Upgraded Modems

Here are my ideas


WIRELESS:

• New rednet function: ping
• Used so that a wireless modem can be placed anywhere in a 10+ (whatever) block radius, and a computer can still connect to it, instead of connecting it to the computer.
• To turn on a modem, right click it, and type in an id, and if it exists, the number the player is typing turns red. Else, is white.
• Ids would replace computer ids… Computers would have 2 slot ips (i.e: 01.42 not 23.64.123.45:34252)
• To use it, at the beginning of code, use this:

isWireless = rednet.ping(Modem Number)
if isWireless then
  blah blah blah
else
  print("Could not connect to network.")
end

THIS COULD ALSO BE USED EVERY FEW SECONDS TO SEE IF CONNECTED

--As a chat
write(chattyname..chattyanswer)
rednet.ping(Modem Number)

This would see if they were disconnected while in program.

This ENTIRE thing is so that, like in real life, many computers could use the same modem.

WIRED

• Wired modem can be hooked up to 5 computers (one on each of the 4 sides, and a wire on top). Wires could be thinner, and could immediately connect to the computer with a DSL port (see below)
• DSL ports would be added, like the wired modems, but just to link computers to the wired modems.
• Wired modems would hook up to a wireless modem

I know this got complicated… It is just what I see in my head….


So..
yeah

-V

May I add one suggestion to this.

Instead of

DoesExist = rednet.ping(ModemNumber)

How about

TableOfIDs = rednet.ping()

and TableOfIDs returns all modems that responded.
This does make sense, because look at modems/routers in real life. They arn't connected to a computer most of the time.
Maybe old ones that don't have wireless capabilities(HINT HINT non-advanced) require wires to be hooked up to them.

This is an absolutely horrible idea based on you thinking a wireless modem is like a wireless router. It isn't.

Modem frequencies should cover your other idea.

Wired modems already exist.

Cloudy, on 01 April 2013 - 01:09 PM said:

This is an absolutely horrible idea based on you thinking a wireless modem is like a wireless router. It isn't.

Modem frequencies should cover your other idea.

Wired modems already exist.

Then how about add routers? I doubt you would even do that, but it's just an idea.

Viextra, on 01 April 2013 - 12:08 PM said:

New rednet function: ping

why can't you just deal with rednet.broadcast?

Simple version

-- sending computer
rednet.broadcast("PING")

-- receiving computer
local id, msg, dist = rednet.receive()

More complicated version where all your clients check if the ping is for them

-- sending computer
rednet.broadcast( textutils.serialize( { target = 5, msg = "PING" } ) )

-- receiving computer
local id, msg = rednet.receive()
msg = textutils.unserialize(msg)
if msg.target == os.computerID() then
  -- do whatever you wish with the ping here
else
  print("That message was not for me")
end

alakazard12, on 01 April 2013 - 01:36 PM said:

Then how about add routers? I doubt you would even do that, but it's just an idea.

iirc that has been on, at least Dan200's, todo list for a while now

May I ask the benefit in having routers?

oeed, on 01 April 2013 - 04:26 PM said:

May I ask the benefit in having routers?

Computers out of range of one another…. router in the middle, relays messages around WITHOUT propagation (which most solutions on these forums seem to not protect against)

Oh I see now.

I'm sure people can think of other reasons… but that is the most obvious one.

theoriginalbit, on 01 April 2013 - 04:28 PM said:

oeed, on 01 April 2013 - 04:26 PM said:

May I ask the benefit in having routers?

Computers out of range of one another…. router in the middle, relays messages around WITHOUT propagation (which most solutions on these forums seem to not protect against)

What about the "enhancements" rule for suggestions? This is possible in CC.

Dlcruz129, on 01 April 2013 - 06:36 PM said:

What about the "enhancements" rule for suggestions? This is possible in CC.

It is different because…

theoriginalbit, on 01 April 2013 - 04:15 PM said:

Then how about add routers?

iirc that has been on, at least Dan200's, todo list for a while now

He probably just meant a built in router program - you could do this yourself.