Anyone got any experience with remote control devices like

As with any radio TX/RX operating on 433MHz pay attention to the location of the installed units. The range can be significantly reduced if there are obstructions in the line of sight between the RX and TX, trees in the summer can be a nightmare. A 1/4 wave antennae is not the best but should give you 100M in clear line of sight. Installing a Yagi antennae will greatly increase this.