I've found noise can be a BIG problem with some IR receivers. I've normally used the Sharp ISU???? (I can't recall the exact number) which is a little three pin plastic blob with a bluish colored cover. If you put an oscilloscope on the data from the IR receiver you'll be able to see the real data from the noise. The noise is just random pulses. One way to cure the noise is to wrap the receiver in foil and connect the foil to 0V - poke a hole in the foil so the IR signal can get in!!!
Once cured I could easily get quite a few metres out if the system. Troll the web to see if anyone has done a comparison between the different brands of IR receiver - I seem to recall seeing something like this and it wasn't too favourable to the Sharp product!

Try hooking a led and resistor to the output of the IR receiver - if the led flickers when you are not sending any IR, then you are getting noise pickup.