Mike wrote:

>> I am working on a Basic Stamp project that detects IR from a
>> standard tv remote control.  I tried to use a standard IR
>> phototransistor but found that I had to place the remote control
>> within 1/4" for it to work. ....

Why not using a special IR-receiver device like SH205(?)?
Thease things work quite good (very sensitive) and aren't expensive.
Inside there is an optical IR-filter, a 44kHz filter, impulseformer
etc. They are supplied over a 100 Ohm resistor and need an electrolytic
cap. At the out-pin delivers a recangular signal like that:

IR _____|_|_|_|_______
         _____
OUT ____|     |_______


               _____
              |  _  |
        100R  | |_| |
              |_____|
  +5V __/\/\___| | |____ out
            |    |
             -||-
             + 10u

There are some devices on the market, from different companies, sometimes
optimized for different IR burst frequencies.

Really great stuff!

   Lothar