Wes,
I'm putting together a web site which explains the various options for controlling X10 devices with IR remotes. The site isn't finished yet but it does have a lot of information which, I beleive, you'll find helpful.
[Link: members.home.net]My next step is to do the detailed pages on each unit.
I'd appreciate any feedback you might have on the site. I need to know where it succeeds in answering the questions of a newcomer like yourself as well as were it fails.