Spurious decodes and non-robust protocols

Spurious decodes and non-robust protocols

Most IR protocols have enough internal consistency checks that the decoder can reliably tell whether that protocol is present in a learned signal and can reliably decode the device, subdevice and OBC numbers. If the signal is learned badly enough, the decoder may fail to find that protocol in the signal. But it is very unlikely to decode it with the wrong numbers or to imagine that protocol is a bad learn of something else.

Some protocols are not robust. A totally unrelated IR signal can accidentally fit the pattern of such a protocol resulting in a spurious decode. When you get a decode for a non-robust protocol you need to exercise some judgment about whether to believe or ignore that decode. Usually you can decide based on decodes of other signals of the same device.