IBM ThinkPad 380 or 380D User's Guide

Communicating with the Infrared Port

Using the Infrared Communication Feature

To install the infrared device driver:
"Installing Software".

Note:
Mbps: Megabits per second

Your computer is equipped with an infrared (IR) communication feature that allows point-to-point communication with other ThinkPad computers or systems equipped with an infrared port.

The infrared feature supports the IrDA **  mode at a data transfer speed of up to 4 Mbps. Your computer can communicate with a device that has a compatible infrared port, such as another ThinkPad, a Hewlett-Packard **  100LX ** , 200LX ** , Omnibook ** , or other IrDA-compliant systems.

To enable the infrared port, use the ThinkPad Features program:

• If you are using OS/2 or Windows, click on the
  Infrared () icon in the ThinkPad Features window.

• If you are using DOS, type PS2 ? IR at the command prompt; then press Enter for more information.

Considerations for Communication

Consider the following when communicating with the infrared port:

• When communicating between the infrared port and an infrared port on another computer, the infrared ports on the computers must face each other directly at a communicating distance.
  
  

• You need to run the same communication application on both computers to communicate between your computer and another computer device. Refer to the application manuals for more information.

• Run only one communication application for the infrared port at a time.

• The communicating distance might need to be less if:

  • The other system is not the same model as your computer.

  • There is interference from ambient light. Do not use infrared communication under bright sunshine. Light from a certain type of fluorescent lamps can also interfere with communication.

  • The infrared port is not directly facing the other communicating port.

• Headphones or audio-visual devices that use infrared may interfere with your communication. You might hear noise through the headphones, or the computer might not be able to communicate with other devices through the infrared port.