Troubleshooting Infrared on Windows 98



Document ID: 94000160

 

Posted Date: 1996-08-19

 

Last Updated: 1996-08-19

 

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Troubleshooting Infrared on Windows 98

Following are several factors to check as you begin to troubleshoot your infrared connection:

  • Check distance between infrared adapters.

Try moving the devices closer together or farther apart. The devices must be no more than three feet apart, and some devices work best if kept at least six inches apart. Make sure that there are no obstructions between the devices.
  • Check alignment between infrared adapters.

Infrared devices produce an "arc" of infrared light. This arc is usually between 15 and 30 degrees. Try realigning the devices so that they fall within this arc.
  • Check for interference with infrared transmission.

Direct sunlight contains infrared light and can cause degradation of the infrared signal between devices. If this occurs, try blocking the sunlight or moving the devices closer together.
  • Experiment with connection speed.

Use the Limit Connection Speed To option in the Infrared Monitor Options tab to limit the connection speed to 19.2 kbps. If this is successful, you can experiment with establishing a connection at a higher speed. This is especially important if an infrared adapter is attached to a COM port that is using an 8250 UART instead of a 16550 UART or if the adapter is connected to a relatively slow computer.
  • Ensure that application is set to use virtual infrared port.

Ensure that the application you are using is configured for the virtual port, not the physical port that the infrared device is attached to. Keep in mind that, as with all communications and printer ports, only one application can use the virtual port at one time.
  • Verify infrared adapter settings.

Open the Infrared Monitor and verify that all settings are correct.
  • Verify the physical COM port.

If you select the wrong physical COM port during installation of the infrared communications driver, the infrared device will be unable to discover another infrared device within range. If this happens, put an actively searching infrared device close to the computer's infrared device and reinstall infrared on a different COM port until the infrared device on the computer discovers the nearby infrared device.
  • Verify that the infrared adapter has power.

You might need to change the batteries in an infrared adapter or plug the AC power into an infrared adapter.

Troubleshooting General Infrared Problems

This section discusses general problems that might occur when using infrared. For information about specific infrared hardware, see the next section.

Communication over a virtual COM port link is unreliable with printer's infrared adapter in range.

Communication over a virtual COM port link between two computers might not be reliable if a printer's infrared adapter is also within range. You should move the adapter out of range.

Zmodem fails over infrared.

You might experience problems transferring files over an infrared link. If the Zmodem protocol fails with a link speed of 115.2 kbps, use the Infrared Monitor Limit Connection Speed To tab to limit the link speed to 19.2 kbps and then retry the Zmodem file transfer.

Troubleshooting Specific Infrared Hardware

This section discusses common problems you might experience with specific infrared hardware. For information about general problems you might encounter, see the previous section.

The Texas Instruments TravelMate 5000 might communicate over an infrared link only at very low speeds (9600 bps). The Sharp PC 3050 might communicate over an infrared link only at speeds between 9600 bps and 19.2 kbps.

For the Hewlett Packard Omnibook 4000C or the Hewlett Packard Omnibook 600CT, which have built-in infrared ports, you must install a special echo-canceling serial driver in addition to the components that make up the infrared communications driver. The echo-canceling driver, and instructions on how to install it, are available from Hewlett-Packard.

Serial port does not provide sufficient power for Adaptec AIRport 2000.

The Adaptec AIRport 2000 infrared adapter can be powered in three ways: by the serial port, by installed AA batteries, or by an external power supply. In some cases the serial port might not provide sufficient power for the operation of the adapter. This can cause reduced operating range and/or a failure to find another infrared device that is nearby and aligned correctly. If you suspect this problem, connect an AC adapter or add four AA batteries to the battery compartment in the infrared adapter. This will assure sufficient power. In some instances, you might also need to separate the adapter by at least six inches from the other infrared device.

Cannot print from ActiSys 220L infrared adapter.

If an ActiSys 220L infrared adapter is attached to a computer and used to print to a printer that is using an Extended Systems ESI-9580 printer infrared adapter, or a Hewlett Packard DeskJet 340, you must use the Options tab in the Infrared Monitor properties to limit the connection speed to 19.2 kbps in order to print successfully. If the infrared devices are allowed to negotiate the connection speed automatically without setting this limit, they will negotiate a higher connection speed, and a program will be unable to print.


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