As I move on to the next phase of my project, I need to figure out the correct way to communicate with it (streaming) over the internet (irregardless of OS on the host machine.). I'm currently using a mash up of python code that uses a socket connection, and I've set up a DNS server to easily locate the host machine. The information being sent is Serial joystick input using the pySerial and pyGame Libraries.
This is the problems that I'm running into with python:
I cant always connect to the host computer (takes 5 or 6 tries) even though I have a high speed connection.
When connected, moving the joystick too quickly breaks the connection
I get random Pickle load errors
Problems I'm running into with my Arduino:
Now that I've added an LCD (via I2c using an IO expander), the device gets knocked off the Serial port and the Arduino IDE can't find it (makes it hard to receive Serial information :P). I think something in the sketch having to do with the RF24 module and the newLiquidCrystal libraries is causing it to be unseen by the IDE. I don't know. (this is probably more frustrating than the crapy python connection). I have to upload the "Blink" example while holding the reset button, to get it listed again - but then "falls off the map" again when I upload my sketch.
I havent worked with the Ethernet libraries yet. Would it be more reliable to add a WiFi board to the device and assign it a static IP Address- but then I would still have to use python to send the information from computer to computer...or can an Arduino talk directly to a python program, as if the program were a client?
This is a general overview of the project:
A client computer serves joystick movements to a server computer over the internet. The Server computer captures the information and translates it to Servo movement, the Arduino receives the translation and broadcast the new information to a second Arduino via RF24 attached to a few servos and a web camera
(I know I can get something like this on Ebay for $60 - but I wouldn't me a "maker" otherwise).
Can someone please help me fine tune this headache?
Thanks for your help.