Answer I got from Madrigal Tech support.
Maybe this could solve a lot of the IR range problems mentionned. Give it a try!

"you'll find its range excellent, but this does depend on the "learned" codes. We have found cases where codes taught to IRIQ from a distance beyond 3-4" actually overload the input receiver and create poor copies of the code. IRIQ would then send the poor command out when required, but the distance will be quite limited"