IR - definitive answer anyone?

[Guest ChrisH]

I just received a replacement handset this morning, but the new one seems to have the same problem as the last - infra red does not seem to work. I've searched here and elsewhere, and while I see a lot of IR problems, I don't see too many solutions. Is there one that I'm missing?

My phone is UK updated, and I have all the correct settings for GPRS modem. The modem works ok over USB, but does not work at all with IR. IR send/receive always fails, although the SPV can see the other devices I have. I have even tried Peacemaker.

Anyone else still got this problem, or have a solution? Or is it back to Orange for another phone (I've had three now)?

ChrisH

[Guest Syvwlch]

The only device I've tried and know that works is beaming a contact to a laptop under W2K. A vCard appeared on my desktop.

[Guest Richie M]

Is the Modem meant to work over IR?

I'm not particularly up on IR tech but surely it couldn't cope with all that data?

I've had friends beam jpg's to me via IR, never tried sending tho0, sorry

[Guest Syvwlch]

IrDa will beat the miserly 30k of your GPRS connection any day of the week, month even. :)

[Guest ChrisH]

The only device I've tried and know that works is beaming a contact to a laptop under W2K. A vCard appeared on my desktop.  

I can't even do that: I've tried just about every device I could find, phones, PDA's, notebooks... always the same - the phone sees the device but nothing else. No data is ever sent/received.

ChrisH

[Guest Syvwlch]

Hum, I'll try again, since I've update since, but that definitely should work. Is the PC enabled to receive?

[Guest joelgeek]

I have successfully sent and received from the spv. I beamed a contact from the spv to a laptop and received a contact on the spv from a p800. Worked perfectly and that's with the update.

[Guest Gorskar]

lucky you.

Ive managed to send contacts, but the receive has never worked. (although it must be receiving something, as it detects what phone it is sending to)

I think this is due to rubbishy software on the spv. Still live in hope for a fix.

[Guest madu]

PS: If you are receiveng a file you need to run "Infrared Receive" in Programs... Soz, I know its the simplest advise to give, but you never know...

[Guest omar_g]

Have you tried this:

http://www.modaco.com/viewtopic.php?t=4294

[Guest ChrisH]

Thanks for the replies guys. Quite simply, I've tried it all, both setting it up myself, and also going through it step by step with a 156 guy. The SPV can 'see' other devices, and they can see it - but that's it. Send/receive always fails/times out - the SPV is correctly set when receiving, and the receiving device is correctly set when the SPV is sending. IR modem doesn't do a thing... and it was having been through the setup with 156 and it failing that got them to replace my last handset. Have I been that unlucky that I've got two SPVs in a row with the same problem?

All my other IR devices play well together, so it's not them. Grrr!

ChrisH

[Guest Syvwlch]

I've found that IrDa doesn't always work too well if the devices are placed on high-albedo surfaces or under bright lights. Have you tried on a dark surface with low lighting?

[Guest ChrisH]

I had tried doing this with my previous handset, but not this one, so I just tried with the lights out on a dark green felt surface - still nothing more than the devices recognising each other.

I don't really understand why if the the SPV can see enough to get another device's name, and send enough that they can see it, why doesn't the rest work?

[Guest ChrisH]

Ho Hum! I just happened across a spare Actisys USB IRDA dongle in a cupboard while I was looking for a patch cable. On the off-chance I hooked it up to a PC and lo-and-behold the SPV is recognised immediately as an IR modem. Not a lot of good really, as I still can't beam/receive contacts from other phones, and can just as easily lug around a USB cable with my laptop as carry the IR dongle. I'd love it to work with my Axim, but I can't see that it ever will. I wonder what the problem is?

[Guest Syvwlch]

Wow.

That is one screwed-up SPV... and this is the second?

You mention it is recognized as an IR modem... have you tried using it as such?

Just want to check if the recognized, named, but won't communicate beyond that, pattern holds here?

[Guest ChrisH]

Yes, it works as an IR modem fine, but _only_ via the IR dongle, not through any of the built in IR on any devices I've got (or other people's that I've tried). Before I tried the Actisys dongle, nothing would recognise it as an IR modem. The real irony is, Modem Link was not activated on the phone when it was recognised! :shock:

It is kinda screwed-up insn't it?

[Guest Syvwlch]

I'm suddenly unsure. This dongle plugs into the PC or into the phone? PC, right?

And this is the only device that the phone's IrDa will communicate with? Beyond exchanging device names?

Have you checked at what speed it's connecting? Because that may be the problem...

[Guest ChrisH]

I'm suddenly unsure. This dongle plugs into the PC or into the phone? PC, right?  

And this is the only device that the phone's IrDa will communicate with? Beyond exchanging device names?  

Have you checked at what speed it's connecting? Because that may be the problem...  

The dongle plugs into a PC. So far, it is the only device that the SPV can successfully comunicate with.

Can't check the connection speed of the dongle, as it auto-negotiates (9.6k-4Mbps), but I have tried to connect the IR modem to my Axiom PDA using all available baud rates 110-115200... guess what :?: Yep, nothing.

I'm begining to wonder if it works with the dongle because it is more 'powerful' - the eye is bigger (does that make a difference?) than all the others and the range is one metre (156 told me the SPVs range is 30cm, but that could be just 156 talk :) )

Any idea how to check what baud rate the SPV is trying to connect at?

[Guest Syvwlch]

How does the IR dongle appear in the Device Manager of the PC?

Have you seen if you can it off the auto-negociate setting, and force various values to try them out?

[Guest ChrisH]

I've been messing about with it, and have found out how to set the _maximum_ baud rate (the dongle appears in device manager as an Infrared device). It connects at: 9600 to 4Mbps (I would assume the upper limit of the SPV is considerably below 4Mbps, and that the dongle and SPV are auto negotiating to either the max set on the dongle, or the SPVs max). The SPV does not connect at 1200bps.

Since I have tried all these (except the 4Mbps) as the baud rate set manually via the Axim - which is the only device I actually need IR to work with - I assume that it is not the transfer rate that is the problem (in that 9600 definitely connects dongle/SPV and definitely does not Axim/SPV.

Anyone else got some devices they can communicate with, and some they can't?

[Guest Syvwlch]

Works with Palm Vx and ThinkPad. That all I have with IrDa, believe it or not...

Surrounded by autistic devices! :shock:

[Guest ChrisH]

At least the problem will be moot when MS/Orange get their houses in order and provide Bluetooth drivers - then at least I'll be able to get everything talking :wink:

[Guest Syvwlch]

I'm impressed by how philosophicaly you're taking this. :)

[Guest Slaphead]

USE YOUR SPV AS A MODEM FOR LAPTOP GPRS WEB SURFING USING INFRARED.

nOTE: this help file was constructed using: SPV (certified), no UK update, laptop is IBM TP 560 - Pentium 120, 40 megs RAM with Win98SE.

Laptop has no USB and is very underpowered so no XP ugrade or possibility of USB modem linking is possible. Solution? Good old infra-red!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To begin with - set up the SPV as follows

- Programs - Accessories - Modem Link - Ir ( or whatever) Menu 'Activate'

now leave it (ie do not click 'Done' just leave it)

Next, turn to the PC and go to Control Panel - Infrared...

'Options' tick 'Enable infrared communication, but UN-tick 'Search for and provide status for devices etc' - Apply then OK.

Now you gotta set up your modem. This gets a bit tricky as I don't want to risk setting up another conflicting modem

on my working Win98SE machine - so the next few moves are from memory (however, I'm sure you resourceful peeps will figure it out

with a bit of trial and error. Bascially you're looking to set up a modem manually and point it at the 'Virtual infrared COM Port'

with a maximum speed of 19200.

You'll need to go to 'Control Panel' / Modems... then add (or something like that) - don't do automatic search but install from list.

Then, choose Standard modem (top choice on left) and on the right choose 'Standard 19200 bps Modem.

Now in Modem/Properties/ Server Types - you need to UN-tick 'Log on to network'

& UN-tick 'NetBEUI' & UN-tick IPX/SPX Compatible.

Also, most importantly you need to do the following: Control Panel/ Modem / Properties/ Connection/ Advanced... then type the following in the 'Extra settings box'

at+cgdcont+1,"IP"," orangeinternet","",0,0 (please note the space before the word 'orange')

THE PRECISE ORDER of the above will, more than likely present itself more clearly when you do it, as I said, I just don't want to risk it again for

the sake of you guys doing a bit of experimenting. It should be straight forward enough.

Now go 'My Computer/ Dial up networking' - make new connection name after you ( I called mine 'Jason')- and use *99# as the telephone

number with no area code. You should have seen your modem 'Standard 19200 bps Modem' along the way.

You can now click on the connection you just made (Jason) and do not put any user name and or password in box (clear it if necessary) -

however, tick 'save password' (whenever you log on, always make sure there's no name in the username bit as this may (or may not) mess with things.

You are now ready to rock by going to Dial up Networking (via My Computer) and clicking 'Jason' or whatever you called you newly created modem setting and

hitting 'Connect'. Your phone will have been waiting patiently and it should start now establish a link with the laptop. Wait for the connection to be est

and then start up your browser. Have fun

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

+++I dedicate this help file to the men and women of Modaco.com who have made my marriage to the SPV a happy one thanx to their tireless efforts+++

Slaphead

[Guest ChrisH]

I'm impressed by how philosophicaly you're taking this.  

Well, I will be writing to Orange to explain how displeased I am. I could keep phoning them and get a replacement handest again and again, but it won't actually help fix the problem.

In the mean time, I think I will be unlocking and once my minutes are up each month switching to another sim. I won't give up the SPV just yet, because I do think it is a great handset - IR aside... well, when it's decertified.

Bluetooth... imagine having to rely on something as clunky as that? :lol