Palm OS 3.3 (and higher) has built in support for Hotsync IR operations. Go to HS Manager and select sync via IR port and start the HotSync. For more information about IR Hotsync operations with Palm OS 3.3, see the How to Perform an IR HotSync Operation knowledgebase article or to the main Palm Knowledge Library page and search for "IR HotSync" for more information.
If you don't have OS 3.3 installed (which you won't if you have a IIIe, VII, or Visor for sure... other models can be upgraded... see Palm OS 3.3 Upgrade page for more information) then you can use a third party program from IS/Complete OR try the following (NOTE: the following instructions WILL NOT WORK on the Handspring Visor units. And I've no confirmation that the IS/Complete applications will work either. Contact Handspring for information about Hotsync via IR for more info...)...
On the PC side
- You need a laptop/computer with IR capability. Windows versions *AFTER* Windows 95 usually have this built-in, and configured properly.
- When Win95/98 boots it detects the IR port and sets up some COM ports that actually talk over IR. The problem is that it doesn't always set the COM port to be between COM1-COM4. But HotSync can only use COM1-COM4
- Check to see what COM port the IR port is pretending to be - double click on 'Infrared' option in control panel and click the 'options' tab. If its COM1-COM4 then skip 5 and 6
- If it says anything other than COM1-COM4 then go to 'System Properties' and click the 'Device Manager' option and remove all reference to Infrared and virtual ports. Usually this means removing the following devices
- Infrared Communication Device
- Virtual Infrared COM port
- Virtual Infrared LPT port
- When Windows boots again it will detect the Infrared port, it will give you the option of changing default settings. Try and change the COM port to be in the range COM1-COM4. However keep in mind that COM1 is probably the physical COM port, you may also have a physical COM2 and you PCMCIA card may be COM3 or COM4.
On the Palm (OS 3.2 and lower)
*** Warning *** Again, This will not work on the Handspring Visor. DO NOT attempt this on those units.
1) You need to install the patch that updates the IR capabilities on the Palm. Location at the time of writing is
http://www.palm.com/support/downloads/irenhanc.html
This is a later version that the IR update that IBM offers. 3COM explicitly say that the patch does not offer HotSync capabilities of IR - this appears to be a load of rubbish.
2) Install the patch on the Palm (ie, via the cradle). Follow the instructions in the patch.
3) If it doesn't ask you to reset then do so.
4) OK back at the PC - right click on the HotSync toolbar icon and choose setup. Click the 'Local' tab and select the COM port that the IR device is pretending to be.
5) Still on the PC - go to the Control Panel and select the 'Infrared' option. Select all tick boxes, but limit the connection speed to 38.4kbps.
6) On the Palm go to 'Prefs' and select 'Serial/IR' from the drop-down. Choose 'Serial via Infrared'
7) Now the moment of truth - point your Palm at the Infrared port and choose the 'HotSync' application and then do a Local Sync
If all is OK it should light up and start HotSyncing. If all is OK you might want to try increasing the communication speed up from 38.4kbps to 57.6kbps.
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