[DonRotolo]

This is an opinion. For an answer which you can use at competition, use the official Q&A forum.

Yes, you can build your own (but why?), or modify a remote to have a higher IR light output. Just try not to have so much light you interfere with everything. A regular remote should be workable from 50 feet, you might have to try 3 or 4 before you find one.

Don