I know that you've had to come up with a test method to remove as many variables as possible but I thought that I should just add that during my experiments I found that the "Blink" didnt always mean that a clean signal had been received. Visually the blink appeared normal but the resulting IR did not control the device.

It may also be worth mentioning, as it works in your favour, that the operation range could be less than 10ft in a typical home environment. Mine struggled at 6ft at some angles, with nothing but open space between the antenna and the T2!

I'd love to know what RTI think of all this. Could it be any more embarassing for them ?