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I have an RCX and want to know if it's possible to connect it to an iOS device. If this is possible, how do I do it?

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    The iPhone (2007) and RCX (1998) are a generation apart. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's unlikely anyone has tried to connect the two devices.
    – Ambo100
    Dec 29, 2011 at 11:26
  • @Ambo100 That's true...
    – daviesgeek
    Dec 29, 2011 at 15:57

3 Answers 3

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Communication with the RCX Brick was via the Infra Red tower (or IR Remote Control) which connected to the computer with either a serial or USB cable.

As neither iPhone nor iPad have an IR port, there's no way to connect directly between the two.

You might be able to do something with a docked iOs device, but that strikes me as somewhat pointless.

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    zhaph is right. no way to do it.
    – zaabtoop
    Feb 7, 2012 at 23:58
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There are ipad adaptors for iPad, iPhone. Some connect to the data port, but others connect to the headphone jack, so are eminiently programmable - you presumably just need audio samples. Alex

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  • Wow, that is quite impressive. Jun 29, 2012 at 8:40
  • I guess some of them work like the old universal remotes where it can learn the codes needed by pointing the original at it? Depends how configurable the app is for linking commands together, i.e. motor 1 forward/reverse etc. Jun 29, 2012 at 8:43
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You could do it using a computer as an intermediate. Basically, you have a wireless connection between your iPhone and your computer, then the IR link between the computer and the RCX. It would be technically challenging but not impossible. The IR tower uses a serial port and the protocol is detailed here http://legolab.daimi.au.dk/CSaEA/RCX/Manual.dir/RCXManual.html. The connection between the computer and the mobile device could simply be achieved via wireless connection using TCP sockets and wouldn't have to follow any very specific protocol at all. All of this could be achieved with any number of programming languages, but Python and Visual Basic would likely be the easiest. I could help you write the software to do this if you are very determined, but I only have experience with Windows, so the computer itself couldn't be a Mac.

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