INTP, I'm using the original IRremote library so I expect PWM for the signal modulation.
The TV/DVD players receive the signal just fine, the issue is the range, as to be expected. However, there is little difference in the range using the transistor with the circuit attached versus just powering it directly from the pin with a current limiting resistor. If anything its shorter.
I've tried the shared ground and the ground (Digital Bank ground) and the ground closest to the 5V pin (Power Bank ground).