Micro Chat

Introduction

Use the micro:bit 📻 radio to send and receive 💬 messages between micro:bits!

Step 1

From the ||radio:Radio|| Toolbox category, drag a ||radio:radio set group|| block into the ||basic:on start|| block. This will act as the channel over which we'll send messages. Only micro:bits who are in the same group will be able to send and receive messages between them.

radio.setGroup(1)

Step 2

From the ||input:Input|| Toolbox category, drag an ||input:on button A pressed|| block onto the Workspace.

input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, function() {})

Step 3

From the ||radio:Radio|| category, drag a ||radio:radio send string|| block into the ||input:on button A pressed|| block and type a message. When we press button A on our micro:bit, we'll send this message to every micro:bit nearby in group 1.

input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, function() {
    radio.sendString("Micro Chat!")
})

Step 4

From the ||radio:Radio|| category, drag an ||radio:on radio received string|| block onto the Workspace.

radio.onReceivedString(function (receivedString) {
})

Step 5

From the ||basic:Basic|| category, get a ||basic:show string|| block and drop it in the ||radio:on radio received string|| block.

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

Step 6

Pull the ||variables:receivedString|| variable block out of the ||radio:on received string|| block and put it into the ||basic:show string|| block replacing "Hello!"

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

Step 7

Let's test our code! In the micro:bit on-screen simulator, press button A. You should see a second micro:bit appear. Now try pressing A again. Do you see your message appear on the second micro:bit? ⭐ Great job! ⭐

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

Step 8

If you have a micro:bit device, connect it to your computer and click the |Download| button. Follow the instructions to transfer your code onto the micro:bit. If you have two micro:bits, download the program to each one. Press button A on one and see if the other gets the message!

Step 9

Go further - try using different buttons to send a mix of messages 📝, or send secret 🔒 messages to different radio groups!

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radio