is there anyway I can use the IR port on my laptop to turn tvs on and off?

[aceofskies05]

program?

 

[aceofskies05]

bump

 

[corkyg]

No. The IR port on laptops (no longer used, BTW) are receivers - not transmitters. Get a unversal remote for the TV - it transmits an IR signal LOS.

 

[aceO07]

Originally posted by: corkyg
No. The IR port on laptops (no longer used, BTW) are receivers - not transmitters. Get a unversal remote for the TV - it transmits an IR signal LOS.

Not transmitters? Then how do laptops send data to PDAs, printers..?

aceofskies05, I don't have time to look into it, but maybe www.lirc.org might work for you? It's linux based though.

 

[aceO07]

If the port on the laptop isn't facing the tv, it's probably not going to work for you. The beam is directional and you'd have to turn the laptop around to use it.

I used to have a palmpilot that I set to learn my tv remote. It was a pain to use since the port was on the side, so I have to turn the pda around to use it. Wasn't worth the trouble.

A real remote is probably the more practical solution.

 

[aceofskies05]

its just for fun

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: aceO07

Not transmitters? Then how do laptops send data to PDAs, printers..?[/quote]

Yeah - that's true - however - they never did it very well and that has been discontinued in laptops now for about 4-5 years. The problem with IR is that it must be LOS.

And, even TV remotes must have the correct IR code or they won't work. I.e, a Sony remote (not the universal model) won't work on a RCA or a JVC, etc.

Get an inexpensive universal remote that has a "learn" function with the TV.

 

[CTho9305]

Yeah - that's true - however - they never did it very well and that has been discontinued in laptops now for about 4-5 years.

Not true. The laptops people have at work (<2 yrs old) all have IR ports, and I have personally seen it work fine (and at impressively high speeds)

 

[Mojonba]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Yeah - that's true - however - they never did it very well and that has been discontinued in laptops now for about 4-5 years.

Definitely not true. I have a several days old Latitude d620 with me that has IR port.

A while ago I remember reading that the IR used in PCs and the one used in Consumer electronics is not the same. One is designed for distance and low data rates, while the other is close range plus high data rate.

 

[Atheus]

I bet you can but you'd have to write the code yourself. I'm sure there are docs floating round the net about remote codes and such, in fact, you could probably turn your laptop into an even more universal remote than the universal one you get from the shops - you could store more frequencies and codes and cycle them faster.

 

[Slick5150]

the IR ports can send data, but the problem is they are very low powered in general, meaning you'd have to have teh laptop within a couple feet of the TV.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: Mojonba1

Definitely not true. I have a several days old Latitude d620 with me that has IR port.[/quote]

They sure don't put it in their specs. That's good to know. My last three laptops have not had IR ports. WiFi and Bluetooth are now more common.

620