Micro Chat

Introduction

Use the radio to send and receive messages with other micro:bit.

Set a radio group

The first thing you want to do is to put in a ||radio:set group||. This will make certain that you and another micro:bit will receive just the messages assigned to that group and not the messages sent from some other micro:bit that’s not part of your conversation. This like tuning to a particular channel to talk on.

radio.setGroup(1)

Sending a message

Use ||input:on button pressed|| to send a text message over radio with ||radio:send string||. Every micro:bit nearby will receive this message.

input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, function() {
    radio.sendString(":)");
});

Receiving a message

Add a ||radio:on received string|| block to run when a message is received.

radio.onReceivedString(function (receivedString) {
})

Displaying text

Add a ||basic:show string|| to display the string on the screen. Pull the ||variables:receivedString|| out of ||radio:on received string|| and put it into ||basic:show string||.

radio.onReceivedString(function (receivedString) {
    basic.showString(receivedString);
})

Testing in the simulator

Press button A on the simulator, you will notice that a second micro:bit appears (if your screen is too small, the simulator might decide not to show it). Try pressing A again and notice that the “:)” message gets displayed on the other micro:bit.

input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, function() {
    radio.sendString(":)");
});
radio.onReceivedString(function (receivedString) {
    basic.showString(receivedString);
})

Try it for real

If you have two micro:bits, download the program to each one. Press button A on one and see if the other gets a message.

radio