Wireless Dial Input System

[senator32]

Hello Raspberry Pi Forums!

My Question: What is the best way to read a potentiometer value wirelessly and display its value on a web page - in close to real-time?

More Details:

I need to build a couple of simple wireless hand held systems that take the input of a Potentiometer and transmit that value (in as close to real time as possible) to a server or receiver. The server would then show 'real-time' data on the values of each wireless POT. In an ideal world, 20-100 of these wireless POTS would need to be in the same room and would need to communicate with the server / receiver (would need to know what device sent the value and the value itself).

So far, I have an Arduino Nano with a 10K Potentiometer hooked up to a Raspberry Pi. I am reading the values from the POT every .5 seconds. This is working well. Now, I need to wireless transmit those values to a server, or a laptop with a receiver designed for this system.

Any general suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated as I am very much in the learning phase with Raspberry Pi and Arduino.

Thanks,

LJ

[PiGraham]

Take a look at "zigbee", "mesh network".
433MHz radio could be an option
Look at "VirtualWire"
You will have to work out a synchronisation scheme to avoid contention and lost data.
With one master and lots of slaves that should be possible.

[FLYFISH TECHNOLOGIES]

Hi,

What is the best way to read a potentiometer value wirelessly and display its value on a web page - in close to real-time?
... 20-100 of these wireless POTS would need to be in the same room

You haven't specified much details, so I cannot estimate if RF can give better results than visual (IR) communication.
Additionally - do you require that each pot is a wireless node (1:1), or more of them are to be connected to this transmitter box which communicates with RasPi...
Sorry, not enough data to write you my opinion... But what you might take a look to (if not already) is WebSocket protocol, which could fit on the web side.


Best wishes, Ivan Zilic.

[senator32]

Thank you both for your quick feedback.

I don't think IR will work because the dials may not be within line of sight of any receiver I would build.

I will take a look at the WebSocket protocol you mentioned as well as the VirtualWire, ZigBee and Mesh network ideas.

Will update this post on my progress and what ended up working.

Thanks again!