[Larry R]

To use a TV remote you need a special IR receiver that will recognize the 38.5 KHz modulation. The output of that IR receiver will be the pulse train that you send out from the TV remote control or equivalent device you build. They are easy to find - Parallax sells such a receiver at low cost. Connections are simple with three pins: +5v, ground and pulse out.

The FIRST IR board uses such a receiver.

Note: the special receiver is much different that the analog approach using an IR LED and an IR sensitive photo detector.

Cheers, Larry