Newbie: Reverse engineering serial signal. Serial.read & .write not symmetrical?

The datasheet says the device operates at 4800bps but does not say it's serial data. I suggest you abandon trying to decode using Serial and instead capture the signal using Audacity with help from this circuit. This may also be of interest but is probably not relevant to your remote control but will give you an idea of what's involved. Capture some samples and post them here if you get stuck and your likely to get help.