Rednet (API)

From ComputerCraft Wiki
Revision as of 03:02, 12 May 2013 by TheVarmari (Talk | contribs) (Minor type edits)

Jump to: navigation, search
Please Note
As of ComputerCraft 1.5, the Rednet API is just a wrapper for modems and channels, and no longer supports
transmitting data through Bundled Cables. However interacting with Bundled Cables is still available via the Redstone 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. NOTE: The distance variable that is sent/received through the Rednet API is based off of the computer location, not the modem location.


Grid disk.png   Rednet (API)

Method NameDescription
rednet.open(string side) Tells the computer that the side can be used for networking.
rednet.close(string side) Tells the computer that the side can no longer be used for networking.
rednet.announce() Broadcasts an empty rednet message.
rednet.send(number receiverID, string 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(string message) Sends the message to ALL connected and open computers.
rednet.receive(number timeout) Waits until it received a rednet message or timeout has passed. Leave args empty to wait for a message forever.
rednet.isOpen(string side) Returns true if the wireless modem is open.

Events

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