How to work with IR sensors

[The Master]

Sounds good.

I dont know if it will help but the bits i have laying arround have come from an old amstrad sterio system (the really big ones). One is from a hitachi VCR thats about 25 years old now. Ive got a sky box here thats not doing anything too. Im just trying to track them all down. I know they are in the loft somewhere. Might take a while to find. I could always drop into maplin i suppose.

Can someone explain version 2 in that link i posted please. I dont understand it. Where does it even get the power from?

[dhouston]

Most IR receivers cost $1 - $1.50. It's not worth your time to sort through obsolete junk.

In the schematic you refer to, power comes from the RTS & CTS lines, The zener diode drops it to 5V.

[The Master]

It looks really simple then. I think ill have a trip into Mansfield and buy one from Maplin. Should i be using a zenner diode? Ive heard that you should use a voltage regulator instead