Hi there,

I am interested in purchasing a Ipaq 3970 & was wondering if anyone has used it with TV remote controller 4.0?

Does it benefit from the extended IR range of the new IPAQ or would only the NEVO software be able to make use of it?

I believe the extended IR range (relative to standard IrDA) is a integrated part of the Nevo package. So I doubt if TV Remote 4.0 would be able to take advantage of it.

I have a iPac 3950 and TV remote 4.0 does not work!! I have E-Mailed then and they are working on the problem. The screen is 3X better on the iPac than my ProntoPro!!

I have a HP Jornada 5680 running Pocket PC 2002. I have just downloaded the trial version of TV Remote 4.0. I have only programmed 2 buttons just to "have a play"......since I am coming round to the idea of a PPC rather than a Pronto Pro or RC9200....seems to me much better vlue for money. Anyway.........IR range I found to be interesting:.....

My Sony TV responds from around 20 feet away.....whilst my Powermid (situated just under the IR eye of the TV)....which I use to control the rest of the equipment in an upstairs bedroom only responds from around 6-7 feet.....and seems to be more directional too. So it would seem that the IR range is also a function of the sensitivity of your equipment. You can always purchase a IR booster of course.....or the new Ipaq 39XX series which seems to have a higher powered IR transmitter.....so I would have thought that you should have no problems with IR range at all.

At least here in the UK the price of the top spec. new Ipaq is on a par with the Pronto Pro recommended price....although can be obtained for around £500....although given what the Ipaq can do in addition.....seems to be that it is no contest.

Andrew

There are a couple of factors that affect the range of the internal IR on the PDAs.

The Powermid is expecting IR modulated with a 38kHz carrier. Your Sony may use a different carrier.

The wavelength of the IR itself is another factor. The PDA's IR was intended for IrDA which uses no carrier and which may (I'm speculating here) use a different wavelenth IR emitter than the 940nM used for most consumer IR. I believe IrDA may use 850nM.

Dave......many thanks..........
Just thought it was an interesting observation outlining the differences in perceived IR sensitivities. I have sent off for the PDAir CF attachment which I hope will solve the problem of range. I could bring the Powermid closer to where i sit but situating under the TV keeps it unobtrusive.

I still hope to get one of the new Ipaqs to use as a remote at sometime...I have emailed the developers of Remote TV and they intend to work on the applicationt for the new 39XX series.

You might well ask why I wouldnt continue using the Jornada....well......I am not keen on the IR LED sticking out the front of the device......If a future update of TV Remote supports the higher power IR of the new Ipaq then that would be the ideal solution.

Andrew

I double checked and IrDA uses 850nM. Consumer IR uses 940nM.


I'm not sure anyone has tested PDA-ir in your model Jornada. If it does work, I'm sure you'll see more than adequate range.


I don't think so. ;)

The price of the 39XX is a bit too steep for my taste. Plus, I have designed a PDA-ir/rf CF card that will come in three models to also do RF using the frequencies used by X-10 (310MHz, 418MHz, & 433.92MHz). It will be a few months before we can sell it because we have to get FCC & CE approvals first.

Dave.....

I have noticed that it has not been tested with the 560 series Jornadas......but did say on the web site that it could be used with them. Am willing to give it a try at least......if it dont work at least I will after convince the wife to move the Powermid a bit closer...and i havent had to break the bank either :-)

Your point about the Ipaq being expensive is taken......but even at these prices they are better value than Pronto Pro or 9200. I am just not too keen on the IR led sticking out the front....maybe too easy to damage...etc. However if it works.......

I am interested in your combined IR/RF CF card also....maybe such a device will allow me to get rid of my Powermid transmitter (?) downstairs and communicat directly with the Powermid receiver upstairs.....and if it controls X10 directly (though I have non at present) then.......mmmmm........maybe I will after eat humble pie and maybe get another Jornada purely as a remote......should be a bit cheaper too now that they are being phased out!!

Lets hope you can get the size down to fit the CF slot.

Thanks

Andrew

About the only way you can damage the IR emitter on the PDA-ir is by smashing it with a hammer or dropping your PDA with the emitter hitting the floor first. In the latter case, damage to the emitter is still unlikely but the emitter will be the least of your problems. ;)


I use an iPAQ H3635 bought new for $320 including the CF sleeve. With TV Remote Control and PDA-ir, it makes a very nice remote. With PDA-ir/rf, it will be even better.


It must extend beyond the normal slot because of its antenna. The board is a bit shorter than a Socket 802.11B CF card. If we cannot find an off-the-shelf case, I have some other ideas that will probably work.

Thanks once again Dave....
Good point about the IR emitter damage.....:-)
Hope you are succesful with the IR/RF device......i would be very interested in that. Its a pity that Compaq(HP) have not incorporated a CF slot into the basic Ipaq unit. Never having had one before how does the size with jacket compare to (say) a Pronto.....is it still smaller/lighter. Maybe the jacket helps holding device.....I tell you....this PDA remote combination looks to be a winner!

I just hope that software development/bug fixes are continued. It would be especially useful if the software could emulate both Pronto AND Marantz CCF files (multiple page jumps, larger editable screen etc.....).....maybe could see the day when there are more PDA's being used as remotes than "Prontos".

The iPAQ with a single CF slot sleeve is OK. Still, I would prefer the Audiovox Maestro but PDAwin doesn't yet support it for external IR or RF.

Hey, I'm actually able to record the volume (so far) keys of my Sony 90esg to the remote. Except the range is a lousy 1.5 feet.