Hello all!
I'm looking for a wireless solution for my arduino.
I'm a beginner to wireless solutions but my understanding is there are a variety of different methods people use and im wondering if someone has a useful link of a break down of commonly used wireless methods(for total control not just monitoring).
First and foremost im looking for the platform that has the most capabilities just for learning purposes. As i said im a beginner to this type of stuff and I want to be able to explore a couple different projects with this platform.
Also of the communication methods what the best one to send video through the arduino, or in conjunction with the arduino since at some point id like to maybe set up a sort of roving robot with video feedback.
Thanks for your help in advance!
You cannot send video through an Arduino. For your robot, I'd use an off the shelf wifi webcam for the video if possible - and then either control over wifi or via some other form of wireless comms.
There are a lot of different methods of wireless communication.
Can get wireless internet connectivity via WiFi or cell modem module (there are a few types, depending in coverage in your area). There are several options for each of these, though the ESP-8266 is very popular nowadays for wifi - largely because it's dirt cheap and works reasonably well.
For non-internet connectivity, there's 433mhz cheapo OOK/ASK wireless (note - using the $1.50 RXB-12 receivers will dramatically increase range over the cheaper green receivers - though the cheap transmitters are fine), where you either write your own protocol, or use a library like virtualwire. There's the NRF24 which runs at 2.4ghz (same as wifi and some other consumer electronics) - I have had bad experiences with those, but others like them, and then there's a whole host of other somewhat-more-expensive solutions at 433, 868, and 915 mhz, which (like the NRF24) have their own transmission protocol, so you send them data over I2C/SPI/Serial, and they figure out how to turn that into what goes out over the air, and decode it at the other end. Some of these offer fairly long range - but be sure there's Arduino library support for them before you buy.
And of course, there's bluetooth for connecting to cellphones and tablets...
Pick a frequency range that is legal for your country.
The range of frequencies in the various ISM bands varies from country to country. For example, in Australia the 915 MHz band is mostly unusable because it is used by the cellular phone network.
I appreciate the response.
Well thats unfortunate but thanks for the workaround.
Yeah I suppose ill go for the 433mhz type thing or wifi.
Maybe i can knock out some arduino wireless and radio stuff at one time. might be interesting
I like using the inexpensive Nordic nRF24L01+ modules. These 2.4GHz modules with high data rates and they cost about $2.
XBees cost much more but are easier to use.
Bluetooth is surprisingly easy. I suggest HC-05 modules since they can be both master and slave devices.
XBee makes 900MHz modules which have really good range.
If you're transmitting video, you want to use a different frequency than your other radio system. Don't use two 2.4GHz systems on the same device.