The wireless modules used in this design are the Linx Technologies LC series Transmitter/Receiver.  These are low cost, simple devices that work extremely well. 

The units are surface mount, but since the large pads are spaced at .1", a simple carrier board can provide DIP connectors.

RF Receiver

The receiver is used is the RXM-433-LC-S module, which operates at 433mhz.  The maximum data rate is supposed to be 5000 baud, but I've successfully ran it at 9600. But to be safe, I'm currently running it at 2400 baud.  

As you can see, the circuit is very simple with only 1 passive device and an antenna.  The antenna can be a 7-7.5" wire connected directly to pin 16 of the Receiver.  I'm using the existing antenna that is mounted on the interactive TV device.

The data from the receiver is connected directly to the RXD pin of a MCU's UART or to a TTL-RS232 converter input.

  RF Transmitter

The transmitter used is the TXM-433-LC-S module.  The TTL signal is fed to pin 2 from a switch, MCU or any other 5v source.