APA-93XX Common Questions and Answers Q: What is the APA-9320? A: The APA-9320 is an infrared adapter for desktop PC's. It connects directly to your serial communications port (COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4) on your PC. This adapter is part of the AIRport 2000 infrared adapter kit. Using the TranXit software, a user can perform wireless file transfers between their desktop and another computer with infrared capabilities. Contact Adaptec Inside Sales for a data sheet on our infrared products at 1-800-959-7274. Q: What operating systems are supported for the Adaptec AIRport products? A: The AIRport products are only supported in Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11. Q: I just installed the TranXit software on my computer? How do I configure the software for infrared? A: After the TranXit v1.03 is installed, you must configure it to support infrared. 1) Launch TranXit from Windows by double clicking on the TranXit icon. 2) From the menu bar, select Configuration Setup. 3) From the Configuration Setup screen select Infrared for connection type. 4) Double click on the Change Connection Setup button. 5) Using the scroll bar, select Adaptec Airport for the model type. 6) Select Variable mode. 7) Select the COM port where the Adaptec infrared device is physically connected on your computer. 8) Click the okay button to accept your settings. Note: Make sure that the "Advanced port settings" for the selected COM port matches your actual hardware settings on your serial i/o adapter. Refer to your serial i/o adapter manual if you are not sure of your irq and port address settings for COM1, COM2, COM3 and COM4. Q: I own a notebook that has built-in infrared. My notebook came pre- installed with infrared software. Will I be able to transfer files from my notebook to my desktop computer which has an Adaptec infrared adapter attached? A: Adaptec infrared adapters are only compatible with the TranXit file transfer program. It will not work with any other 3rd party infrared file transfer programs. Q: How do I know whether my two infrared adapters have established a connection? A: The "New Window" icon in the TranXit software will colorize, indicating a connection has be established between the two computers. Q: After the "New Window" icon has colorized/highlighted, how do I start transferring files from one computer to the other? A: File transfer between two computers under the TranXit software is the same as using Windows File Manager. With your mouse select the "New Window" icon on one of the two computers and that computer will become the "master". The "master" will have full control over the remote computer to create/delete directories, copy/delete files or to view files. Only one computer can be the "master". On the remote computer, a box will appear letting the user know a connection has been made and is being controlled by another computer. On the "master" computer, you will see a "split" window, containing the directory tree of the remote and the master computer. To copy a file from one computer to the other, use your mouse to select the file to copy, then drag the file to its new location on the remote computer. Q: How does ambient light affect my infrared adapter's ability to transfer files? A: Ambient infrared light should be avoided as it may disrupt data trans- mission. Direct sunlight contains infrared as one of its elements. Q: I accidentally obstructed or moved one of my infrared devices during a file transfer session. Will I have to start my data transfer all over again? A: Not necessarily, because TranXit has built-in error correction. If TranXit disconnects then yes, you will have to resume file transfer from the point of disconnection. Avoid placing your infrared adapters where physical obstructions will affect data transmission. Typically obstructions lasting over 5 seconds will result in a disconnection between two communicating devices. Q: Will the APA-93xx still transfer files if the baud rate settings in the TranXit software are different on both computers? A: Yes, if TranXit is running in variable mode as opposed to fixed mode. In variable mode, the TranXit software negotiates between the two baud rate settings and performs data transfers at the lower of the two speeds. Q: What is the difference between fixed and variable mode in the TranXit software? Will it run any faster if I select one mode over the other? A: The basic difference between fixed vs. variable mode is that in fixed mode, both computers must be configured to communicate at the same baud rate. In variable mode, TranXit will negotiate data communications at the lower of the two baud rates. Use fixed mode only if you are having problems establishing a connection between your computers. Typically you want to configure the TranXit software to run under the variable mode. Regardless of whether you chose fixed vs. variable mode, both computers must be configured using the same mode type (i.e. fixed/fixed or (variable/variable). Data communications will not occur between your two infrared devices if TranXit is configured for different mode types. Q: I am running Windows in Standard mode and I noticed that TranXit does not work. What's wrong? A: TranXit will not run in Standard mode. Q: What is the minimum and maximum distance that the two infrared devices can be apart? A: Under COM port power, the minimum and maximum distance between infrared adapters are 0-1 meter. Using AC or battery power, the distance between each infrared adapter can be 0-2+ meters. Q: Does the Adaptec infrared software support print redirection? A: The current version of TranXit 1.03 which ships with Adaptec infrared adapters do not support print redirection. Print redirection which allows users to redirect a print job to a remote computer with an attached printer will be available in the next release of the TranXit software. Q: How do I check if my COM port is supplying enough power to the infrared adapter? A: Unfortunately our current models do not have an LED indicator on the device to let a user know if the infrared device is receiving enough COM port power. If you are having problems establishing a connection or experience "dropped" connections when the two infrared devices are very far apart then try the following suggestions: - Try applying AC power to the APA-9315/APA-9320 - Move the two infrared devices closer together - Reduce the baud rate. Q: I am using batteries to supply power to my APA-9320. How come the life of my batteries seems to diminish after 30 days of use? A: Make sure that you are using alkaline batteries. Under constant data transfer of large files, expect battery life to decrease. On the average, you can expect alkaline batteries to last about 70 days before replacement is required. Make sure to exit the TranXit software when not performing file transfers. The TranXit software will draw power from the APA-9320 even if no data communication is taking place. File revised: 9/21/95 Document # W39220