TV-Laptop Cross-Talk and Diagnosing a VoIP Problem

My laptop makes weird "whoosh" and "boing" sounds when I use it near the TV. What is it trying to do?

Don't freak out, but the computer wants to talk to the television. The sounds are how a Windows laptop with an infrared data-exchange transmitter indicates that it's found another such transmitter nearby.

A TV's infrared sensor works only with remote controls, but the "IR" software won't realize that. Windows will repeat the exercise each time it detects the TV or any other IR-capable device -- for example, a handheld organizer or another laptop.

You can't disable the auto-detection, but you can turn off IR entirely. IR data transfer has few practical uses now, considering its slow speeds and limited support in hardware.

To shut off IR, open Windows XP's Control Panel, select "Printers and Other Hardware" and open "Wireless Link." Click the Hardware tab, then its "Properties" button; next, choose the first "Do not use this device" option from the "Device usage" drop-down menu.

My VOIP phone has started dropping calls, but I can't tell if that service or my cable Internet access is at fault.

Try a bandwidth-testing site, which will gauge your connection's upload and download speeds by sending data to and from your Web browser. You can find an assortment of them at http://www.dslreports.com/stest .

If tests show figures within the range of your provider's advertised speeds, blame the VOIP service. ("Voice over Internet protocol" calls need only a fraction of a broadband service's bandwidth.) But if your connection flunks the tests, yell at your Internet service provider.

-- Rob Pegoraro

Rob Pegoraro attempts to untangle computing conundrums and errant electronics each week. Send questions to The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071 orrobp@washpost.com.