Consumer IR

#1 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 10:24 AM

Hi all,

Im thinking of getting a PDA, probably a HP. The main purpose for this is for TomTom navigation in car. However, being an IT nerd, I intend to use it for the usual things like picking up email on the move and surfing etc (which I intend to do by using bluetooth and my mobile phone GPRS).

However, I would also like to have a play with the Consumer IR facilities for controlling home AV equipment and the like. I notice that some units list "Consumer IR" as a facility and some just say "Infra Red". Are they one and the same thing? Or are only a few units capable of being programmed for Consumer IR purposes. If so, can someone confirm which units can do this please?

Thanks

**Charlie** · #2 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 10:53 AM

Most IR handhelds can be used to control consumer equipment with the help of some 3rd party control software, do a search on google for PPC REMOTE or similar. Some PDA's come with the software included such as HP's H2210 iPAQ which includes NEVO. PDA IR modules are considered as low power devices and as such you may not get the same distance from a PDA that you get from an OEM remote but there are many IR addons available to boost the power in such a situation...these can often be found by way of links from the remote control software vendor's sites.

#3 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 06:16 PM

As I understand it, "consumer IR" will be fine for the purpose you want to use it for. I've just bought an iPaq 4150 and the IR range is "about 1 foot" - so not what i'd call consumer IR

There is a 3rd part hardware/software cobo you can buy that will turn your ipaq into a fully fledged Remote Control....

http://www.stormfrontdirect.co.uk/st...05/product1199