Mac users: Which IrDA is Mac-friendly?

[mislav]

Need help with this from fellows Mac users: I can't find an infra red adapter that works with Mac OS X. I need this info to be able to connect my Mac with a dive computer. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

All help is appreciated, thanks.

 

[Vie]

IR721 Hoya iRwave USB2.0 IrDA adapter.

http://www.irwave.com.tw/ProductShow.asp?Pno=IR721&CatalogNo=0001

 

[maractwin]

I'm starting to work on this problem as well. Hopefully I'll be able to come up with a driver for some USB-IrDA dongles available in the US. I'll post something here if I'm successful.

-Mark

 

[mislav]

I still haven't found a compatible IR interface locally, but I will start looking again now that I have some new info.

Frobese, the authors of JTrak software have replied to my e-mail:

I can't suggest a product directly, because the IRDA-chipset itself is important for the compability with JTrak, not the actual product. JTrak is working under MAC OS X with the KC-180 and sigmatel4210 chipsets. Since the sigmatel4210 is kinda new, most interface have it build in by now.
Uwatec will be selling a compatible interface over their website too in the near future.

Hope this helps others too. I will post again once (if) I find the working IR.

 

[maractwin]

In my researches I've found two different controller chips so far.

Some dongles use a Moschip adapter. They've got a Mac driver published at http://www.moschip.com/html/download_drivers.html for the MCS7720, MCS7780, and MCS7730. I haven't actually gotten my hands on a dongle using one of these yet to see if the driver works. Supposedly Syba brand adapters (see http://www.buyextras.com/syfaspusbira.html) use these chips.

Sigmatel is another brand of controller chips. I purchased a StarTech USB2IR dongle (see http://www.startech.com/Product/ItemSpecs.aspx?productid=USB2IR&c=US) which uses a STI4200 chip. I've got the datasheet on this chip, and am considering writing my own driver for it. I didn't ask for the datasheet on the STI4210, so I don't know how it is different.

-Mark

 

[mislav]

It would be great if you could write a driver to support 4200 chip on OS X. Sigmatel simply states on their site that they don't support OS X through this chip and that's it. They have a driver for 4210 somewhere I think.

 

[maractwin]

A quick update. I've got a Cables Unlimited IrDA Wireless Bridge http://www.cablesunlimited.com/products/Prod_Individual3.aspx?groupcode=I3278 which appears to work with the MCS7780 driver from http://www.moschip.com/html/download_drivers.html I don't have an Uwatec dive computer yet to see if that will work, but the test application appears cable of opening a connection.

-Mark

 

[mislav]

Is this one sporting a Sigmatel 4200 chipset, too?

No luck here yet. I've bought at least 6 different models of IR adapters, but unbelievably they all have that same dreaded chipset and won't work on a Mac.

I've tried Connex, Bandridge and some other brands of IR which I can't remember their names at the moment, but to no avail. I'm stuck. I'll keep looking, but so far it's a no go.

Needless to say every one of those IRs works without a problem on my PC. But I don't like the PC.

 

[maractwin]

Is this one sporting a Sigmatel 4200 chipset, too?

No, it's the Moschip MCS7780.

I used internet research to find that info before going to my local computer store to buy one. Pick a random manufacturer of IrDA dongles, go to their website and download the drivers for their device, unpack the installer and look at the filenames. Usually there's a sti4200.dll or mcs7780.dll in the Windows zip file, which identifies the controller chip they use.

-Mark

 

[IGM]

Hi,

Have you been able to find an IrDA and driver that work with a MAC?

Thanks for your help,

IG-DIVE