What USB to IrDA device do you use with JTrak on Mac?

[Vie]

I am using an Apple PowerBook G4 (OS X 10.2.8) - I am trying to figure out what kind of external infrared adapter/external USB to IrDA adapter works best with JTrak (download software for UWATEC dive computers).

If anyone knows what I am talking about, I would greatly appreciate your help/advice.

Thank you.

 

[LAJim]

Calling all Mac users. Let's solve this dive computer download problem once and for all.

The JTrak software is a free download:
http://www.frobese.de/JTrak/en/jtrak.html

The problem is connecting the Mac to the dive computer using IrDA (old IR wireless standard). Last night I tried using an old (ca. 2001) titanium powerbook with a built in IrDA port to connect to my UWATEC Smart TEC dive computer. No luck.

Tonight I'm going to use a new IrDA to USB dongle from a third-party vendor on a new G5 power mac. First step will be seeing whether the G5 will recognize the IrDA to USB.

I'm also loosely in e-mail contact with the devleoper of JTrac ("we are working on supporting more adapters") and I plan to write UWATEC.

I'm pretty good with modern wi-fi connectivity (built a sophisticated network in my house) but I've been stymied on this so far. Not ready to quit but hoping someone will answer the call. Is this a solved problem?

Jim

 

[Goose75]

If you have a PDA you can dump through the IR port to it and then move it over to the computer later. I do that on my IBM clone since I don't have an IR port for it. It also allows me to take the PDA on trips instead of towing the laptop.

I wrote UWATEC several times asking questions on traveltrak and never received a response. I hope you have better luck.

 

[scububa]

I use the same approach. Mostly because I had the PDA already. I already have a Polar IR dongle also that is incompatible with my SmartPro. This is all PC based. But, I know folks that sync a PDA to a Mac. So, seems like it would be the same.

Jim

If you have a PDA you can dump through the IR port to it and then move it over to the computer later. I do that on my IBM clone since I don't have an IR port for it. It also allows me to take the PDA on trips instead of towing the laptop.

I wrote UWATEC several times asking questions on traveltrak and never received a response. I hope you have better luck.

 

[LAJim]

Power Mac G5 with third party IrDA dongle is a no-go. More experimentation in progress. Failure is not an option...

Jim

 

[LAJim]

Latest News:

I found a very similar thread on the MacRumors forum:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=125193&highlight=IrDA

The thread ends with the apparent discovery of a solution, a specific USB to IrDA that works on a Mac and a download site for a driver. The dongle is for sale in the UK, but the link to the driver appears to be expired.

Still looking at this ... but also thinking about diving ... instead of working on a computer problem.

Jim

 

[orange_diver]

bought this off of Clubmac...so you'd think it was mac compatible...then you'd be wrong like me...even their website lists it as only windows compatible...they do offer some other models that are mac compatible but i have yet to try them...too busy disputing my credit card charges with clubmac...horrible customer service...

it was attempted on a 800Mhz iBook G4 and i know my way around macs...

a.

 

[DOOHOG]

Hi all Mac / Uwatec users
I have been talking to Eric Shulte of uwatec he sent me a bafo #7030 irda (it sucks as well). According to Dirk in Switzerland the Jtrack guys they are still trying to work a solution out. Has anyone had success down loading Jtract to a palm and using the palm with the dive computer?

one very frustrated DOOHOG (SKI PATROL /SNOWMOBILE HOG)

 

[LAJim]

Update:

I'm still pushing this. One thing that I did over the weekend was instal the UWATEC software on a PC at a LDS (Hollywood Divers). We spent sometime playing with the software and concluded that it is QUITE A BIT better than JTrak. So, this makes me wonder if running Windows on Virtual PC to run the UWATEC software might be a way to go. I have partial success on some of the other possibilities - but nothing I'm ready to post. I might not get to work on this again until Sunday - but I do expect to come up with a solution.

Longer range I have to believe that the Mac on Intel harware will provide a better Windows solution. Apple and Microsoft are being very quiet about what it will be. This does nothing to help people with G4/G5 Macs. Also my recent experience with IrDA is that it is such a poor way for devices to communicate that I have to believe that UWATEC will dump it for a modern standard eventually, leaving us with a truly obscure hardware/software issue.

Jim

 

[orange_diver]

hey jim:

i tried for more than a few hours to get my G4 iBook running Virtual PC7 to recognize the smart tec using a BAFO 7010. no dice. at this point i dont even care about the log function, i'm so fed up. i just want to be able to turn off all the incredibly annoying audible beeps every two seconds...i do love the computer btw, even tho i had to send it back after 14 dives b/c it was reading my air pressure as 350 PSI lower then it actually was...at least it was erring on the side of safety!

on another note, ive been meaning to take a trip to hollywood divers (im in santa monica)...they sound like a good operation...what do u think of them?