Transferring contacts/calendars from vintage PDAs (Palm Pilot) and early 2000s mobile phones.
As of 2026, Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 still includes the legacy IrDA stack (disabled but present). However, Windows 12’s rumored removal of all 32-bit driver support could kill this dongle on Microsoft platforms forever. That said, Linux’s commit to legacy hardware and the retro computing community’s dedication mean this dongle will remain usable for at least another decade. Industrial users will simply dedicate a Windows 7 thin client to the task. U2IrDA Mini 4 MBPS FIR USB IrDA 20
: Ideal for syncing older PDAs (like Palm Pilots), mobile phones, and medical instruments that lack Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. That said, Linux’s commit to legacy hardware and
| Parameter | Value | |-----------|-------| | Interface | USB 1.1 / 2.0 Full-Speed (12 Mbps max) | | Data Rate | 9.6 kbps, 19.2 kbps, 38.4 kbps, 57.6 kbps, 115.2 kbps, 1.152 Mbps, 4 Mbps | | Modulation | RZ (Return-to-Zero) for SIR; 4-PPM for FIR | | Transmission Angle | ±15° to ±30° (typical) | | Effective Range | 0 to 1 meter (optimal: 5–30 cm) | | Wavelength | 850–900 nm | | Power | Bus-powered (5V DC, < 100 mA) | | OS Compatibility | Windows XP/7/8/10/11 (with legacy stack or 3rd-party), Linux (via IrDA stack or serial TTY), Android (with OTG and serial terminal apps) | | Parameter | Value | |-----------|-------| | Interface