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VB programming for Pocket PC infrared
- Thread starter jayraykay
- Start date
This is a really cool idea. I have no idea how to do this, but in your place, I would start by figuring out how to "read" from the infrared port, so that you can position your remote controls in front of the pocket pc, press the buttons, and store whatever they emit so you can later send it from your pocket pc.
Also - have you thought about the range of operation? Will a pocket PC have a sufficiently powerful infrared emitter for the signal to go across, say ten meters? Remote can do it, but I odn't know if pocket PCs can.
.DaviD.
Also - have you thought about the range of operation? Will a pocket PC have a sufficiently powerful infrared emitter for the signal to go across, say ten meters? Remote can do it, but I odn't know if pocket PCs can.
.DaviD.
Nelviticus
Programmer
Again, I can't answer your question - sorry for getting your hopes up! - but I have heard that the IR transmission from PDAs is not as powerful as that from household remote controls and so the range is a lot shorter.
If you look at a web site like they have several remote control apps. If you check out the links you may find that some of the developers make their source code available.
Another disadvantage to using your PDA as a remote is that you won't be able to feel your virtual on-screen buttons without looking at the screen!
Good luck with your project.
Regards
Nelviticus
If you look at a web site like they have several remote control apps. If you check out the links you may find that some of the developers make their source code available.
Another disadvantage to using your PDA as a remote is that you won't be able to feel your virtual on-screen buttons without looking at the screen!
Good luck with your project.
Regards
Nelviticus
i considered doing this at one point, but lost patients to continue when i learned the harsh facts about the range...
(Like Nelviticus pointed out...)
The range on Pocket PC IR is measured in inches, not in feet like common remotes...
They are VERY low powered and are designed to have 2 IR ports facing each other, within about 3 inches apart, to transfer data (or phone numbers from cell phones)
But when it comes to using them as a remote... If you are within 3 inches of your tv... Just press the button on your TV...
On the other hand, you can BUY CF card adapters to boost your range of IR by including it's own IR port in place of the standard PPC IR Port... but who wants to buy a second IR port just so you can rack your brain trying to figure out how to send/recieve from it...
If you are into that type of thing, that might be an option, but for me, I just lost intrest in the whole project...
I might still have some docs i found online about IR & PPC at my house, but no guarentees...
for now here are a few references (IrDA is a common key word)
General Info:
Tutorials:
Sample Project using IrDA:
Misc IR Apps:
Example of IR extender:
Good Luck,
Josh
PS: Please Post Back if you get anywhere with this project ;-)
Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh
PROGRAMMER:
Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.
(Like Nelviticus pointed out...)
The range on Pocket PC IR is measured in inches, not in feet like common remotes...
They are VERY low powered and are designed to have 2 IR ports facing each other, within about 3 inches apart, to transfer data (or phone numbers from cell phones)
But when it comes to using them as a remote... If you are within 3 inches of your tv... Just press the button on your TV...
On the other hand, you can BUY CF card adapters to boost your range of IR by including it's own IR port in place of the standard PPC IR Port... but who wants to buy a second IR port just so you can rack your brain trying to figure out how to send/recieve from it...
If you are into that type of thing, that might be an option, but for me, I just lost intrest in the whole project...
I might still have some docs i found online about IR & PPC at my house, but no guarentees...
for now here are a few references (IrDA is a common key word)
General Info:
Tutorials:
Sample Project using IrDA:
Misc IR Apps:
Example of IR extender:
Good Luck,
Josh
PS: Please Post Back if you get anywhere with this project ;-)
Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh
PROGRAMMER:
Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.Hey Cude ...
I'm curious about those adapters. What are they? Are CF adapters something you plug on to the pocket PC or something you need to replace on the inside? What does CF stand for anyway?
If it's an adapter, we could just as easily write something like this to run from a laptop (although I wouldn't carry that around; it could just sit on my tea table or something).
.DaviD.
I'm curious about those adapters. What are they? Are CF adapters something you plug on to the pocket PC or something you need to replace on the inside? What does CF stand for anyway?
If it's an adapter, we could just as easily write something like this to run from a laptop (although I wouldn't carry that around; it could just sit on my tea table or something).
.DaviD.
Nelviticus
Programmer
CF stands for 'Compact Flash'. Many PDAs have a CF slot, usually used for memory cards but sometimes for other devices like WiFi cards or GPS adapters. I guess Cube is talking about an infra-red adapter. I suspect that they're quite rare as I've never heard of them before.
Regards
Nelviticus
Regards
Nelviticus
Thanks Nelviticus, thats exactly what I was talking about...
I apolagize for not specifying what CF stood for, but yes it is Compact Flash...
this is the CF slot on the dell axim:
And a compaq pda with card in it...
And yes they are generally used for memory expantion... but the are also, more or less, the equivalent of a USB port for pocket PCs... Such as I have a Veo Camera CF thing that plugs into the top of my Dell Axim and which has a lens that swivels around and allows you to use the PDA as a camera with the software provided... (However... The quality is less than great)
*Note: If you are really wanting to take digital pictures, you can spend the same amount of money (~$100) and buy an actual digital camera with 50x better quality...
As for IR ports on laptops... you would want to get a USB IR Port (not CF)... CF is just the closest thing to a USB port that PDAs have...
Examples:
Hope this helps...
Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh
PROGRAMMER: Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.
I apolagize for not specifying what CF stood for, but yes it is Compact Flash...
this is the CF slot on the dell axim:
And a compaq pda with card in it...
And yes they are generally used for memory expantion... but the are also, more or less, the equivalent of a USB port for pocket PCs... Such as I have a Veo Camera CF thing that plugs into the top of my Dell Axim and which has a lens that swivels around and allows you to use the PDA as a camera with the software provided... (However... The quality is less than great)
*Note: If you are really wanting to take digital pictures, you can spend the same amount of money (~$100) and buy an actual digital camera with 50x better quality...
As for IR ports on laptops... you would want to get a USB IR Port (not CF)... CF is just the closest thing to a USB port that PDAs have...
Examples:
Hope this helps...
Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh
PROGRAMMER:
Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.one more thing...
here are the IrDA specifications:
found at:
And again, Good Luck,
-Josh
Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh
PROGRAMMER: Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.
here are the IrDA specifications:
found at:
And again, Good Luck,
-Josh
Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh
PROGRAMMER:
Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.BTW... if you are interested in the CF IrDA extender... here is a review I found:
Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh
PROGRAMMER: Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.
Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh
PROGRAMMER:
Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.This post is getting more and more interesting. The only drawback is that the more I read stuff like this, the more my wife considers me an unrepairable geek
Anyway - next question: The CF IrDA seems to be the proper candidate for a project like this, but the problem is that I'm too lazy to go around looking for all the codes I need for the differnt audio/video components I have in the living room. Therefore, the easiest thing would be to put the PDA face to face with a remote, and have it "learn" the necessary codes by putting it in a"record mode" and then pressing the butons on the remote.
So here's the question: does the CF add-on also receive infra red, or can it only transmit? I read the article that Cube just posted about it and didn't see a mention of that. Do you think we'd need another CF adapter just to capture signals, and thn switch to this one so we can use the PDA as a remote?
.DaviD.
Anyway - next question: The CF IrDA seems to be the proper candidate for a project like this, but the problem is that I'm too lazy to go around looking for all the codes I need for the differnt audio/video components I have in the living room. Therefore, the easiest thing would be to put the PDA face to face with a remote, and have it "learn" the necessary codes by putting it in a"record mode" and then pressing the butons on the remote.
So here's the question: does the CF add-on also receive infra red, or can it only transmit? I read the article that Cube just posted about it and didn't see a mention of that. Do you think we'd need another CF adapter just to capture signals, and thn switch to this one so we can use the PDA as a remote?
.DaviD.
Nelviticus
Programmer
Most PDAs have an infra-red port built in, it's just not very powerful. You could use the built in port for reading - it's only the signature that you're after so it doesn't matter which port reads it.
Regards
Nelviticus
Regards
Nelviticus
You should really check into ultramote...
It does mention the "learning" capability...
read THIS article (note bold text)
I suggest you check out the free trial...
Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh
PROGRAMMER: Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.
It does mention the "learning" capability...
read THIS article (note bold text)
UltrMote said:
I suggest you check out the free trial...
Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh
PROGRAMMER:
Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.
Nelviticus
Programmer
Seeing as it has a specified list of models that it supports that leads me to think that perhaps IR ports aren't implemented in a standard way. If they were it would say something like "supports all Pocket PCs running Windows Mobile version <nnnn> with <cpu type> processors and an IR port".
Just a thought.
Nelviticus
Just a thought.
Nelviticus
Did you look at the comparison chart?
I think they are trying to promote the most popular brands when they list 4 or 5 types...
Like the way they seem to be pushing Dell Axim X3's... I believe that is just marketing...
(But that's just My Opinion)
You could always d/l the FREE TRIAL and try it out... to cut out the guess work...
Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh
PROGRAMMER: Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.
I think they are trying to promote the most popular brands when they list 4 or 5 types...
Like the way they seem to be pushing Dell Axim X3's... I believe that is just marketing...
(But that's just My Opinion)
You could always d/l the FREE TRIAL and try it out... to cut out the guess work...
Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh
PROGRAMMER:
Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.WOW... this thread got quiet real quick...
Did anyone try this out?
Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh
PROGRAMMER: Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.
Did anyone try this out?
Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh
PROGRAMMER:
Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.
Nelviticus
Programmer
I think the original poster was the only one who actually wanted to do the programming and he hasn't posted again. Everyone else was just interested!
If I had a lot of spare time I might take it up but a) I already have a good, cheap universal remote, b) a PDA-based remote would be impossible to use by touch (except for a few functions mapped to hardware buttons) and c) I already spend too much of my free time at my computer so my wife might kill me if I started developing at home as well!
Nelviticus
If I had a lot of spare time I might take it up but a) I already have a good, cheap universal remote, b) a PDA-based remote would be impossible to use by touch (except for a few functions mapped to hardware buttons) and c) I already spend too much of my free time at my computer so my wife might kill me if I started developing at home as well!
Nelviticus
LOL...
Yeah... I think your both Right ;-)
Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh
PROGRAMMER: Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.
Yeah... I think your both Right ;-)
Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh
PROGRAMMER:
Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.Personally, though, I do intend on trying this myself one day soon. I'm picking up C# these days, and think this would make a great pet project.
Some of the newer PDA's even come with a remote control grade infra-red component, so it could act as a remote control if you have the proper software.
If any of you guys are interested in it when it's done (tentative release date for this product is summer 2011), it can be yours for 48 easy payments of US$19.99.
Call now! Operators are standing by!
.DaviD.
Some of the newer PDA's even come with a remote control grade infra-red component, so it could act as a remote control if you have the proper software.
If any of you guys are interested in it when it's done (tentative release date for this product is summer 2011), it can be yours for 48 easy payments of US$19.99.
Call now! Operators are standing by!
.DaviD.
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