/** Start talking to the server */
 public void start() {
   String codehost = getCodeBase().getHost();
   if (socket == null) {
     try {
       // Open the socket to the server
       socket = new Socket(codehost, port);
       // Create output stream
       out = new ObjectOutputStream(socket.getOutputStream());
       out.flush();
       // Create input stream and start background
       // thread to read data from the server
       in = new ObjectInputStream(socket.getInputStream());
       new Thread(this).start();
     } catch (Exception e) {
       // Exceptions here are unexpected, but we can't
       // really do anything (so just write it to stdout
       // in case someone cares and then ignore it)
       System.out.println("Exception! " + e.toString());
       e.printStackTrace();
       setErrorStatus(STATUS_NOCONNECT);
       socket = null;
     }
   } else {
     // Already started
   }
   if (socket != null) {
     // Make sure the right buttons are enabled
     start_button.setEnabled(false);
     stop_button.setEnabled(true);
     setStatus(STATUS_ACTIVE);
   }
 }