Infrared

Is infrared universal?

My laptop has an infrared port, which I have yet to use for anything. I'd like to get one of those mini travel-size wireless mice. I am assuming that they use infrared, and probably come with some sort of USB dongle that resembles a thumb-drive.

Is infrared universal in that if I have a wireless infrared device within close proximity of my laptop, assuming the laptops infrared port is configured properly, will my laptop automatically recognize the device? If not, can my laptop possibly be configured (there is a wireless device or something like that icon in my Control Panel) to use the mouse. I would just like to avoid using the dongle if possible.


Thanks,

Steve

 

Infa red is the same as light and can only travel in straight lines,to use the infa red on your laptop you have to hold an infa red device in a straight line close up and hold it there for it to communicate,the mouse will most probably communicate to the pc through radio waves via a usb dongle you plug into the back.

 

Ok, let me rephrase this...
In my Control Panel, I've got an icon for "Wireless Link"

Under the Hardware tab of Wireless Link, there is a box that lists devices (currently there are none).

What is this icon for? Will it allow me to use a wireless mouse without needing a wireless dongle-type adapter plugged inot the USB port?


Thanks,

Steve

 

Normally a wireless mouse is going to use a radio frequency that is tuned to the dungle that comes with it. Most vendors use the same frequency for these mice. Unless the wireless mouse is infrared it will not work with the port on the laptop. Another thing is the location of the infrared port, infrared MUST maintain line of sight with the device it is communicating with. Moving the mouse around will most likely break that line of sight.

If your infrared port is activated you can communicate with another device, such as another laptop that has it activated. Normally it is used for file transfers between machines, but you won't find to many infrared devices to use because it has become some what of a fading technology.

 

OK. Makes sense.



Thanks guys.

Steve