be able to adjust your TV’s volume with the Commander.

• Even if you try to program more than four operations and press the

corresponding buttons in step 2 above, only the first four buttons
that were pressed will be programmed.

• If you try to program only one operation on a macro key, the

setting operation will be rejected.

• You can program the Channel Macro function for up to three

components only. To program for the fourth component, first clear
all macro keys for a component.

When you want to change the setting or if you are no longer using
that programmed operation, follow the procedure below to
overwrite or clear the program.

1 Hold down the macro key that you want to change or clear.

2 After waiting for about three seconds, press the new sequence of

buttons, or, to clear the program, press and release 

, and then

press and release ENT.

3 Release the macro key.

Be sure to wait for about three seconds in step 2 above.  While you
are holding down the macro key and waiting, the programmed
signals are transmitted; therefore, if you are aiming the Commander
at your component, the programmed operations may be performed
before you go on with the procedure.

If you have problems setting up or using the Commander:
• When setting up the Commander, carefully go through the procedures

described in “Setting the Code.”  If the code that’s listed first for your
component doesn’t work, try all the codes for your component - in the order
in which they’re listed.  If all the codes fail to work (or if your component is
not listed in this manual), try using the procedures in “Searching for the
Correct Code.”

• Check that you’re aiming the Commander directly at the component, and that

there are no obstructions between the Commander and the component.

• Make sure the batteries you’re using are not worn out, and that they’re

inserted correctly.

• Check that the button of the TV, VCR, CBL/SAT, RCVR, CD, AUX or DVD is

pressed to choose your desired component.

• Check that the component has infrared remote capability.  For example, if

your component didn’t come with a remote commander, it probably isn’t
capable of being controlled by a remote commander.

• If your video components are connected to an audio system, make sure

you’ve set up the Commander as described in “Controlling the Volume of
Video Components Connected to an Audio System.”

• Should any problem persist, reset the Commander to the factory setting by

pressing the POWER, TV/VIDEO and VOL– buttons simultaneously.

If – after you’ve read through this manual – you still cannot get the
Remote Commander to work properly, call the Sony Customer
Support Helpline at 1-800-822-2217.

qa To show the current play status

on the screen.

qd Number buttons : To set items

selected from the screen.

qf To enter the setting. To set

items selected from the screen.

qg To execute items selected from

the screen.

qh To switch the subtitle.
qj To proceed to next/previous

location or song.

qk To return to the last previous

screen.

ql To change the sound.

*

If the “window” picture does not turn off this way, try pressing ENT while
pressing PIP.

Note
If you have programmed the Channel Macro function for TV operation, the
button used as a macro key cannot be used for PIP operation.

3, 4, and 5

Tape operation buttons.
For dual cassette decks,
operation buttons for Deck A
(for Sony-brand dual cassette
deck, buttons for Deck B).
PIP: To reverse.
N

: To play.

m

: To rewind.

M

: To fast-forward.

z

REC: To record, press N

while pressing zREC.
First release N, then
release zREC.

x

: To stop.

X

: To pause

6, 7, qf, and qg

Operation buttons for Deck B
(for Sony-brand dual cassette
deck, buttons for Deck A).

3 To use the “FAVORITE”

function.

6 To scroll through the Master

Guide.

7 To call up the MENU display.
8 To bring up the Master Guide.
qd and qf

To change the channel. For
example, to change to channel
5, press 0 and 5 (or press 5 and
ENT).

qg To select the channel that's

highlighted. To bring up the
Station Index when a program
guide is not displayed.

qh To bring up the Station Index.
qj Channel up: +

Channel down: –
To page through the guide
when a program guide is
displayed.

qk To tune to the last tuned

station.

ql To switch the output of the

digital satellite receiver to the
TV. (When you connect a TV
cable or antenna to the receiver,
the output switches between a
TV and SAT program.)

4 Work as N, M, m, x, X

buttons of the CD player.
(When a CD player is set up on
the CD button.)

qd To select the input source:

1 selects VIDEO 1
2 selects VIDEO 2
3 selects AUX
4 selects TUNER
5 selects CD
6 selects TAPE
7 selects MD
8 selects TV
9 selects PHONO
0 selects DVD

qj Presetting frequency up: +,

down: –
Tuning frequency up: +,
down: –

qk To shift band (FM/AM).
ql To switch input source by each

pressing.

3 To select numbers 10 and

above. For example, to select
track 15, press PIP and then
press 5.

4 N: To play.

m

: To select previous track.

M

: To select next track.

x

: To stop.

X

: To pause.

5

MD deck/DAT deck: To record,
press N while pressing z/
First release N, then release z.

qd To select the track number. 0

selects track 10. To select track
numbers above 10, see the
descriptions on the PIP button
above.

qk

CD player/MD deck: To select
next disc.

ENT: To reverse.

 : To play.

 : To rewind.

 : To fast-forward.

 : To stop.

MENU: To record, press 

while pressing MENU.
First release 

, and

then release MENU.

OK: To pause.

qk To select Deck A or Deck B

(dual cassette deck only).

If your tape deck’s commander has
one set of tape operating buttons, and
has an A/B button for the deck
selection, use the RECALL button to
select Deck A or Deck B.