I'm always far more comfortable when I have a protocol description from the manufacturer. Converting between protocols used by various remotes (or other transmitters) is simple but finding a reliable description of a protocol is not.
Lacking specs from a manufacturer, I like to have multiple descriptions from other sources, usually from those who have reverse engineered the protocol. A potential problem with that is that one or more apparently independent sources may actually be derived from a single source.
Lacking the above sources, I'll reverse engineer a protocol myself. I've done this for several RF protocols. But, this can mean buying hardware for which I have no need so I only do that when there is no other choice, when I think there will be a lot of people who might be able to make use of the results, and when the hardware doesn't cost a lot. Since I live in the USA and most of the RF protocols are only useful outside the USA, I often have to rely on manufacturers (or dealers) who see merit in making the protocols available.
