Infrared Data Association Relnotes.doc File (Part 1 of 2)

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows 95

                               SUMMARY
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                           MORE INFORMATION
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          Microsoft Windows 95 Infrared Communications Driver
                                                  Version 1.0
                                                Release Notes
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Quick Start Installing the IR Communications Driver Using the IR Communications Driver Troubleshooting Product Support

QUICK START

Congratulations! You are the proud owner of the Microsoft(r) Windows(r) 95 Infrared (IR) communications driver. After you install the IR communications driver you can start replacing your serial and parallel cable connections with wireless IR links.

Wireless communications between computers is a new thing. And you're part of it! Have fun experimenting with wireless IR links between your computers and printers.

The Version 1.0 IR communications driver is a set of software components that you can add to a Windows 95 computer to enable that computer to send and receive data over IR communications links. Installing the IR communications driver is as simple as running the Setup program that is one of the driver components.

The IR communications driver supports IR communications links running up to 115.2 kilobytes per second (Kbps). The infrared hardware can be built into your Windows 95 computer or added by attaching an infrared adapter to a serial or parallel port. A future release of the IR communications driver will add support for high-speed IR devices which run at 1.152 and 4.0 megabytes per second (Mbps).

Installing the IR Communications Driver

NOTE: You must always remove any previously installed version of the IR

      communications driver every time you install the driver. For
      example, if you have an earlier (Beta) version of the IR
      communications driver already installed you must remove it before
      you install Version 1.0. You may also need to remove an installation
      of the Version 1.0 driver. For example, if you change the IR adapter
      model that is connected to your computer, you must remove the
      installed IR communications driver and reinstall it, specifying the
      new IR adapter type. Instructions for removing the IR communications
      driver are in "An Optional Step: Removing the IR Communications
      Driver."

• If you are using an IR adapter (rather than a built-in IR device), make sure the adapter is physically attached to a COM port and note which COM port it is (COM1, COM2, and so on). If you are using a computer with a built-in IR device, note which COM port that device is assigned to.
• Start the setup program SETUP.EXE, which is one of the IR communications components, to invoke the Windows 95 Add Infrared Device Wizard. Respond to the wizard's prompts for physical COM port information, IR device manufacturer and model information, and so on.
• If the wizard announces New Hardware Found events for the IR serial and parallel ports, you can enable the IR device immediately after the wizard is finished. Enable the IR device by double-clicking on the Infrared device icon in the Control Panel. If the wizard does not announce New Hardware Found events before it is finished, you must restart the computer before you use the Control Panel icon to activate the IR device.

Using the IR Communications Driver

End-users can install the IR communications device driver on their Windows 95 computer and run applications using wireless infrared communications instead of serial or parallel cables. The driver has been successfully tested on the following Windows 95 notebook computers, which have built-in IR ports:

   Digital(r) HiNote Ultra CT475
   Gateway(r) 2000 Liberty
   Gateway Solo
   HP(r) Omnibook(tm) 600CT
   HP Omnibook 4000C
   IBM(r) ThinkPad(r) 701C (Butterfly)
   IBM ThinkPad 755 (most configurations)
   Midwest Micro Elite
   Midwest Micro Elite p90
   Sharp(r) PC 3050
   TI(r) TravelMate(tm) 5000
   Toshiba(r) Satellite Pro 400 CDT

   ACTiSYS ACT-200L Infrared Wireless Interface
   ACTiSYS ACT-220L Infrared Wireless Interface
   Adaptec(tm) AIRport APA-9320 External Infrared Adapter (this adapter is
      also called the Adaptec AIRport 2000)
   Adaptec AIRport 1000
   AMP PhasIR Serial Adapter
   Extended Systems JetEye PC Infrared PC Interface (ESI-9680)
   Parallax IR Adapter LiteLink PRA9500A

The following applications have been run successfully over an IR communications link, using the IR communications driver and the hardware listed above:

   Windows 95 Direct Cable Connection (DCC)
   Various Windows communications applications, including HyperTerminal,
      DynaComm, and Carbon Copy.

For instructions on running DCC over an IR link, see "Notes on Running the Direct Cable Connection Application Over an IR Link" later in this document.

Numerous Windows 95 applications have successfully printed over an IR link to an HP(r) LaserJet(r) 5P or 5MP printer, which have built-in IR ports.

Troubleshooting

Some general troubleshooting tips are:

• To get two IR devices to discover each other, you may have to realign the IR devices so they point right at each other, move them closer together, and/or change the batteries in an IR adapter or plug the AC power into an IR adapter. The devices must be three feet apart, or less, and the angle of the cone of IR transmission is 30 degrees. Some devices work best if kept at least six inches apart.
• You must always remove any previously installed version of the IR communications driver every time you install the driver. For example, if you have an earlier (Beta) version of the IR communications driver already installed you must remove it before you install Version 1.0. You may also need to remove an installation of the Version 1.0 driver. For example, if you change the IR adapter model that is connected to your computer, you must remove the installed IR communications driver and reinstall it, specifying the new IR adapter type. Instructions for removing the IR communications driver are in "An Optional Step: Removing the IR Communications Driver."

• If you use the Windows 95 application HyperTerminal to transfer files, you will not be able to transfer files successfully over an IR link using the Zmodem protocol as it is implemented by HyperTerminal.
• When you run the Windows 95 application Direct Cable Connection (DCC) and establish the connection between the host and guest computers, the guest computer may display the message "Direct Cable Connection was unable to display shared folders of the host computer" and prompt you to enter the computer name of the host computer. A convenient way to find the computer name of the host computer is on the Status tab of the Infrared Monitor interface screen.

• The Adaptec AIRport 2000 infrared adapter can be powered by either the serial port, installed AA batteries, or an external power supply. In some cases, the serial port may not provide sufficient power for the operation of the adapter. This can cause reduced operating range and/or a failure to find another IR device which is nearby and aligned correctly. If you suspect such a problem, connect an AC adapter or add four AA batteries to the battery compartment in the infrared adapter. This will assure sufficient power. In some instances, you may need to separate the adapter by at least six inches the other IR device.
• If you have an ACTiSYS 220L IR adapter attached to your computer and print to a printer that is using an Extended Systems ESI-9580 printer IR adapter, or you are printing to the HP DeskJet 340, you must use the Options tab in the Infrared Monitor to limit the connection speed to 19.2 Kbps to print successfully. If you allow the IR devices to automatically negotiate the connection speed without setting this limit, they will negotiate a higher connection speed and your application will not be able to print.
• The TI TravelMate 5000 may communicate over an IR link only at very low speeds (9600 baud).
• The Sharp PC 3050 may communicate over an IR link only at speeds between 9600 baud and 19.2 Kbps.
• If you have an HP Omnibook 4000C or an HP Omnibook 600CT, you must install a special echo-canceling serial driver in addition to the components that make up the IR communications driver. The echo- canceling driver, along with instructions on how to install it, are available from Hewlett-Packard.

Product Support

Microsoft's support offerings range from no-cost and low-cost electronic information services (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) to annual support plans and CD-ROM subscription programs. Please check the SUPPORT.TXT on-line documentation that comes with Windows 95 for detailed information. Note that Microsoft support services are subject to Microsoft's then-current prices, terms, and conditions, which are subject to change without notice.

In the United States, no-charge support from Microsoft support engineers is available via a toll call between 6:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. Pacific time, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. For all issues except networking issues, this support is available for 90 days after your first call to a support engineer. Networking issues are defined as server-based setup, network administration, dialing into a computer, or connecting to the Internet via a service provider, and using e-mail and fax from within Windows 95. For fee-based support for these networking issues, see the information in SUPPORT.TXT.

• For technical support for Windows 95, call (425) 635-7122.
• In Canada, support engineers are available via a toll call between 8:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Call (905) 568-4494. This support is available for 90 days after your first call to a support engineer.

• The version number of the Microsoft product that you are using.
• The type of hardware that you are using.
• The exact wording of any messages that appeared on your screen.
• A description of what happened and what you were doing when the problem occurred.
• A description of how you tried to solve the problem.