Inspiron 8000 IR and Palm (not talking and unreliable IR connection)

[Simon Wong <SJPWongbulk@bigpond.com>]

I am trying to get my Linux installation to talk to my Palm Vx via IR. 

I was following the i8100 threadrecently and gave it a go.

I have compiled the IR support into the kernel (2.4.14) and irtty as a
module. 

if I do: 

    #irattach /dev/ttyS3 
    
my palm shows the "Waiting for sender..." window and irdump gives... 

    ~# irdadump 
    05:44:25.336704 xid:cmd 71b55e9c > ffffffff S=6 s=0 (14) 
    05:44:25.426703 xid:cmd 71b55e9c > ffffffff S=6 s=1 (14) 
    05:44:25.516698 xid:cmd 71b55e9c > ffffffff S=6 s=2 (14) 
    05:44:25.606705 xid:cmd 71b55e9c > ffffffff S=6 s=3 (14) 
    05:44:25.606692 xid:rsp 71b55e9c < 567dc24c S=6 s=2 Simon J.P. Wong
    hint=8220 [ PDA/Palmtop IrOBEX ] (32) 
    05:44:25.696698 xid:cmd 71b55e9c > ffffffff S=6 s=4 (14) 
    05:44:25.786699 xid:cmd 71b55e9c > ffffffff S=6 s=5 (14) 
    05:44:25.876700 xid:cmd 71b55e9c > ffffffff S=6 s=* lonewolf
    hint=0400 [ Computer ] (24) 
    
It seems to find the device OK: 

    ~# cat /proc/net/irda/discovery 
    IrLMP: Discovery log: 
    
    nickname: Simon J.P. Wong, hint: 0x8220, saddr: 0x71b55e9c, daddr:
    0x567dc24c 
    
However, when I then try and start pilot-xfer: 

    $ pilot-xfer -p /dev/ttyS3 -l 
    
       Unable to bind to port /dev/ttyS3 
       pi_bind: Device or resource busy 
    
If I kill off the irattach process and try to start pilot-xfer: 


    $ pilot-xfer -p /dev/ttyS3 -l 
       Port: /dev/ttyS3 
    
       Please press the HotSync button now... 
It just sits there until I ctrl-c and kill it. 

I have read the Infrared-HOWTO and the tutorial and googled but can't
find any more tips.

I'm also having problems with it sometimes NOT even doing this :-( (like
right at the moment).

Any tips on people's experiences would be very much appreciated.

TIA.

-- 
**************
* Simon Wong *
**************