Corrupted IRDa signal

[xwb]

I'm using an infra red port to transmit data between a mobile phone and a PC. Works fine on the PCs with ball mice but on the newer PCs with optical mice somehow don't work.

I think the IRDa port is picking up signals from the mouse. Can anyone confirm that this could be the case. I don't know about optical mice - is the red stuff infra red or just some supermarket laser stuff. Does it affect the IRDA signal?

 

[dglienna]

You are probably sharing a port. You should be able to change the mouse port so that it doesn't interfere.

-David
2006 & 2007 Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP)
2006 Dell Certified System Professional (CSP)

 

[xwb]

It is a USB mouse. Could you point me in the right direction for changing the mouse port for a USB mouse? I know where to go for a serial mouse on COM1/2 but I haven't got a clue for PS/2 or USB mice.

 

[kmcferrin]

Optical mice aren't lasers, but most of them do use red LEDs. It's very possible that the LEDs emit light of a slightly longer wavelength than what is visible, which puts it in the infrared range. This could certainly cause problems. There are also actual laser mice out there that use a class 1 laser to detect movement, and every one of those that I have seen uses an infrared laser, which could also cause interference.

There are some optical mice that use blue LEDs. I suspect that those would be less likely to cause problems with your IRDA signal. I have one like this (note that this is a travel-size mouse):

http://www.getpartsonline.com/f4815a.html

Other than that, my only suggestion is to unplug or "hide" the mouse when trying to use IRDA.

 

[xwb]

Just found a PS2 to USB connector in my box of odds and ends. Seems to work a treat. Thanks for the replies

 

[xwb]

Hit another problem with this one. I was trying to connect to a Nokia phone using their PC connectivity package. The link kept on dropping off. At first I thought it only worked on desktops and not laptops. The desktop is running 2K, the laptop XP. Eventually, I discovered that it was an XP problem.

The solution was to change the wire link connection from Sigmatel 4012 to Sigmatel 4000. Then everything magically started working.