Infrared communication

my laptop has a Infrared port on it and I was wondering if I could use that to control my TV/VCR/SAT.

How can I send and recieve Infrared data In VB .NET (VS 03) ?

I suspect that you'd just have to open the infrared port and begin communication using the appropriate protocols. Unfortunately, I have no experience doing this, so that's really all I have to say on the subject. :o

I think Infared ports accept communication not send it out.

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Originally posted by Edneeis
I think Infared ports accept communication not send it out.

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Think about this one for a minute. They accept communication from where? Other infrared ports! Obviously they have to be able to send out data as well.

Why? My TV doesn't send anything to the remote, the remote only sends and the TV only receives. Its one way communication.

I mean you could be right and it could have two way communication but still the likely hood that you can get it to operate your TV or VCR is doubtful. My cable remote doesn't even work properly for one of my TVs.

actually IR ports on computers tend to be bi-directional, as they tend to be just a replacement for wires (one example is using my mobile phone as a modem)

one issue though is the range - there are many PDA's which can use software for controling a TV, but different IR ports have different ranges (some are less than a metre, others 10 metres)

unfortunately I haven't got a clue how you would code for it. :( (my new pda for work would be much more useful then)

I don't mean to be discouraging I think it'd kick ass if you could pull it off. That would definately be some braggin' rights.

it certainly would!

I would assume that an IR port is set up as a serial port, maybe you could get input from a TV remote to find out what signals are sent... but then again, maybe not!!

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actually IR ports on computers tend to be bi-directional, as they tend to be just a replacement for wires (one example is using my mobile phone as a modem)

one issue though is the range - there are many PDA's which can use software for controling a TV, but different IR ports have different ranges (some are less than a metre, others 10 metres)

unfortunately I haven't got a clue how you would code for it. (my new pda for work would be much more useful then)

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I have been poking around the net and I have found that:

Most PDA's have a range of about 3 feet :mad:

It is possible to use a computer to control things using IR*

Serial Commuication in VB.NET Class/Example

Serial Curcuits


*Normal Computer IR ports dont communicate fast enough to work properly with remotes so you need to create a special one...

I haven't done anything because I am waiting to find some one that I trust to complete the curcuit :mad:

Thought this might be interesting for anyone else that is interested...