the $1 infrared solution for your pc

posted Apr 9th 2005 10:15am by Vince Veneziani
filed under: pcs hacks, peripherals hacks

IR Transmitter

infrared comes on a lot of cool devices, but not everyone has a transmitter/reciever to take advantage of it. well now you can and for about a buck. just make sure your pc has room for an IR port. if it does, you’ll need to pick up the following to get going:
+An infrared LED, an infrared photo-diode
+Two BC548 transistors
+A 10 nF capacitor
+A 4K7 resistor, a 47 K resistor, a 15K resistor, a 22 ohm resistor and a 1 K resistor (all of them 1/8 W)

That’s it aside from your trusty soldering gun and a lil’ solder. Wire it up, connect it, and start waving your cellphone, palmone, or whatever it is with IR around to have windows recognize it!

thanks [captain]

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Comments [46]

Reader Comments

Very cool. Now, what does one have to do to connect this to a non-windows based motherboard (e.g. an Apple motherboard)? What about getting it recognized in Linux?

I also wonder how hard it is to now give more power (range) for controlling other devices?

Posted at 11:11 am on Apr 9th, 2005 by Andrew turner

What about the PSP?

Posted at 11:22 am on Apr 9th, 2005 by CDog

Thanks, just what I was looking for :-D (And I just bought a solder iron Friday)

Posted at 11:55 am on Apr 9th, 2005 by Ice

can anyone confirm that the 2N2222A NPN transistor is a valid substitute for the bc548? my research suggests so, but i was hoping for techie confirmation. additionally, does anyone know if this device can be used to control apps with an ir-remote?

Posted at 12:27 pm on Apr 9th, 2005 by brian d

I researched Mac USB IrDA info a few weeks ago and here’s what I found:

Complete Mac USB IrDA hardware and software solution (though it’s a bit pricey) – see http://www.filewell.com/iRed/

Bafo Technologies makes 2 USB IrDA adapters that are Mac compatable (BF-7030/BF-7040) – see http://www.bafo.com/pro.asp?prod1idno=4&prod2idno=7&prod2name1=IrDA

Sigmatel make 3 USB IrDA chipsets that are Mac compatable (4210/4220/4116), but I couldn’t find anyone selling USB IrDA adapters with these chipsets – see http://www.sigmatel.com/products/stir4210pb.htm

I don’t think current Mac hardware has IrDA connections on the motherboard. The last Mac desktop that shipped with IrDA was the original 233 MHz iMac in 1998 AFAIK. Apple removed IrDA from the iMac in 1999 with the introduction of the 266 MHz iMac.

Posted at 1:16 pm on Apr 9th, 2005 by Forrest

I’d go ahead and try subbing the 2N2222 for the BC548. I’ll be very surprised if it didn’t work.

Posted at 2:57 pm on Apr 9th, 2005 by David Moisan

DANG, that site is awesome. turn a geforceMX to a quadro. use a cdrom in your car(im listening to a seperate cdrom now, powered by another powersupply, lol). alot of cool stuff on there.

Posted at 3:14 pm on Apr 9th, 2005 by tweaq

btw could you use this (and the irda port) and use a remote to control your pc. like those other IR projects you can build using the serial port.

Posted at 3:15 pm on Apr 9th, 2005 by tweaq

Not to be nitpicky, but where does the “$1″ come from? I just priced this stuff (albeit, Radio Shack) and the project came to about $12.00. Is there somewhere else I should be picking up my things, or did I overlook something?

Posted at 4:31 pm on Apr 9th, 2005 by rkmase

rkmase: really depends on who you are and where you would get your stuff.

Radioshack is over priced, and chances are they are making you buy multiple pieces all shrink rapped etc.

At my local elec store its 50c cdn for 10 resistors (2.50), maybe 80c for each ir led (1.60), transistors 50c or less, cap 50c for 5.

So if you go to a proper electronics store its prob about 6-9$, and your getting extra parts.

imo most of these parts are common and I probably have most of them.

You are right though 1$ is way under.

Posted at 4:56 pm on Apr 9th, 2005 by thomas

rkmase: mouser.com or digikey.com much cheaper than radio shack but of course you have to pay shipping which is usually $5 or so.

This is nice but I scored a BAFO usb IrDA device for $5 after rebate sometime ago at PC Club but this is a nice thing to know about when doing custom PCs because I’ve yet to find anyone that sells these buggers already made for the headers that are included on the motherboard.

Posted at 5:10 pm on Apr 9th, 2005 by nate mc

Just a quick question if someone could email me a part number for something. Trying to price this out from RadioShack and cannot find an infrared photo-diode. Photo-transistors but I know they’re different. If cannot get from RadioShack, any suggestions, with part number, fo this? Thanks in advance!!

Posted at 5:26 pm on Apr 9th, 2005 by Nick

IR led’s are what you’re looking for

someone write a program so you could change the channel on the tv in the same room as your computer over the internet!!!

Posted at 6:45 pm on Apr 9th, 2005 by Ryan

#12’s right, you could technically combine this with the unsecurity cameras hack for some real fun, like making your friend think their house is haunted!!!

Posted at 7:13 pm on Apr 9th, 2005 by jacky boy

Talk about timing- I finished my first ciruit a month ago and am still looking for aome simple projects to do, PLUS I was just having problems getting my cell phone (cable)’s drivers to work properly this morning.

I haven’t cracked open the PC to find the interface yet, but I’m assuming it’s like the one for power/LEDs/etc. Does Mouser/Digikey sell the connectors for these (what would they be called?)

Posted at 10:11 pm on Apr 9th, 2005 by Elumguy

can someone show us how to add a microchip that cycles through tv ir codes so we can turn this thing into one of those tv-be-gone things. thanks.

Posted at 5:24 am on Apr 10th, 2005 by michael bloom

If you’re looking for a reciever (which wouldn’t be able to send data but cool all the same) in a similar style have a look at http://www.cesko.host.sk/girderplugin.htm

Posted at 6:09 am on Apr 10th, 2005 by TOM

Perhaps I’m wrong (and I could be — I’m not an electrical engineer), but doesn’t 22 ohms seem a bit low for the resistor in series with the IR LED?

Posted at 7:06 am on Apr 10th, 2005 by Karl

this thing is great, works like a charm, but has anyone seen plans for the RC6 protocol. I have some spare media center remotes but no reciever!!!

Posted at 11:51 am on Apr 10th, 2005 by Hogie

This is a great hack, but I think it bears saying that this is not a full IRDA implementation. It might be more appropriate to call this an IRDA dongle, because that’s what it is and also the word “dongle” is hilarious. Anyway, your motherboard must implement IRDA and have an IRDA connector with no IR LEDs, which is what this hack provides.

Posted at 2:07 pm on Apr 10th, 2005 by jason

Alright, my first project… just realized that all the resistors i purchased are 1/4 watt, instead of 1/8. are these still useable?

Posted at 2:24 pm on Apr 10th, 2005 by dongle

#18 you’re thinking of a simple linear circuit. If the 22ohms and the LED were just hooked between vcc and gnd then the current through it would be huge (( vcc – .7 ) / 22 ). However, in this case, the current is limited by the transistor so there is no need to worry.

Posted at 3:46 pm on Apr 10th, 2005 by Evan

dongle:

Yes they will be fine.

They will just be a bit larger and can take more power.

Posted at 4:21 pm on Apr 10th, 2005 by thomas

About the current limiting resistor: typical forward voltage drop for an IR LED is more like 1.3V, not .7V, and IR LED’s often have a higher forward current (100 mA isn’t uncommon) rating than typical visible LED’s. Another consideration is, the LED is being pulsed in this application, and a litle googling shows that IRDA specs specify a “maximum 25% duty-cycle return-to-zero pulse to limit power dissipation in the IR emitter”, so you can get away with slightly higher currents. 22 Ohms should be fine.

Posted at 12:58 pm on Apr 11th, 2005 by Raiku

Here is another similar project that I found a while ago http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Forum/4272/irdamake.htm

Posted at 3:16 pm on Apr 11th, 2005 by mrklaw

A note to people who want to control a tv, AFAIK this is IrDA only, not the same as what standard TV remotes use. The IrDA protocol is much faster than that of a standard TV Remote.

Those looking to control a TV from a computer or vise versa should look at http://www.girder.nl/indexold.php. I have been using Girder for many years and it will do anything you can think of. I have been using it to enable the multimedia keys on my keyboard.

Posted at 4:56 pm on Apr 11th, 2005 by tOMTHEGEEK

which led & photodiode do i have to use? (product number?)

greetzz,, sjoerd

Posted at 3:38 am on Apr 14th, 2005 by dreojs

Do i just buy a regular board to hhok this all up to? and when im finished, how do i connect it
? thank you very much.

Posted at 10:27 pm on May 14th, 2005 by Chad

Pls help…..
I m using Intel motherboard SE440BX-2
I think I have assembled circuit properly but when connect to motherboard window fails to recognise Irda.
somebody tell me any way to check circuit or the procedure to recognizing this Irda as new hardware on motherboard or if there any bios settings are needed. thanks

Posted at 12:07 am on May 15th, 2005 by zufi

im exactly with 28 those are both of my questions

Posted at 5:26 pm on May 22nd, 2005 by mike

can be used resistors of 1/4 w?

Posted at 6:33 pm on May 29th, 2005 by Cerot

if this recognizes any infrared ports around it and then tells you about access, then is it possible to make a one way port to a psp..the reason it would be one way is because there is no software out that uses the psps infrared port.

Posted at 3:13 pm on Jun 3rd, 2005 by john

Yeah I built this today and it’s not recognising for me either.
I’ve measured it through, all the parts are ok & I’m getting the correct voltage on all the connectors, bios settings are correct too.

I did cut the following corners;
- used 1/2W resistors (shouldn’t matter?)
- didn’t have any 15k reistors so used a 10k & a 4k7 (shouldn’t matter either?)

I’m also using a phototransistor instead of a photodiode. Could that be the problem? The LED in the pic looks like one aswell though.
Any help?

Posted at 9:05 am on Jun 16th, 2005 by zombietoast

about the only way this would cost a dollar is if you already had some of the parts laying around or if some place will actually sell you 1 resistor — the capacitor alone will cost you at least 50 cents. by the time I did the min order on mouser.com, i’m looking at about $17 — that’s not even including a way to hook it to the mobo [my guess would be a ribbon cable with the plastic connector]. wow… $17 just to have a piece of crap hanging out of my comp, sitting on my desk.

IMO, just go pick up a usb irda for about $16. This is NOT a $1 project.

Posted at 4:35 am on Jun 24th, 2005 by bubba ho-tep

A comment for the last guy that added a comment (bubba ho-tep). Why do you have to go and add negative comments? 1$ project is just a figure of speech. Do you really have so much time on your hands that you go looking for things to complain about?

Posted at 11:12 pm on Jul 17th, 2005 by Denis

hello can anyone send me the circuit diagram and tell how to connect to mb.

Posted at 10:20 am on Jul 26th, 2005 by Jibu

could this be connected via usb? i just got a usb connector for the usb battery but it would be so much better as a usb connector :D anyone know what needs to go where to connect them up?

Posted at 1:09 pm on Aug 2nd, 2005 by J3bu

i would like to know what other alternative transistors i could use..
and the spots that you are suppose to connect it to.. i found them on a realy old sound card of mine..would it work the same?

Posted at 10:52 pm on Sep 10th, 2005 by Curtis

I’m no expert when it comes to electronics, so bare with me and correct me if I’m wrong. USB uses four wires: +5volts, Gnd, TX, RX. So in theory if I connect up the right cables, it will work (no drivers though)?

Posted at 5:19 am on Oct 25th, 2005 by NickInZim

i’m confused wheather to use a Polarized or nonpolarizd Capacitor? please help me.

Posted at 3:22 am on Oct 27th, 2005 by krish

no prob my circuit working well with my SE K300i
mobile. Really a good and cheap IrDA circuit.
GR8.

Can we connect it via USB port? please update me.

Posted at 1:16 am on Oct 28th, 2005 by krish

no prob my circuit working well with my SE K300i
mobile. Really a good and cheap IrDA circuit.
GR8.

Can we connect it via USB port? please update me.

Posted at 1:17 am on Oct 28th, 2005 by krish

http://www.ocinside.de/go_e.html?/html/modding/usb_ir_receiver/solder_usb_ir_receiver.html

Posted at 5:45 am on Jan 8th, 2006 by bumsk

great circuit

can it be connected via usb?
Please tell me.

Posted at 6:41 am on Feb 25th, 2006 by Joshua

Anyone have got diagram circuit it?
Please send to me pchilong@yahoo.com
Thank

Posted at 11:13 am on Mar 16th, 2006 by printer

is there any software 4 the psp yet that uses IR?

Posted at 3:20 am on May 30th, 2006 by marshal

the $1 infrared solution for your pc

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