IR remote controls typically use modulated IR, around 38 kHz or around 455 kHz. Consider one of the TSOP parts, which integrate the receiving photodiode and the demodulator:
http://www.vishay.com/ir-receiver-modules/
It's not possible to say which receiver (if any) would work with your remote control without knowing the details of your remote control's signaling. You could also build your own transmitter, by using a PWM output to generate the modulation and switching the duty cycle between 0 (off) and 50% (on).