Problem building a Homebrew Serial Receiver

[Paul H. <pa...@pa...>]

Hello all,

I'm trying to build a home-made IR receiver to use with my Ubuntu Compaq 
Armada M300
laptop.  I'm using the same design from the LIRC homepage, and
http://lnx.manoweb.com/lirc/ 
<http://webmail.paulhurley.co.uk/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Flnx.manoweb.com%2Flirc%2F> 
. I've got the components, and assmebled the receiever onto
the D Sub connector.  I've also installed the LIRC software and started 
to configure it.

When I do sudo depmod lirc_dev && depmod lirc_serial this works fine, 
and /dev/lirc0 gets
created as a charachter device.

I then tried using irrecord and xmode2 but get no response.

I've gone throught these steps:

Checked the receiever for voltage using my multimeter.  This showed 
nothing at the sensor,
which was due to the diode being the wrong way around.

After reversing the diode I tried again, I now get 0.5V at the sensor 
(not 5V!)  There's
also only 0.5V between pin 5 and 7.  Without the receiever theres 10V.  
Could the
voltage regulator be the wrong way around ? (it looks right, but I can't 
think of any way
to test it's orientation)

After reading some past posts, it seems others found -10V at pin 5.  (as 
opposed to +10V), This may be what's happening to me (which means the 
diode was the right way round - dammit!)  Any idea why ?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Paul.

-- 
Paul Hurley	http://www.paulhurley.co.uk/
The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.
    Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy