FIR receiver

  • Thread starter Thread starter Apclps
  • 9 comments
  • 600 views
Apclps

Apclps

Messages
725
Hi!

I just bought my new mobile phone today, its a Samsung c100. Of course I would want to use the infrared function. In order to do so I can get the right software from the samsung site but I also need an infrared port on a pc or laptop.

I just remembered that my dad used to have something that resembled an infrared port for his old laptop. He never used it though.

Its an HP FIR 4 mpbs. I've found out that FIR stands for fast infrared. I don't know if it is compatible with a regular infrared but I'm willing to try anyways.

So I've got the FIR "receiver", I just don't know where to plug it into our pc. There is no matching hole.

Here are some pics of the "receiver".

PIC1
PIC2
PIC3
PIC4

Has anyone used something like this before? I just want to be able to plug the HP FIR thing into my PC...

thanks!
 
That's a PS/2 connector. You don't have one on your PC? Unplug your mouse and keyboard and check again.
 
There are no free ports left and it does not fit into the mouse/keyboard port.

I guess the best thing to do is take it down to a computer store and ask for a PS/2 to USB adapter. See what they say.

I could also buy a brand new IrDA reveiver but they range from 35 - 50 euros. I'd rather try this first.

thanks for the info
 
Uh, yeah, that's not PS/2. That's going to be a round serial connector. You need an adaptor to the standard serial connector. The next issue is that that particular 'FIR' is probably propriatary. It won't work with anything but the hardware it shipped with. I have one for a printer at work and I don't believe it would work on anything but the printer.
 
I'll check my options at the store tomorrow.

If an adaptor (for whatever it is) is too expensive then I'll buy a whole new unit.

It actually wasn't shipped with any other hardware. It is about 5 years old and has never been used. My dad didn't even know what it was.
 
Here is a small (and late) update. I phoned around for an adaptor to the standard serial connector but that was impossible to find. My only option was to buy a new usb infrared device.

The ones in the shop, which are specifically for mobile phones, cost around 50 euros. But I figured that one of those would do the same job as a normal IrDA adaptor from a PC shop, so I got a "normal" one for 19 euros.

After playing around with the settings I got it to work and the free samsung software is great. So, to conclude, I don't have any complaints and I'm a happy consumer!

thanks for the help
 
LoudMusic
Uh, yeah, that's not PS/2. That's going to be a round serial connector. You need an adaptor to the standard serial connector. The next issue is that that particular 'FIR' is probably propriatary. It won't work with anything but the hardware it shipped with. I have one for a printer at work and I don't believe it would work on anything but the printer.
Click to expand...

So close to the right answer!

The pictured item is indeed an IR receptor for a printer.

It won't work with a PC, sorry.

Actually, I think that the complete failure of desktop vendors to support IR in any meaningful way really killed IR as a technology. Which is a shame, because HP were doing some interesting things with JetSend.
 

Latest Posts

Back