Is anyone aware of any Windows based apps that will allow you to use the IR port on a laptop computer to decode an IR signal from a remote? I envision this as an easy way to determine exactly what the device and command codes for a particular remote would be, instead of having to cycle through multiple possibilities.

If this isn't possible, I'd appreciate a short explanation of why it can't be done.

Thanks!

That's a great idea!! Sorry I don't have an answer, but I could use the solution myself. Let me know if anyone comes up with one.

Steve

Hi, i don't have the answer for your question, but maybe you can ask this also on www.girder.nl. This is an site about a freeware application where you can control your pc with your remote control. I do not know if it is also for an laptop irport and if there is an add-on for what you want.
Even if you do not find your answer it is a nice site for ir freaks to have a look at.

Good Luck

Rob

Check out these links :)


[Link: veg.nildram.co.uk]
[Link: pcremotecontrol.com]
[Link: ziplabel.com]

The standard IR port on a PC is IrDA and it won't produce any results if you point a standard remote control at it. It might be possible to write a device driver to control or bypass the UART at a lower level than RS-232 but I don't know of any successful attempts to do this on a PC.

There are lots of IR receivers for remote controls out there, though, and these typically have alternative circuitry...

Oh - why it can't be done. Remote controls modulate information completely differently from IrDA. The UART chip in a PC will simply not recognise the signal from a remote control as being IrDA and just ignore it. It is sometimes feasible to do the opposite ie. control a TV from an IrDA signal and this can be done by aliasing the remote control pattern over an IrDA signal. This is how our application for the Palm can control TVs.

- John