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Topic:
Dell Axim X50 IR Strength?
This thread has 4 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Wednesday October 13, 2004 at 00:26
JordanW
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2002
51
Now that the X50 has been officially released by Dell, I figured that Don (or anyone else here) are likely out of any NDAs that were holding them back from speaking much about it in the past weeks....

Chris Leckness (owner of Aximsite.com) has tested the X50 and X50v using PDAwin's software, and was only able to get about a 12 foot maximum range. Is the IrDA port used in the X50 line that much weaker than the one used in the X3/X30 lines? Granted, it is a different manufacturer (HTC) that developed the X50 models. 12 feet is still better than the old X5 line, but nowhere near the IR range (25+ feet) achieved with the X3/X30 line.

Does anyone have any more information on the IR specs for the X50/X50v?

I thought that since Total Remote is still included on the companion CD (according to Dell's specs at least), that Don might have been involved in some conversations with Dell already regarding IR strength? Does it get more range with Total Remote than 12 feet?
Post 2 made on Thursday October 14, 2004 at 17:27
Don Stratton
Long Time Member
Joined:
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December 2002
190
On 10/13/04 04:26 ET, JordanW said...
Now that the X50 has been officially released
by Dell, I figured that Don (or anyone else here)
are likely out of any NDAs that were holding them
back from speaking much about it in the past weeks....

You are ALMOST correct. I can talk about nearly anything, but full disclosure cannot come until the product release, which I have down as the 21st. Still, happy to blab about what I can now.

Chris Leckness (owner of Aximsite.com) has tested
the X50 and X50v using PDAwin's software, and
was only able to get about a 12 foot maximum range.

I don't doubt it, and I don't even consider questioning his test methodology. My two primary pieces of test gear are a Sony DVD player and an Orion (made by Philips) TV/VCR combo. I did make a test that shows the Sony worked at 20 feet with the KNOWN crappy IrDA of an iPaq 5450, but the Orion only worked to 11 feet! The results vary a lot from PPC to PPC; the same tests with IrDA on an Axim X3i showed 42 feet for the Sony, and 39 feet for the Orion. If he was testing something like a Harman-Kardon stereo or a Scientific Atlanta cable box (both known to have "tricky" signals) I could easily believe his result.

Rule #1 for Total Remote, in any mode, with any transmitter: YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary). ;)

Is the IrDA port used in the X50 line that much
weaker than the one used in the X3/X30 lines?

Hmm. How do I answer that and not piss off Dell? Let me just refer to practical usage; Dell's ODM manufacturer tested Total Remote to work beyond 7 meters, and I have controlled my Sony DVD player from 40 feet. Surprisingly, there was a really significant difference in the performance between the two X50s I have, but these numbers reflect the latter unit I received which should be identical to what ships.

Granted, it is a different manufacturer (HTC)
that developed the X50 models. 12 feet is still
better than the old X5 line, but nowhere near
the IR range (25+ feet) achieved with the X3/X30
line.

Fear not. It is at least comparable to the X3 and X30.

Does anyone have any more information on the IR
specs for the X50/X50v?

Other than the fact that it is not "CIR" like those 3 Nevo-equipped iPaqs, what else were you looking for?

I thought that since Total Remote is still included
on the companion CD (according to Dell's specs
at least), that Don might have been involved in
some conversations with Dell already regarding
IR strength?

Oh gawd, were there conversations! I'm not sure I will ever be able to talk about them publically, but suffice to say Dell, HTC and Griffin scrambled around at the last minute like chickens with our heads cut off before we got a build of Total Remote that performed within Dell's internal benchmark for CIR control. I had the most severe flu I have ever had in my life, right in the middle of our heated daily conference calls, but despite the 12 shots of Morphine I had for some incredible gastric pain I _STILL CALLED THEM_. Say what you will, but I like HTC (and Dell) for their level of communication when we are all up against the wall and work needs to get done.

Does it get more range with Total
Remote than 12 feet?

To paraphrase Bill Clinton, it depends on what you mean by "get", "more", "range" and "12 feet", as I have explained above. ;)

--Don
OP | Post 3 made on Friday October 15, 2004 at 03:28
JordanW
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2002
51
Don,

Thanks for the excellent post, as it definitely was helpful to me and I'm sure plenty of others as well. And to be honest, I'm not sure what equipment Chris was testing. The IR was a last minute thing I asked him to try to test during my conversations with him, so I'm not sure how "in depth" of a test was performed.

Since you got about the same range out of the tested equipment between the X3 and X50, as well as your working with them to get Total Remote performing well on it, it makes me feel like Dell/HTC and Griffen were working hard to keep this one performing well for remote usage.

Granted, I'm still going to have my old X5 with CF IR extender for dedicated touchscreen remote use, regardless of having newer PDAs around. But I wanted this info for the many others that I know will be contacting me about the X50 as it nears shipment.

And for what its worth, my mileage has been great with the X3i (and of course X5 with extender) on all of my HT equipment. Maybe one day in a couple of years the X50v will be "demoted" down the line as my dedicated remote. :p

Thanks again for the reply.
Post 4 made on Monday October 18, 2004 at 19:05
gquiring
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
November 2002
55
JordanW what CF IR extender do you use for your X5 and where did you get it? I also have a X5.
OP | Post 5 made on Monday October 25, 2004 at 01:58
JordanW
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2002
51
gquiring:

The one still produced is the Ultramote Extender (http://www.ultramote.com). Unfortunately, you have to purchase their software in order to purchase their extender, and their software is not that great. However, their extender works fine with the other remote applications that have support for CF extender cards.


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