Laird0

I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for objects/kit for building a wifi - bluetooth bridge so that I can use an iPad with Touch OSC with Max, with a very specific and unfortunately non-changeable equipment set up.

I have two computers in my lab. A PC with windows XP running MaxMSP with a blueSoleil bluetooth dongle which I often use with a Wiimote to control a Max patch. This computer sadly has no Wifi capability.

The other computer is a new Macbook Pro also running MaxMSP and also Pd it has both Wifi and bluetooth capabilities.

I would like to use the Macbook pro to receive OSC data from the iPad using Wifi then immediately send it out again using Bluetooth to the PC. Ideally I would like this link to bi-directional so that I can send OSC information back to the iPad

As I mentioned before, the hardware set up is unfortunately non-negotiable in this situation. I have been trying the 'serial' object with some success but it only seems to work occasionally after a lot of tinkering.

Has anyone built anything similar? Or had any luck with the serial object? Any recommendations whatsoever are very much appreciated!

Some background:
I have two computers in my lab. A PC with windows XP running MaxMSP with a blueSoleil bluetooth dongle which I often use with a Wiimote to control a Max patch. This computer sadly has no Wifi capability.

The other computer is a new Macbook Pro also running MaxMSP and also Pd it has both Wifi and bluetooth capabilities. 

Has anyone built anything similar? Or had any luck with the serial object? Any recommendations whatsoever are very much appreciated!


wifi-to-bluetooth-osc-bridge

Non-negotiable? Really? You couldn't just plug a £5 USB Wifi dongle in?

Just connect the two computers with an Ethernet cable. That will be a lot more reliable than Bluetooth.

Just connect the two computers with an Ethernet cable.  That will be a lot more reliable than Bluetooth.


Sadly, yes I dont own the system and making the case for any additional kit (especially to do with wireless networks) involves a good deal of hassle and time, not entirely sure why =( perhaps I should have a tantrum ;) in the end it means I am forced to build work arounds with what is available for just now.

I might be able to get away with the ethernet cable method actually. Again just thinking of further options before I jump in, what about other physical connections like firewire/usb? Could I essentially treat the MBP like an HID?

I've experimented with bluetooth a while ago and i never used the serial-object for this, never was able too actually. The way i got it too work was with the jit.send/receive-combo as i was using this to send video but i can imagine it works with the udp/tcp-objects as well because you basically create a network connection between the two computers. This was all done with xp but i don't think this is platform-specific and i didn't use bluesoleil (hate that program, i'd say ditch it) just use the standard winXp drivers. I do think you need to have an adapter capable of PAN-networking.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_area_network

I set up a PAN network and got tantalizingly close to getting the set up that I wanted. However it looks like I am likely running headlong into a firewall which I wont be able to change (and for good reason too I guess!=D). So far I can send messages from Max on the PC to the MBP using bluetooth and have those messages forwarded on to TouchOSC on the iPad via wifi. I can also send osc messages from the iPad to the MBP but at that point the messages disappear on their way to the patch on the PC. The same thing happens if I dont use the iPad at all.

Other Bluetooth services are available on the PAN network i.e. I can send files to the PC and stream audio to the soundcard. I can also easily use a wiimote on the PC with MaxMSP as an HID device.

I also tried the firewire route but hit the same problems with firewall.

Of course there is still an option of bypassing the PC altogether to get to the devices i ultimately want to control (speakers and display) but that involves lots of cables which I guess I will settle with for just now.

I set up a PAN network and got tantalizingly close to getting the set up that I wanted. However it looks like I am likely running headlong into a firewall which I wont be able to change (and for good reason too I guess!=D). So far I can send messages from Max on the PC to the MBP using bluetooth and have those messages forwarded on to TouchOSC on the iPad via wifi. I can also send osc messages from the iPad to the MBP but at that point the messages disappear on their way to the patch on the PC. The same thing happens if I dont use the iPad at all. 

Other Bluetooth services are available on the PAN network i.e. I can send files to the PC and stream audio to the soundcard. I can also easily use a wiimote on the PC with MaxMSP as an HID device. 

You mention "my lab" why not just reconfigure the firewall then? If you feel sketchy about it just unplug the computer from the internet (if it's plugged in anyway) and plug it back in when you're done (after re-reconfiguring the firewall ofcourse).

Wifi to Bluetooth OSC bridge