USB to IrDA Mini Adapter

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Julie

September 26, 2003

Product Requirements:
Device:
Pocket PCs, Palm PDAs, etc.

When you are a gadget maven like myself, you tend to have a rats nest of cables all over your desk. A cradle for PDA #1 and #2, sync cables for PDA #3 and #4, etc. etc.. While I know that most of you only have 1 PDA, this next product can still make your life a little simpler... and at the very least, it will add a point to your gadgeteer cool index.

The USB to IrDA mini Adapter from Brando's Workshop, is a small USB 1.1 module (2in long) that will allow you to wirelessly sync and / or trade files with your Pocket PC and / or Palm PDA.

In the package you will find the adapter, instruction sheet, mini CD with drivers for Windows 98 users, and a 23in USB extension cable.

To use the adapter, you first have to plug it into a free USB port. Windows XP users will be happy to know that the adapter is Plug and Play. No drivers will need to be installed from a CD. However, Windows 98 users will need to install drivers. They are in luck though, as the included CD has the files they need.

Once the IR adapter is plugged in, you can then Hotsync or ActiveSync a Palm or Pocket PC respectively. To Hotsync, you'll need to go into the Hotsync settings on your PC (right click on the Hotsync icon in the task tray) and click on the Infrared option. Then on your PDA, you will need to go into the Hotsync settings and chose IR to a PC/Handheld. Tap the Hotsync button the screen, and away you go!

For Pocket PCs, you have to do a little extra work... First you must select the Allow Serial or Infrared Connection option in the ActiveSync settings. You do this by ight clicking on the ActiveSync icon in the task tray. Next you need to setup a new network connection on your PC. To do this, you click START->CONTROL PANEL->NETWORK CONNECTIONS. From there you click on Create New Connection. A wizard will lead you through the rest of the process. Once this is done, it's just a matter of tapping on the ActiveSync icon on your Pocket PC and selecting the Connect via IR option.

ActiveSync settings

New Connection Wizard screenhotss:

One thing that is kind of cool is that the IR module knows when another IR device is in range. It is constantly polling for other IR devices. You can see this by watching the very small green LED on the top of the adapter. It will blink as it is polling. When it does find a device, an icon will appear in the task tray. You can double click on the icon and it will pull up a file browser which will let you transfer files directly to the device. This works great for the Pocket PC as you do not have to go through the whole ActiveSync process if you just want to copy a file to the device.

Setup for both types of PDAs is pretty easy. It did take me a little while to figure out that I had to create a new Network Connection when I wanted to test the module with my Pocket PC, but once I did, it was smooth sailing from there. Syncing is pretty quick. Not as quick as USB, but not bad at all. For example, using the USB cradle, it takes approximately 1 minute and 10 seconds to sync my HP 2215. Using the IR adapter, it takes 1minute and 35 seconds.

According to Brando's site, the IR range for the module is 1 meter. In my testing, I found that my PDA needed to be within 5-8 inches to make a good connection.

Some people might think that syncing using IR is needless when you already have a cradle that syncs and charges. For me, I use the IR adapter on my machine at work. I think it is an easy way to add syncing ability without cluttering up my area with more cables.

 

Price: $28.00

Pros:
Small
Easy to use
Wireless syncing and file transferring

Cons:
None