Answers.Body: <p>As far as I remember, the protocol LEGO uses is incompatible with standard IR protocols used in PCs (not even the same frequency, if I remember correctly).</p>
  
  <p>The <a href="http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/nqc/doc/faq.html#irlaptop" rel="nofollow">NQC FAQ</a> has some more explanation on why it's not possible, but their short explanation says it all:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Quite simply, these protocols are incompatable. <em>(sic)</em></p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>You may have some success using a NXT brick and the <a href="http://www.hitechnic.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&amp;key=NIL1046" rel="nofollow">IRLink sensor</a>, but I'm not sure how far you can go (for example, I'm not even sure you can upload a firmware, and you need to be able to do that).</p>
  
  <p>The easiest way is to stick with the IR tower, and in addition of the serial-to-usb converter mentionned by Zhaph, don't forget there's a USB version of the IR tower available on Bricklink (see <a href="http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?itemID=70887" rel="nofollow">here</a> or <a href="http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?itemID=10759" rel="nofollow">here</a>).</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-02-09T05:36:44.920Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-02-14T12:36:44.403Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-02-14T12:36:44.403Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Body: <p>Can the RCX connect to a laptop with a IR reciver on it? I want to program my RCX on my computer, But i have no db9 (Lego RCX connecter for 1.0 tower) seriel connecter nor a converter.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-02-09T11:42:16.380Z
Comments.Text: There are converters available for serial to USB, I had to buy one last month for some networking kit.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-02-09T12:22:12.790Z
Comments.Text: And example of one such converter can be seen here: http://www.maplin.co.uk/usb-to-serial-9-pin-male-adaptor-29968
Comments.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-02-09T16:17:19.940Z
Comments.Text: I've been trying to get an RCX to talk to a serial IR tower using a usb/serial converter - without success. More here: http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/1099/rcx-firmware-download-problem
Comments.UserDisplayName: Andy Johnson
Tags: <compatibility><rcx>
Title: Can the RCX connect to infra-red on a computer?
UserDisplayName: zaabtoop
ThreadText: # Can the RCX connect to infra-red on a computer?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-02-08)
  
  Can the RCX connect to a laptop with a IR reciver on it? I want to program my RCX on my computer, But i have no db9 (Lego RCX connecter for 1.0 tower) seriel connecter nor a converter.
  
  **Tags:** compatibility, rcx
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: There are converters available for serial to USB, I had to buy one last month for some networking kit.  
  > **username_1**: And example of one such converter can be seen here: http://www.maplin.co.uk/usb-to-serial-9-pin-male-adaptor-29968  
  > **username_2**: I've been trying to get an RCX to talk to a serial IR tower using a usb/serial converter - without success. More here: http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/1099/rcx-firmware-download-problem  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2012-02-09. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
  
  As far as I remember, the protocol LEGO uses is incompatible with standard IR protocols used in PCs (not even the same frequency, if I remember correctly).
  
  The [NQC FAQ](http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/nqc/doc/faq.html#irlaptop) has some more explanation on why it's not possible, but their short explanation says it all:
  
  > Quite simply, these protocols are incompatable. *(sic)*
  
  You may have some success using a NXT brick and the [IRLink sensor](http://www.hitechnic.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=NIL1046), but I'm not sure how far you can go (for example, I'm not even sure you can upload a firmware, and you need to be able to do that).
  
  The easiest way is to stick with the IR tower, and in addition of the serial-to-usb converter mentionned by Zhaph, don't forget there's a USB version of the IR tower available on Bricklink (see [here](http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?itemID=70887) or [here](http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?itemID=10759)).
  
  
  ---
  
  