Stream Camera Feed from One Pi 4 to Another using Tkinter: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you tired of being limited by the range of your Raspberry Pi’s camera? Do you want to monitor your surroundings from a different location? Look no further! In this article, we’ll show you how to stream camera feed from one Raspberry Pi 4 to another using Tkinter, a Python library for building GUI applications.

Why Use Tkinter?

Tkinter is an excellent choice for this project because it’s easy to learn, lightweight, and comes pre-installed with Python. With Tkinter, you can create a GUI application that displays the camera feed from the remote Raspberry Pi, allowing you to monitor the feed in real-time.

Hardware Requirements

• 2x Raspberry Pi 4
• 2x Raspberry Pi Camera Modules (or any USB camera)
• Internet connection ( Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
• Power supplies for both Raspberry Pi’s

Software Requirements

• Raspbian OS (latest version) installed on both Raspberry Pi’s
• Python 3.x (comes pre-installed with Raspbian)
• Tkinter library (comes pre-installed with Python)
• OpenCV library (optional, but recommended for image processing)

Step 1: Set up the Camera on the Sender Pi

First, let’s set up the camera on the Raspberry Pi that will be sending the camera feed. Connect the Raspberry Pi Camera Module to the CSI port, and make sure it’s enabled in the Raspberry Pi configuration. You can do this by running the following command:

rpi-config

In the configuration menu, select “Interfacing Options” and enable the camera. Then, reboot your Raspberry Pi.

Step 2: Install OpenCV (Optional)

If you want to perform image processing on the camera feed, you’ll need to install OpenCV. Run the following command to install OpenCV:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install libopencv-dev python3-opencv

Step 3: Write the Sender Code

Create a new Python file on the sender Raspberry Pi, and add the following code:

import cv2
import socket
import pickle

# Initialize the camera
cap = cv2.VideoCapture(0)

# Create a socket object
sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)

# Bind the socket to a address and port
server_address = ('192.168.1.100', 8080)
sock.bind(server_address)

# Listen for incoming connections
sock.listen(1)

print('Waiting for connection...')
connection, address = sock.accept()

print('Connected to', address)

while True:
    # Read a frame from the camera
    ret, frame = cap.read()
    
    # Encode the frame as a JPEG
    encode_param = [int(cv2.IMWRITE_JPEG_QUALITY), 90]
    result, encimg = cv2.imencode('.jpg', frame, encode_param)
    
    # Send the encoded frame over the socket
    data = pickle.dumps(encimg)
    connection.sendall(data)

    # Check for errors
    if not ret:
        break

# Release the camera and close the socket
cap.release()
sock.close()

This code sets up the camera, creates a socket, and listens for incoming connections. When a connection is established, it sends the encoded camera feed over the socket.

Step 4: Write the Receiver Code

Create a new Python file on the receiver Raspberry Pi, and add the following code:

import cv2
import socket
import pickle
import tkinter as tk

# Create a socket object
sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)

# Connect to the sender Raspberry Pi
server_address = ('192.168.1.100', 8080)
sock.connect(server_address)

print('Connected to', server_address)

# Create a Tkinter window
window = tk.Tk()
window.title("Camera Feed")

# Create a label to display the camera feed
label = tk.Label(window)
label.pack()

while True:
    # Receive the encoded frame from the sender
    data = sock.recv(1024)
    frame = pickle.loads(data)
    
    # Decode the frame
    decimg = cv2.imdecode(frame, cv2.IMREAD_COLOR)
    
    # Convert the frame to a Tkinter-compatible format
    img = cv2.cvtColor(decimg, cv2.COLOR_BGR2RGB)
    img = Image.fromarray(img)
    img = ImageTk.PhotoImage(img)
    
    # Display the frame in the Tkinter window
    label.config(image=img)
    label.image = img
    
    # Update the Tkinter window
    window.update()

# Close the socket and Tkinter window
sock.close()
window.destroy()

This code connects to the sender Raspberry Pi, receives the encoded camera feed, and displays it in a Tkinter window.

Step 5: Run the Code

Run the sender code on the Raspberry Pi that’s connected to the camera, and run the receiver code on the Raspberry Pi that will be displaying the camera feed. Make sure to replace the IP address in the code with the IP address of your sender Raspberry Pi.

Troubleshooting

If you’re experiencing issues with the camera feed, try the following:

• Check that the camera is enabled in the Raspberry Pi configuration.
• Make sure the IP address in the code is correct.
• Check that the sender and receiver Raspberry Pi’s are connected to the same network.
• Try increasing the quality of the encoded frame by adjusting the `encode_param` variable.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve shown you how to stream camera feed from one Raspberry Pi 4 to another using Tkinter. This project is perfect for surveillance systems, robotic applications, or any other project that requires real-time video streaming.

Remember to adjust the IP address and port numbers in the code to match your specific setup. With this project, you can create a robust and efficient surveillance system that’s perfect for your next DIY project.

Hardware Component	Cost (Approx.)
Raspberry Pi 4	$35
Raspberry Pi Camera Module	$25
Power Supply	$10
Total Cost	$70

Total cost for this project is approximately $70, which is an affordable price for a DIY surveillance system.

Future Enhancements

Some potential enhancements for this project include:

• Implementing motion detection using OpenCV.
• Adding audio streaming capabilities.
• Creating a more robust GUI using Tkinter.
• Integrating with other IoT devices.

With these enhancements, you can create a more sophisticated surveillance system that’s perfect for your next DIY project.

Frequently Asked Question

Stream camera feed from one Pi 4 to another using Tkinter – the ultimate guide to Raspberry Pi magic!