> or is sending ir ascii a hopeless approach?
> thanks,
> alice

Sending IR ascii is not hopeless, but your simple circuit will be
extremely sensitive to background IR. Try is in full dark and it might
work. IR remotes use a modulated approach (information often
on-aff modulated on a 30 - 60 kHz carrier). Simple canned
receivers, e.g. siemens SFH506 and sharp exist, but those are
not cheap but much cheaper than the equivalent build from
separate parts. Look on the web for RC5.

Wouter.