Infrared Capability

[jakfish]

Hi, Wicknix,

Looking at:

http://packages.debian.org/etch/irda-utils

What do you think about providing infrared capability to the LLL?  Since bluetooth is a 2.6* kernel issue, LLL users have no real way of wirelessly communicating with another device unless it's through wifi (ftp, etc).

It may be a dead-end street, but I've successfully used this infrared package in Puppy Linux (though with a 2.6* kernel) and can't help but long for IR file transfer, etc. with LLL and other machines.  Again, though, it may not be doable w/in the limitations of our machines.

Jake

[g3wyw]

I guess the first problem to resolve is the hardware interface?

The LEDs on the front are driven by port pins, so they could be used OK.

Question is how to connect an infra red input? One of the mouse buttons would seem to be the best solution.

I guess there could be some 'spare I/O' pins on the CPU, but this would mean dismantling the unit.

Other alternative could be to hack the USB keyboard driver to read a key for the input and drive the CAPS or NUM LED for the output and use a keyboard with 'additional hardware interface' for the infrared capability.

Once the hardware is working then its just software.!!

Paul

[jakfish]

Wow: I hadn't thought of that.  I was just thinking of a generic USB-Infrared adapter.  Obviously, your idea is cooler but even getting the software to play nice with an IR adapter could be tricky.

Jake

[wicknix]

Yeah it'd be cool to have. It's also possible with the 2.4 kernel but we'd have to compile the needed modules for IR. Once you have those the usb IR adapter should work with that software.

Cheers.

[g3wyw]

Shows how much I don't know.   I didn't realise there were such devices as USB IR adaptors. They are not expensive either.

Couple I have looked at on Amazon only seem to be supported on Windows, no Linux drivers... ie driver source Will keep looking.

Paul

[jakfish]

With Puppy Linux, the cheapest, most effective US-IrDA adapters are the ones that use the KS-959.  The Linux driver was designed by a gentleman named Alex Villacis Lasso:

http://www.qbik.ch/usb/devices/showdr.php?id=295

But I think this driver is for the 2.6.  I've communicated with Mr. Lasso, who is a fine fellow.  I don't know of IR drivers for the 2.4 kernel, though the KS-959 is only 1.1 IrDA and goes back to Win98SE.

Jake