title: NSTimer as background thread
body: <p>I need to ping a server at fixed intervals. I am currently using the following:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[NSTimer scheduledTimerWithTimeInterval:5.0f 
                                   target:[Socket getInstance] 
                                 selector:@selector(sendHeartBeats) 
                                 userInfo:nil 
                                  repeats:YES];
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This calls function <code>sendHeartBeats</code> at an interval of 5 sec.</p>
  
  <p>Do i need to call this on a separate thread so that my main thread will not be affected?</p>