Using infrared
devices with your PC
You don’t have to jump through any special
hoops to install an infrared device on your
PC. It’s really just a matter of attaching the
device and installing the drivers.
Talk about infrared communications is fine but how do you actually
install an infrared link so that you can
communicate with the growing range
of IR-enabled gadgets?
If your motherboard has an IR data
connector (and most do), you’re already half-way there. All you have
to do is plug an IR link device into it,
enable IR support in your system BIOS
and then install the drivers when the
new device is detected during the boot
procedure.
If you’re running Windows 95, this
will install a “Generic IR Serial Port”
in the Ports section of Device Manager.
This supports both the DirectIR and
IrDA standards. When you reboot
the system, you will see an “Infrared
Monitor” icon in the System Tray
(bottom, right of Taskbar) and, by
double-clicking this, you can set up
various options as shown in Figs.1-3.
Later Windows versions (Windows
98/98SE Windows Me and Windows
2000) operate differently when it
comes to infrared. On these systems,
the infrared port is stored under “Network adapters” and virtual infrared
COM and LPT ports are stored under
the Ports section. These systems
support the IrDA mode only (unless
hacked – see page 19).
And that’s really all there is to it. As
soon as you bring an IR-enabled gadget
(eg, a mouse or a mobile phone) close
to the IR link, the two will automatically start communicating.
A suitable device is the Actisys ACTIR 210L which runs at the standard
infrared (SIR) speed of 115.2Kb/s. It
comes in two parts: (1) a backplane
connector with a socket and data cable
that plugs into the PC’s motherboard;
and (2) an infrared transmitting device (this plugs into the socket on the
backplane connector). There’s also a
driver disk for Windows 95 users but
this isn’t required for Windows 98/Me
or Windows 2000.
The end of the data cable that plugs
into the motherboard has a standard
5-pin connector (one pin is unused)
and the wiring standard should suit
the vast majority of motherboards.
Note that one of the pins is unused.
If your motherboard supports fast
infrared (FIR), then you might like
to consider the IRwave IR320F Serial
Infrared Adapter. This device runs at
4Mb/s and also plugs into your PC’s
motherboard. Be sure to enable FIR
support in your system BIOS to run
this device.
What if your motherboard doesn’t
have IR support? In that case, you can
use the IRwave IR320S which plugs
directly into a spare 9-pin COM port.
This device runs at 115kb/s (SIR) and
operates under Windows 98, Windows
Fig.1: double-clicking the IR icon in
the System Tray brings up this box,
which shows the available IR devices.
Fig.2: the Options tab lets you enable/
disable IR communications and install
software for Plug & Play IR devices.
Fig.3: the Preferences dialog lets you
choose to play sounds each time an IR
device comes within range.
By GREG SWAIN
20 Silicon Chip
Suitable hardware
The Actisys ACT-IR 210L runs at
the standard infrared (SIR) speed
of 115.2Kb/s and comes in two
parts: (1) a backplane connector
with a socket and data cable that
plugs into the PC’s motherboard;
and (2) the infrared transmitting
device itself.
Fig.4: the IR icon
as it appears in the
System Tray.
Me and Windows 2000.
Finally, there’s the USB-IrDA which
attaches to any USB port and supports
both SIR and FIR data transfer rates.
A driver disk, cable and manual are
included in the package.
All four IR devices are available
from MicroGram Computers. The Actisys ACT-IR210L (Cat.8518) costs $89;
the IRwave IR320F (Cat. 8941) $89; the
IRwave IR320S (Cat. 8421) $99; and
the USB-IrDA (Cat. 8923) $139. You
can contact MicroGram Computers at
(02) 4389 8444 or browse their website at www.mgram.com.au for more
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information.
The IRwave IR320F and IR320S
infrared adapters are visually identical. One plugs into your PC’s motherboard, while the other connects to a
spare serial (COM) port.
Mobile Magic – from p19
The USB-IrDA adapter attaches to any
USB port and supports both standard
(SIR) and fast (FIR) infrared data
transfer rates (ie, from 115Kb/s to
4Mb/s).
Fig.9: Nokia PC
Graphics comes
with a selection of
standard graphics
and even lets you
compose your own
graphics. This one
is for someone you
don’t want to talk
to!
already here and support mobile Internet services such as email, ticket
booking, banking, news and weather.
And they support high-speed (if that’s
the term) Internet connections, with
email downloads up to 43.2kb/s.
But that’s a whole new story. In the
meantime, there’s lots you can do with
your existing GSM phone. Why should
the teenagers have all the fun?
Check these websites
www.forum.nokia.com – for modem
drivers, updates and free software
downloads.
www.nokiainfo.f2s.com – for the good
oil on infrared.
www.frenetic.com.au – a source for
Nokia data cables.
www.telstra.com – for WebNotes
(send SMS messages a mobile phone).
www.logomanager.co.uk – for a trial
version of LogoManager and lots of
links to other related sites.
www.optus.com.au – for WebSMS.
www.blueskyfrog.com.au – for something different.
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MARCH 2001 21
