Redpower2 Cables Vs CC Wireless Modem

I am considering using Redpower2 cabling instead of wireless modems, mostly for the huge range and reliablility of signal during storms. (EDIT: Meaning I won't have to use signal repeaters) Are there any disadvantages I should be aware of before setting up, and is there any difference in the rednet.send(id, message) command?

Modems are attached in two blocks, where as cables span the two computers. If you're trying to hide something, then you should use modems. But if you're trying to span long distances then use cables.

Well.. IIRC, RP2 cables can only carry signal uninterrupted up to ~255 blocks. So around that mark you will need to have a signal repeater of some form or another. This wouldn't be so bad if you just had a wire, but the cable is carrying lots more information than a wire so a simple repeater won't cut it. I'm not aware of a simple block that will do the job, so you might need to set up a computer to repeat the signal for you.

All in all, I would vouch for wireless. Less resources, and if you're setting up signal repeaters anyway, might as well make a wireless net.

~Plystire

You should just change 'em in the config.
modem_range=99999
modem_rangeDuringStorm=99999
Even if you didn't change them, use modems.
It's pretty easy to setup some wireless repeaters, here's a example.
Computer sending the signal:

rednet.broadcast("rednetrepeat:IDHERE")
sleep(0.4)
rednet.broadcast("MessageHere")

Computer repeating the signal:

while true do
local event, id, msg, distance, p4, p5 = os.pullEvent()
if event == "rednet_message" and string.sub(msg,1,15) == "rednetrepeat:" then
 local x = tonumber(string.sub(msg,15))
 local id2, msg2, distance2 = rednet.receive(4)
 rednet.send(x,msg2)
end
end

If you use redpower2 bundled cables for rednet, you should only use it for rednet. If you're also using it as redstone cabling, it won't work.

Also, it's slower with cables. Just try to send some large message over cables and see how much it takes.

One bundled cable means 16 binary channels in one direction.
If you you want to send a message over a long distance in singleplayer or on your private server, I recommend using modems and repeater PCs.
But if you want to do this on a larger server with lot's of rednet broadcasts or, like in my case, want to keep the communication secure, I recommend using several bundled cables.

use wireless redstone bitches much better infinite range less resources no work

TheMinersCave, on 25 June 2012 - 03:33 PM said:

use wireless redstone bitches much better infinite range less resources no work

It would still be really slow. If you want bigger range, just use modems and change it on the config.

Wireless range is an intentional limitation. While you can play creative, survival is still fun because your achievements are meaningful in some way. To a SMP player, "changing range settings" is essentially cheating in some way, and more importantly, limits you to only playing on servers that you are admin on (or similar).

As for wired limitations: it is very slow, it has the same range limit as red-power cables, it is horribly expensive, and it still does not work across unloaded chunks. It is probably less expensive and more practical to just have wireless repeaters every 15 blocks.

wires can be easly tapped into and with a simple 16 bit binary decoder your rednet.send message could become a rednet.broadcast