What networking is possible over IRDA

ianeverett · 02-26-2006, 12:03 AM

Hi
I have a main PC with Win XP which happily does ICS and file/printer sharing with an older Win 98SE PC via an ethernet crossover cable. No probs. Net connection is USB/ADSL modem.

I am about to instal an USB/IRDA adapter on the main PC so that I can file transfer to my Win 98SE laptop via infrared.

Can anyone tell me what level of file/printer sharing is poss, and if I can access the internet connection.

Any hints and tips would be gratefully accepted.

Thanks

**leroys1000** · 02-26-2006, 08:30 AM

From my experienc,IRDA is only a file transfer connection.
It does not have the proper protocols or functionality
for a direct network connection,so can't connect to
the internet.
It is used to transfer and syncronize files between
2 devices,like a PC and a PDA/Laptop.
Windows XP has built in software for IRDA file transfers.
If you want internet access,your better off setting up
a wireless connection.
IRDA is also line of site,meaning the connecting device
has to be right in front of the PC port in order to connect.
Speeds for the connection can go up to 4MB per second,
But most of them run at the speed of a dialup connection.
Slow.

02-26-2006, 12:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
ianeverett Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 19 OS: Win XP/Win 2000	What networking is possible over IRDA Hi I have a main PC with Win XP which happily does ICS and file/printer sharing with an older Win 98SE PC via an ethernet crossover cable. No probs. Net connection is USB/ADSL modem. I am about to instal an USB/IRDA adapter on the main PC so that I can file transfer to my Win 98SE laptop via infrared. Can anyone tell me what level of file/printer sharing is poss, and if I can access the internet connection. Any hints and tips would be gratefully accepted. Thanks

02-26-2006, 08:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
leroys1000 Tech Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 770 OS: Windows XP	From my experienc,IRDA is only a file transfer connection. It does not have the proper protocols or functionality for a direct network connection,so can't connect to the internet. It is used to transfer and syncronize files between 2 devices,like a PC and a PDA/Laptop. Windows XP has built in software for IRDA file transfers. If you want internet access,your better off setting up a wireless connection. IRDA is also line of site,meaning the connecting device has to be right in front of the PC port in order to connect. Speeds for the connection can go up to 4MB per second, But most of them run at the speed of a dialup connection. Slow. __________________ There is a madness to my method.