USB IR stick to COM port??

vxcarpc · 01-03-2005, 09:55 PM

Hello. I was woindering if anyone could help.

I have my car pc running Windows XP on a Epia 800 Motherboard. I have a small USB IR device from which I would liek to use to control my pc with. I have been reading about it and most people say that once you install the USB device you can configure it to be setup as a COM port. When in install my USB device is add's a new section under my device manager called USB devices not universal serial bus. I am unable to configure anything about it. I believe somehow I can setup a USB to serial bridge so that I can setup the USB IR device to be recognized on a COM port so that all the frontend programs will find it. I know the RS232 serial IR's work fine but I want to use a USB controller.. Can anyone tell me how i can do this please or link me to some software that will do this.

thank you.

Tidder · 01-03-2005, 10:09 PM

Uhh... need more details man. What brand/make/model is it? Probably it's not going to work, I've never heard of bridging a USB to a serial port. If it didn't show up as one, I really don't think you can trick it into thinking it is. You can get USB to serial adapters, then just get a serial IR device, but that's beside the point, and probably retarded since you have serial ports on your MoBo.

vxcarpc · 01-03-2005, 10:24 PM

i realy can't give you a brand. it's from china so i guess it's a generic type brand which is mass produced for international shipping..

this is a picture of it

if that helps at all..

so yuo can't assign a COM port to a USB device? I thought it may well have been possible considering you can get bigger bulkier devices that will work liek irman or IR2PC..

Tidder · 01-03-2005, 11:01 PM

You can't assign a com port to usb device unless the device either comes with that capability, or comes with software that spoofs it. I know you can't do it just with windows though.

vxcarpc · 01-03-2005, 11:21 PM

Hrm intersting.. I thought it would work when i bought it. Serial cables are too bulky which is why i wanted a USB control.. oh well i might have to find a speciffic remote that will definately work or something.. I read somewhere that with some of the USB IR devices that when you install the windows 2000 driver it comes up with a USB to serial bridge in the Universal Serial Bus section which would allow you to achieve a communications link to the com port that you set up.

vxcarpc · 01-03-2005, 11:50 PM

Anoyther thought could you say hook one of these up to a USB to serial keyboard and set it to work that way at all?

frodobaggins · 01-04-2005, 12:04 AM

That's IRDA, it's for transferring data. You can't use that with a remote or control your computer with it.

vxcarpc · 01-04-2005, 01:04 AM

no what i mean is like a USB convertor for those who want to convert a USB mouse to work on the ps2 port..

OdysseyPC · 01-04-2005, 01:21 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by frodobaggins

That's IRDA, it's for transferring data. You can't use that with a remote or control your computer with it.

You actually can, many IrDA devices are compatible with the 38-kbps ASK modulation used in TV remotes.

ing provides many hits on controlling your PC via IRDA

frodobaggins · 01-04-2005, 01:55 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by vxcarpc

no what i mean is like a USB convertor for those who want to convert a USB mouse to work on the ps2 port..

You won't be able to use anything like that.

frodobaggins · 01-04-2005, 01:56 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by OdysseyPC

You actually can, many IrDA devices are compatible with the 38-kbps ASK modulation used in TV remotes.

ing provides many hits on controlling your PC via IRDA

Few that I have seen.

kollitiri · 01-04-2005, 02:05 AM

frodobaggins is correct, you can't use an IrDA device for controling your pc, instead if the manufacturer is giving this ability with extra software (i don't any device with this capability). But in general if you search in the MSDN you will see that IrDA devices are only for data transfer and you can't use it for controlling.

Michael

Have a healthy and nice New Year!

kollitiri · 01-04-2005, 02:12 AM

In windows 98 you could do an IrDA to control the pc, but since Win2k they change the way the Windows are handling this device.

It is better to get an ATI Remote Wonder II remote control or something like this PC Control from www.easyhome.gr

I was trying for many days to do an IrDA to work like a remote control, it cost me a lot of time (=money) instead of 50$ for a ready pc remote control!!!

Michael

vxcarpc · 01-05-2005, 06:43 PM

I have a new question on the same topic. How would the USB reciever on one of these

http://www.streamzap.com/

be different to that of a USB IR stick? Would I somehow be able to use the Streamzap drivers to interface with my current usb IR stick and say a learning remote?

johnwharrison · 01-08-2005, 03:52 PM

Forget your current usb stick.

Look on ebay for an InfraRed Recriever. Make sure it is not IRDA.

If you are OK to have one in your serial port rather than USB, try google... they are incredibly easy to make yourself.

For the actual virtual COM-Port, try www.ircomm2k.de (IrCOMM2k. Virtual Infrared COM Port for Windows 2000/XP)

Hope this helps