infrared on the cf-28

What can this be used for? I'm sure it served some purpose in the computer's past use, but all I know about it now is that it just blinks and mystifies me

 

You can use it for file transfers and a few other purposes, but for the most part it's useless.

 

Its the bluetooth of yesterday, however there are still many good uses for it for example older palmpilots and organizers had an infrared red port for synching with the PC. I have also heard of some people using remote control software to control all their AV equipment from the laptop since most all remotes operate on infrared this could be very useful to consolidate all those remotes that like to play hide and seek when you want them. I still have an HP mobile printer that talks to my computer via the infrared port. It is old but with a litle imagination there are hundreds of uses for it and best of all it is not subject to radio interference like bluetooth is.

 

If both your PDA and cellular phone supports IR, you can use it for small file transfers, eg. MP3, albeit much slower than using default data cable.

In a crunch, even driver transfer from one toughbook to another

 

I used to use it all the time with my portable printer. It makes it a lot easier on the road with a battery powered printer... No cables needed to print anything!

 

Just found this thread and now you got me thinking of another Mod in addition to the fm transmitter idea, I wonder if we can move the infrared to a better location for use as a universal remote. I have used a few universal remote software on palms / pocket pcs before, but now since we have a 13" touchscreen, this would be WAY nicer.... now if we can work out 2 issues - AIM and POWER!

-- off to look for universal remote software for a PC with XP.

 

*Slaps T-T-G around a bit with a largish trout*

See what you've done? YOU SET DEADBOLT off... you KNOW how he gets when he gets ahold of somethin' - we might not see him again til XMAS...

mnem<~~~Looking for a few good fish*

 

It has a really short ribbon cable but that's the only thing connecting the PCB beyond being screwed down. If you can find an extension for it you should be able to find any number of places in there to stick it. The PCB has an IR LED on the end so you could probably set up a funnel or something to focus the aim instead of the block of plastic.

 

at this point I am working backwards, doing a search on google I have not found very much in the way of full blown software suites for universal remotes that run on XP. I did find this one though:

http://www.wdpsoftware.com/

and it seems it is dependent on a dongle of some kind (quoted from help files):

<quote.........

Introduction

Thank you for trying IRCommand2 (IRC2, for short). To fully evaluate this program you’ll need some hardware. You can run the program and use most functions without hardware, but you won’t be able to actually control your equipment without the hardware.

Fortunately, the hardware that IRC2 uses is relatively inexpensive. At the present time IRC2 supports the following dongles:

· Actisys IR200L IR dongle – www.actisys.com

Another source for the IR200L is Snapstream – www.snapstream.com

· Home-Electro Tira2 IR dongle (requires IRC2v 3.61 or later) – www.home-electro.com

· My.TV MyBlaster IR dongle (requires IRC2 v3.61 or later) – www.mytvstore.com

· UIRT IR dongle (requires IRC2 v3.74 or later) – www.usbuirt.com

· CM11A and HD11A dongles for X10 applications (requires IRC2 v3.48 or later) – www.x10.com

The CM11A and its clone, the HD11A, are used to control X10 devices. This interface allows IRC2 to both send and receive X10 commands. The CM11A is available as part of a kit with some X10 modules.

It’s also fairly easy to find the CM11A and HD11A for sale on eBay, along with many other X10 products.

You can have any combination of up to four of these dongles attached at once (demo mode supports only one dongle).

Also, check our web site for a side-by-side comparison of the supported hardware.

.........end quote>


There may be other options, I just haven't found any yet, as I am still looking. It seems like the majority of universal remote software has been made for pocket pc or Palm software.

I am still hoping to find some decent software to use the existing infrared port.

 

Woot! There he is... prairie-doggin' just long enuf to throw out his latest findings, then off agin' like a bolt of... somethin'.

mnem
Shane! Shane come back!

 

Linux guys, Linux - -- Just saying - already software for it -

 

can you post a link for custom infrared universal remote in linux?

 

Yep - will look tonight for it - just need to find it again, my brother was playing around with it but got stopped with the lack of info on our IR unit.

 

I just transfered a file from my Treo Smart phone running windows, to the Toughbook. Piece of cake.
WinXP picked everything up, tried to install a new device. Just canceled that and then a window popped up asking if I wanted to save the file.
Treo found the computer as TOUGHBOOK.
Seamless.....
Rick H...

 

Yes, I've also tested it with Thinkpads, they all interoperate.