Mac users: Which IrDA is Mac-friendly?

[mislav]

Hi, unfortunately Mac connection is still a no-go for me.

 

[IGM]

Thanks Mislav. I'll continue searching and keep you posted, if I do find a solution.

IG-Dive

 

[mislav]

Please do, and vice versa.

I got this e-mail from Dirk Frobese, from the makers of JTrak software for Mac. It might help you with your search. I quote it in its entirety:

Hi,

we are sorry about the trouble. The problem is, that apple does not support any Irda, so we have to implement the driver by ourself. There are plenty of Irda USB sticks, so we are focused on the Chipsets KC-180 and Sigmatel 4210.
Ask the provider, what kind of chipset is build inside, or you can look in the "about" menu of OSX and have a look in the USB-entry of the Irda-USB device. There you find the name of the manufactor of the chipset. We stay in contact with Uwatec and they will provide a new Irda adapter, wich works with JTrak.

Regards,
Dirk

 

[Steve_Dives]

Posted elsewhere, but...

Found the UWATEC download kit on LeisurePro one night after trying another store-bought USB IRDA. For US$70, I feel exploited. (For US$79 you can get a new iPod Shuffle!) You get a 3 foot cable, the IR device (size of my pinky finger down to the second knuckle), and the mini-CD. One of the other IR devices I tried cost about $8 and included a cable. But it arrived today, and it was able to download my SmartCom.

The driver was not available on UWATEC's website. Using System Profiler the device shows up as a SigmaTel 4210.

 

[mislav]

Posted elsewhere, but...

Again, thanks for this info. It's very helpful.

 

[Chris H]

Before the Uwatec model was availbale, I purchased a Belkin Brand IrDA adapter from Europe on Ebay. Apparently Belkin didn't sell them in the USA.
I have an inexpensive Ebay IrDA adapter that works in Windoze(Smart trak) but not Mac (J-Trak). However, I now use Smart Trak on my Mac with Boot Camp.

 

[mislav]

I've finally gotten hold of the original - Uwatec IrDa USB adapter and at last it works!

I've tested it on an Intel MacBook and PowerMac G4 and also iMac G4 and it works on all of them. JTrak is no match for SmarTrak, but it does transfer profiles...

 

[Rocha]

Just to give you guys another option, I got this adapter:

Bafo Technology BF-7030 USB 2.0 to IrDA Fast Infrared Adapter

And it downloads dives from my Aladin Prime and Smart Pro on my Mac Book Pro (Intel) using jTrak with no problem. It also works on windows...

 

[mislav]

Thanks Luiz, seems like a cheaper alternative to the original adapter without sacrificing any quality. Always nice to have such an option.

 

[Czartini]

I can get the link to open, can you check and let me know