HEX Split

Using Arduino Programming Questions
15

I wnat something like this but on Infra red
http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/td_libs_VirtualWire.html

If it is send "Hello"

Then it receive Hello but splited
using buf

for example if it will be a remote control car, where every character has something meaning.
First sended char is changed tepend of joistic value 0-255 for speed
If joistic is at midl the value is 127, if full forward 255, if full backward then 0.

Second sended char is changed tepend of joistic value 0-255 for steering
left 0, midl 127, right 255

then receiver need to receive every char seperately for control of speed by first char (forward speed and backwardspeed)
Second char (Steering Left and steering right)

    if (vw_get_message(buf, &buflen)) // Non-blocking
    {
	int i;

        digitalWrite(13, true); // Flash a light to show received good message
	// Message with a good checksum received, dump it.
//	Serial.print("Got: ");
	
	for (i = 0; i < buflen; i++)
	{	    
             c = (buf[i]);
	}

      joystic_y= (buf[0]);
      joystic_x = (buf[1]);
      light_1 = (buf[3]);

I want the same but in IRRemote
Idon't know how to make buf of my received char or dec or hex to asign it to Variable, this is my major problem.