now I understand your problem! narr.... you will not often get the same signals in a row. The IRMan has the advantage that it uses a crystal to keep its detection circuit a very precise time interval.
A software based system is gonna suffer quite a bit from timing changes. I did once try what you wanted to do, using a 555 timer as an external clock, but even so I need to write software to filter out bad codes and accept good ones.. In the end I got it working about 70-85% accurate.
then I put it in the car, and nothing!!!

thus the need for the IRMan.... save yourself heartache, get an IRman!
