IR Port on Laptop Use as Remote?

[reanimation_LP]

Does anyone know how to use the IR port on a laptop as a universal remote? I'd appericate it, I use my laptop on my bed while watchin TV and stuff, and would like to be able to change the channel and such thru the laptop, because I keep losing my remotes x.x

[Metae]

Good luck with this, I wanna see the outcome and maybe try to do it if you find instructions.

[dstone]

I've read somewhere that the IR ports on a laptop are not compatible with remotes. I've never been able to get mine to work (although, it is a USB addon). But that brings me to my next question: why would it not work on a laptop or pc yet work on a pocketpc or palm? They both can communicate with the laptop AND be used as a regular IR remote. I guess for now, we'll be stuck using something like this (http://www.usbuirt.com/) unless someone manages to make the IR transcievers on computers work.

[burchie2001]

MY IPAQ 2215 has a integrated universal remote and uses a program called nevo that will allow you to use it as a remote to control TV DVD etc.

[anode]

Kinda depends on what type of IR port it is. There are a few standards. It needs to be able to create a 34KHz (I think its 34, been a while) carrier signal. All my Palms can do it along with my old old old HP 100XL.
Do a google. I'm sure theres something out there. You could also just set up the ir com port for the correct speed and then just type the commands into hyperterminal Theough the start and stop bits would be tough. A remote uses manchester encoding (like morse code) and has a long start and sop bit.