How to Troubleshoot Issues with Infrared Devices

ID: Q184204

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

This article describes how to troubleshoot issues with infrared (IR) devices.


MORE INFORMATION

This article lists some of the most commons causes of issues with IR devices and how to resolve them.

Devices Not Aligned Correctly

To establish a connection between two IR devices, you may have to perform some of the following steps:
  • Realign the IR devices so they point directly at each other.


  • Verify that the batteries in an IR adapter are fully charged, or plug an AC power adapter into the IR adapter.


  • Verify that the devices are three feet apart or less, however, some devices work best if kept at least six inches apart.


  • Verify that the angle of the cone of IR transmission is 30 degrees.


Slow COM Port or Slow Computer

If an IR adapter is attached to a COM port that is using an 8250 universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART) chip instead of a 16550 UART chip, or if an IR adapter is connected to a slower computer, you may need to limit the connection speed to 19.2 Kbps. To do so, use the following steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Infrared.


  2. Click the Options tab, click 19.2 Kbps in the Limit Connection Speed To box, click OK, and then close Control Panel.


After you establish a successful IR connection at this speed, you may want to experiment with establishing a connection at a higher speed.

Connection Is Established Slowly

When you connect or disconnect over a low-speed IR link or over a low-quality link the connection may not be established for a few seconds, and during this time your computer may appear to stop responding (hang). To work around this behavior, use either of the following methods:

Increase the Speed of Your Connection:

To increase the speed of your connection, use the following steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Infrared.


  2. Click the Options tab, click a speed that is higher than the current speed in the Limit Connection Speed To box, click OK, and then close Control Panel.


Improve the Quality of Your Connection:

To improve the quality of your connection, try the following:
  • Realign the devices so that they point directly at each other.


  • Move the devices closer together.


  • Verify that the batteries in an IR adapter are fully charged, or plug an AC power adapter into the IR adapter.


  • Remove any obstructions between the devices.


Verify that No Other Devices Are Interfering with the Connection

Some household devices may contain IR devices that can interfere with your connection, for example, a television remote control. Ensure that these types of devices are not located near your IR devices. Also, if your printer has an IR adapter, move it out of the range of your computer's IR adapter.

Install the Most Current Version of IR Device Drivers

Microsoft recommends that you install only the most current IR device drivers available, and before you install a new driver, uninstall the old one. This is especially important if you want to install new drivers and you are currently using a Beta driver. To uninstall your IR device driver, use the following steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs.


  2. On the Install/Uninstall tab, click Infrared Support for Windows 95, and then click Add/Remove.


  3. Click Yes when your are prompted to restart your computer.


Update Drivers When You Update Your IR Adapter

If you install an IR adapter to replace your current one, you must uninstall your current IR adapter before you install the new one. To uninstall your IR adapter driver, use the following steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs.


  2. On the Install/Uninstall tab, click Infrared Support for Windows 95, and then click Add/Remove.


  3. Click Yes when your are prompted to restart your computer.


Verify You Are Using the Correct Port

Your IR adapter may not function properly if your IR adapter is not configured to use the correct COM port. To troubleshoot this issue, use the following steps:
  1. Place an IR device that is actively searching for another IR device near your computer's IR adapter.


  2. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Infrared.


  3. Click the Options tab, click a different COM port under Enable Infrared Communication, and then click OK.


  4. Test to determine if the issue is resolved, and if it is not, repeat steps 1-4 until the IR adapter on your computer discovers the nearby IR device.


  5. Close Control Panel.


NOTE: If you change the port your IR device is using while IR communications are in progress, you may lose your connection without warning.

Do Not Suspend Your Computer While an IR Connection Is Active

Microsoft recommends that you do not suspend your computer while an IR connection is active. If you need to suspend your computer, break the IR connection first, and then suspend your computer. This is especially important if your computer is a laptop. When you suspend a laptop while an IR connection is active, the IR connection may remain intact and continue to use the laptop's battery.

Additional query words: irda

Keywords : kbtshoot win95
Version : WINDOWS:95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: May 27, 1999
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