homebrew Infrared receiver com port help

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chris
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C

Chris

I have a homemade infrared receiver that works on one of my two pcs but
not the one I want it to?!

After serveral weeks of trying to get it to work I am beginning to come
to the conclusion that it is something to do with the com port the
receiver is attached to. The pc I can't get any joy with is an iDeq
210v SFF box, it works on a Dell desktop I have.

Having exhaused all my troubleshooting ideas does anyone have an idea
why the receiver would work on one box and not another using the same
hardware/software? Would com ports on different boards have different
voltages running through them?

Cheers,

Chris
 
Chris said:
I have a homemade infrared receiver that works on one of my two pcs but
not the one I want it to?!

After serveral weeks of trying to get it to work I am beginning to come
to the conclusion that it is something to do with the com port the
receiver is attached to. The pc I can't get any joy with is an iDeq
210v SFF box, it works on a Dell desktop I have.

Having exhaused all my troubleshooting ideas does anyone have an idea
why the receiver would work on one box and not another using the same
hardware/software? Would com ports on different boards have different
voltages running through them?

Cheers,

Chris
Click to expand...

No, but they might be set to different baud rates or different
addresses/IRQ. When you are talking com port, you are talking about a
communication port that is VARIABLE in speed, as well as address and IRQ.
Whatever you connect it to must be running at the same settings, or there
will be no useful connection. Also, it's possible that the com port might
be disabled in the BIOS. But if the com port is enabled, then it is time to
check the settings. First, check your DELL box (but don't make any changes
accidentally!), because it has the settings you need for the ideq box.

Theoretically, if you find that the com port in the dell box is com1 / IRQ3
/ 9600 baud, then those are the three settings you need on the com port of
the ideq box. You can usually change the address (com1/com2/etc) and IRQ
(1-?) in the computer's BIOS setup screens (integrated peripherals section,
probably). The baud rate is often set by software. Windows XP would be
control panel, system, hardware, device manager, com/lpt ports, select com
port, right-click it, choose properties, port settings . . .

Good luck, -Dave
 
"Chris" said:
I have a homemade infrared receiver that works on one of my two pcs but
not the one I want it to?!

After serveral weeks of trying to get it to work I am beginning to come
to the conclusion that it is something to do with the com port the
receiver is attached to. The pc I can't get any joy with is an iDeq
210v SFF box, it works on a Dell desktop I have.

Having exhaused all my troubleshooting ideas does anyone have an idea
why the receiver would work on one box and not another using the same
hardware/software? Would com ports on different boards have different
voltages running through them?

Cheers,

Chris
Click to expand...

Does the PC have a USB port ? Perhaps a device like this is
less troublesome:

http://www.mobileplanet.com/product.asp?code=120126

Paul
 
Thanks guys, but I'm still in the dark.

I've checked all the settings, bios and software, and still can't get
any joy. I'm going to try and locate some other serial device and make
sure the port is working at all?!

Regarding the USB Paul, the challenge is half the fun :)

Cheers,

Chris
 
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