As electronic devices developed, it became necessary to organize data exchange using wireless communication. Many manufacturers of cell phones, laptops or printers still equip their products with infrared communication. So what is infrared (IrDA) and how to use it? What features need to be considered with this method of data transfer?
The so-called infrared port got its name from the wavelength used. It is 860-900 nm, that is, it is in the infrared range. Using adapters designed to receive / transmit data, you can organize a wireless connection, for example, with a personal computer.
There are several ways to connect transceivers:
- To the dedicated IrDA connector on the motherboard. Many companies complete their products with them. In this case, when choosing a device, try to stick to one manufacturer of these products. Read the instructions carefully and consultseller.
- Some types of transceivers are designed to work with COM-
- And, finally, the last way to connect the infrared port is the USB connector. This is the most convenient and safe - in terms of software and hardware compatibility - way to connect. Usually, in this case, the system itself recognizes the connected IR transmitter and starts working.
connector.
It should also be noted that this type of data transfer is rather capricious and requires careful treatment. For this connection to work properly, both the IR port and the transceiver must be isolated from all possible interference. Consider the following factors:
- Direct sunlight.
- Lighting from fluorescent lamps.
- Influence of nearby and turned on devices that have a similar principle of operation: remote control, video camera, radiotelephone, etc.
Besides the above disadvantages, communication via infrared is limited in distance. As practice shows, a stable connection appears at a distance of no more than 10 centimeters, and disappears completely when more than 1 meter away.
But, despite all the shortcomings, this method turned out to be quite popular and competed well with a wired connection. It was used to operate devices such as printers, scanners, mobile phones, etc.
Using the services of your mobile operator, you can connect to the Internet by installing GPRS-compound. It is quite expensive, but justifies itself on travel or long business trips. That is, wherever you need a permanent connection to the Internet ("unlimited" in time) and a small incoming / outgoing traffic (since payment is charged for it). The ISP in this case is a company that provides mobile services.
An excellent alternative for IrDA is Bluetooth. Devices equipped with it have excellent noise immunity, good connection speed. They can work at a distance of several tens of meters from each other.
