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Networking

Wired Networking

microbit networking (1)

So far we have learned how to:

  • Output a signal from a Microbit to an output device (e.g. turning on an LED)
  • Receive a signal from an input device (e.g. Pressing a push button)

But how to we send signals from one Microbit to another? Well it’s quite easy!

You simply need to connect an output from one Microbit to the input of another Microbit and vise versa!

Demo Video

Wireless Networking

microbit networking shockburst mode

Wired networking is great, but what if we want to communicate wirelessly? In this case we can use the Microbit’s on board radio transmitter to transmit data!

The Microbit’s on-board radio in mainly used for transmitting using Low energy Bluetooth, but it can be set up to transmit in a much simpler ‘shockburst’ radio mode.

Advantages of Microbit Shockburst mode:

  • Simple to set up, you just specify a network group
  • Can communicate with multiple devices at once.

Disadvantages of Microbit Shockburst mode

  • Can only transmit strings and integers natively
  • No encryption built in, so communication can be intercepted
  • No authentication so Microbit identity can be ‘spoofed’

Features of Shockburst radio

  • Operating distance – up to 20m
  • Transmission rate – 1Mbps

Source – Lancaster University

Here is how to wire up the hardware for wired networking

wired network microbit image

Click to enlarge

 

Wired networking 2 Microbits

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Wired networking code diagram microbit

Untitled drawing

 

Wireless networking requires even less hardware than wired networking – just 2 or more  Microbits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In order to transmit and receive data wirelessly we need to use a different website that gives us full access to all the Microbit’s radio features! Click on the link below to go to the codethemicrobit.com website

Code the Microbit

Code the sender

wireless microbit send code

Code the receiver

receiver code wireless microbit

Number of different games/ applications using wired / wireless networking

Some combining inputs and outputs?

Remote burglar alarm

 

 

Challenge 37 - Turn on the light (Easy)

Challenge 38 - Morse Code 'SOS' (Easy)

Challenge 39 - Morse Code Machine (Easy)

Challenge 40 - Network Emoticons (Easy)

Challenge 41 - Guess the button game (Very hard)

Challenge 42 - Rock / Scissors / Paper (Very hard)

Challenge 42b - Encrypted messages (Insane)