Rednet (API)

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Revision as of 16:05, 10 November 2012 by Magico13 (Talk | contribs) (Changed rednet.announce() return type to success from nil, as it returns similarly to send and broadcast.)

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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 and it may equal up to ~380 blocks.

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.

Methods

Method name Description Return type
rednet.open(side) Tells the computer that the side can be used for networking. nil
rednet.close(side) Tells the computer that the side can no longer be used for networking. nil
rednet.announce() Broadcasts an empty rednet message. success
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. success
rednet.broadcast(message) Sends the message to ALL connected and open computers. success
rednet.receive(timeout) Waits until it received a rednet message or timeout has passed. Leave args empty to wait for a message forever. senderId, message, distance

Events

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