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Infrared Support on Non Windows Systems?

Posted by Cliff on from the compters-and-hyper-crimson-comm-beams dept.

An anonymous reader asks: "So I've bought myself a brand spanking new dive computer to keep tabs on my dive profiles, decompression, and all the other fun things like that. Nifty! The dive shop owner assures me that it's Mac compatible; if the software isn't in the box, he'll get an appropriate disc from his supplier, and if he can't get the disc, he'll replace it with a model that does work. There's only one problem: the only connectivity it has is an infrared port. There is no Bluetooth, no USB and no Firewire...not that you'd expect any of that on something that's going to be submerged in salt water on a regular basis. Is there a viable infrared option for the Mac? Although the support people haven't been able to tell me yet if it's Mac compatible or not, might something like the Belkin USB to Infrared Smartbeam work? Are drivers included in Mac OS X 10.3, or am I going to be SOL? Bluetooth is all very well and good, but it doesn't help you if the hardware you want to play with doesn't support it. What about Linux IRda support, for that matter -- just to make it cross platform?"

9 of 40 comments (clear)

  1. and here is a Link that is not a 404 by microcars · · Score: 3, Informative

    with more betterer goodness: Made4Mac product guide

    --
    I like microcars
  2. Google irda osx by goombah99 · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20030 72008542035

    and

    http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=200 30 72008542035

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
    1. Re:Google irda osx by goombah99 · · Score: 2, Informative

      and http://www.macintouch.com/pbg4irda.html (mind the lameness filter gaps in the URLS)

      --
      Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
  3. IRTrans by hcsteve · · Score: 3, Informative

    Found this through a quick google: IRTrans. It's basically an IR transceiver with a USB interface. They say their software is Windows & Linux compatible, and open source. They have a number of different client programs available, so one might work on a mac. I found this site through a site for some software called iRed, which is a Mac program that can interface with this device, but alas, it isn't free. Good luck!

    --
    If you were a hot dog, and you were starving, would you eat yourself?
    1. Re:IRTrans by tinb · · Score: 3, Informative

      The iRed license is for free if you purchase an IRTRans.

      Cheers, Robert, developer of iRed

  4. Linux IRDA by fozzmeister · · Score: 3, Interesting

    seems very good, I had my phone sync'ing with it at one point. It was pretty a case of the port on my laptop just working, after I modprobe'd and used the IRDA tools.

  5. ARGH by Bastian · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'd *BANG* offer *BANG* an *BANG* answer *BANG* but *BANG* I'm *BANG* too *BANG* busy *BANG* slamming *BANG* my *BANG* head *BANG* against *BANG* the *BANG* wall *BANG* to *BANG* tell *BANG* you *BANG* how *BANG* to *BANG* use *BANG* Google *BANG* or *BANG* Apple's *BANG* website.

  6. Lego Mindstorms! Cheap, common, and dual purpose! by Nomihn0 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Lego Mindstorms uses an infrared transceiver. You can find Lego IR boxes in toystores anywhere in the world. They can be hacked into loving your Macintosh.

  7. Re:And useless! by janoc · · Score: 2, Informative
    Mod the parent up!

    Mindstorms do not work with IRDA protocols, they use something more like a conventional remote control. No chance to use that with IRDA device - different modulation, different carrier, completely different cirquitry. Even the photodiodes and LEDs are usually different for IRDA and remote controls.