iRDA - I'll be damned!

[krypton_john]

It never ceases to amaze me the range of PIC compatible modules out there, that can make our lives easy.

I recently looked up iRDA and decided it was way too hard for PICAXE, unless there was a module available with built in iRDA protocol stack. At the time I couldn't find such a device. However now I see this:

http://www.futurlec.com/SFMicrochip/MCP2140.shtml

...which appears to do the hard work and is produced by Microchip themselves. And it is in DIP packaging!

This could allow simple IR serial comms with a terminal on an iPaq or laptop for example, or even object push/pull.

 

[manuka]

Good find- although dating from 2003. In a WiFi, BT & ZigBee age, 9600ps strictly line of sight IR data is pretty small beer, although it may suit older PDAs etc.

 

[krypton_john]

True.

But what are the other wireless options between Picaxe and a SmartPhone/PDA/laptop? Many don't have bluetooth and Wifi is not yet a Picaxe option is it?

Not too woried about 9600bps - usually that's fast enough for almost any Picaxe project.

Mind you, iRDA seems to be on the way out on laptops.