I've never tried to test this before, but it might be a good excuse for you to try it. IR sensors don't ONLY pick up IR light, that's why the sometimes don't work or work erraticly if the sun is shineing on the receiver (let alone mess with your TV picture =>) But a 5 dollar laser point I think could be modulated to carry an IR carrier. RED laser pointers are also incredibly bright and since it's RED it's at least close to the IR range. Replace the switch on a stock laser pointer with a simple transistor, tap the IR-blaster's LED at it's cathode to drive the transistors base? (correct me if I'm wrong someone) and you should be able to have the IR blaster modulate the laser. I know these kinds of laser pointers are themselves already modulated (otherwise they self destruct) but I'm not sure at what frequency. If it's well above the 38khz (or so) carrier of a standard IR remote it should work. aiming would be a bit of a pain, but if you have a telescope =)