Hello Boone,
Do you have the correct "service name" for your device wired into IrDA Open Connection? I would assume that placing an invalid service name would cause the Open to fail. I'm also not sure what service names would be available on your particular device; that is up the the specific device's implementation.
This link could help you with the basics of IrDA communication: http://zone.ni.com/devzone/conceptd.nsf/webmain/79F65241EDB4F7C586256AB6006703CB?opendocument
Sounds like an interesting application, though, keep us posted.
Scott B.
Applications Engineer
National Instruments