One Arduino to multiple androids

Projects General Guidance
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I'm having a hard time getting a system/results I like. I have 1 arduino and looking to stream data to multiple android tablets/cells (3-6 devices). ~400 bytes every 1/3 of a second.

I've tried HC-05 bluetooth being a master, but couldn't get multiple android devices to connect as slaves. Some say you can have multiple slaves with bluetooth, some say you can't and it's a 1-1 connection.

The next step was connection 1 android device via bluetooth, then starting a wifi hotspot on that android device which others can connect to. It worked, but my code was starting to get sloppy trying to handle if it was the hotspot or client. I didn't spend to much time with this one because I heard about the ESP8266 wif. I may re-visit this one though.

Last I tried ESP8266 being an access point and sending the data via UDP. Packet loss is acceptable because the stream of data just replaces itself with the next packet. But after 3 devices it really starts to struggle and packet loss gets worse on each device I add. First device (Samsung Tab 10.1. 2010) is great at 0.5% loss, then the second device (Samsung Galaxy S5 cell, 2014) goes to 9%, then the third device (Samsung Tab A 7.0, 2016) gets up to 20% lose. Which is odd by the oldest and slowest tablet is the best rate.

I just need guidance on what path I should follow.
Thanks for reading. Time for sleep :S

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Last I tried ESP8266 being an access point and sending the data via UDP. Packet loss is acceptable because the stream of data just replaces itself with the next packet. But after 3 devices it really starts to struggle and packet loss gets worse on each device I add.

Packet loss .... that seems strange. I have 2 or 3 UDP receivers built around the ESP8266 that receive GPS RMC sentence from a remote Esp8266 and GPS located in my attic. This has been working 7/24 for 13 months. Using Processing, I even have a script that will read the UPD broadcast and show the sent string on the PC.

Tardis Time UDP

Ray

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Hi Ray, I've actually used your code a few months ago to get started on this. Glad to finally say thank you for that!

How many devices can you connect at once, I'm guessing that might be where the 8266 is falling down. I've read the more devices on its access point the more it starts to fall down.

I'm also surprised at my android devices, the newer the device the more packet loss it has.

Tonight I'm going to try a spare router and use the 8266 just as server and not access point. Narow down what is going on.