Does anybody know of a third-party IrDA control? Such a control does exist
in Microsoft's EVB and I've used it successfully to communicate between 2
pocket PC's (iPaq's in this instance), but I would also like to communicate
between a PC (or laptop) running a VB6 app and the pocket PC via IrDA.

(Raw infrared communication is possible only if an Ir "dongle" is used on a
serial port, or on Win9x OS's. Win2000 and above do not expose the Ir port
as a com port, so MSCOMM does not work there even though the Ir hardware is
physically connected to a com port resource. It gives an error, "Port not
available" if you try to open it. Although, as I said, it works with Win9x.)

Thanks,
Ed Schwartz

I think an IR adapter for a standard port is the only way.  The advanced
OS's see the an IR port as a network device, not a comport.

--
Richard Grier  (Microsoft Visual Basic MVP)
Hard & Software
12962 West Louisiana Avenue
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Author of Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to Serial Communications, 3nd
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For information look on my homepage at http://www.hardandsoftware.net.
Use the Books link to order.  For faster service contact the publisher at
http://www.mabry.com/vbpgser .

However, I was asking about an "IrDA control" (not raw) which is a
multi-layered network protocol. That should be doable within the Windows
2000+ OS's. Such a control should be able to be designed in C++. So if
anyone has heard of such a control, please advise (I'm sure a lot of people
would be interested.

Thanks,
Ed Schwartz

However, I was asking about an "IrDA control" (not raw) which is a
multi-layered network protocol. That should be doable within the Windows
2000+ OS's. Such a control should be able to be designed in C++. So if
anyone has heard of such a control, please advise (I'm sure a lot of people
would be interested.
<<

You are right, it should be possible.  I haven't seen anything like this,
though.  Sorry.

--
Richard Grier  (Microsoft Visual Basic MVP)

See www.hardandsoftware.net for contact information.

Author of Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to Serial Communications, 3rd
Edition ISBN 1-890422-27-4 (391 pages) published February 2002.

By the way, there is an article by Michael S. Heydt from the May, 1999 issue
of Microsoft Internet Developer magazine titled: "Get Your Windows CE Device
Talking With IrDA" Here's the link:
http://www.*-*-*.com/
&nav=/mind/0599/inthisissuecolumns0599.htm
(It's also the first hit when searching Yahoo for "Michael S. Heydt".)

With difficulty he was able to get a Windows 2000 beta 2 platform working
with IrDA. Read the article, but he says, "...there was basically no SDK
support for programming WinSock using IrDA on the Windows 2000 beta 2
Platform SDK, nor in Visual C++ 6.0. To be able to program WinSock to use
IrDA you need to add several things to your development environment; I've
included them all with the sample apps, available from the download at the
top of this page."

I am trying to get his email address to find out more: If any additions have
been made to the SDK to allow control developers to make such a control for
VB6 to use IrDA, although a knowledgeable developer could do workarounds
now, as did Mr. Heydt. If anyone knows anything about this, I would greatly
appreciate a reply. I'm sure there is a market for such a control.

Ed