Rednet (API)

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(Reason: The behaviour of Rednet has changed as of 1.5 - please consider updating this page with information. (Please don't add prerelease info!))

Note: Since ComputerCraft 1.5, the rednet API is now just a wrapper for modems and channels. See the page on channels here: Modem_(API)

The Rednet API allows computers to communicate between themselves without using redstone wires. In order to send and receive data, a modem is required. The data is received immediately after sending it, but only by computers within a certain range. That range depends on the altitude of the sending computer increasing with higher altitudes to a max of 384.

Grid disk.png   Rednet (API)

Method NameDescription
rednet.open(side) Tells the computer that the side can be used for networking.
rednet.close(side) Tells the computer that the side can no longer be used for networking.
rednet.announce() Broadcasts an empty rednet message.
rednet.send(receiverID, message) Sends a message to the computer using the opened sides. The receiver ID is the ID (number, not string) of the computer you're sending the message to. ID as nil will do the same as a broadcast. The message must be a string to send across rednet, if you are wanting to send a table see textutils.serialize
rednet.broadcast(message) Sends the message to ALL connected and open computers.
rednet.receive(timeout) Waits until it received a rednet message or timeout has passed. Leave args empty to wait for a message forever.
rednet.isOpen(side) Returns true if the wireless modem is open or nil if not. Returns 1 always.

Events

Event name Description Parameters
rednet_message Fired when a rednet message is received (can be used as alternative for rednet.receive()) senderId, message, distance

History

Before the creation of the in-game wireless networking API, the term "Rednet" referred to a system created by one of the ComputerCraft users based on bundled cables from a popular Minecraft mod - RedPower. It also allowed communication between computers, but the data was transferred slowly - every bit was converted to redstone signal, that lasted about 0,1 seconds. On the release of ComputerCraft 1.3, the system became useless, as the wireless networking was officially implemented to the mod.