Developed with a $20,000 grant from the ARRL, Radiocraft brings real amateur radio into Minecraft Java Edition. Build functional HF & VHF transceivers, string wire dipoles between trees, tune your SWR with baluns and antenna analyzers, and talk across your server using authentic radio mechanics.
QST // BULLETINS & UPDATES
Radiocraft is live on Modrinth for Minecraft Java Edition 1.21.1! Current builds include HF & VHF transceivers, QRP field rigs, 1:1 and 2:1 baluns, wire dipoles, J-Pole and Slim Jim antennas, solar power systems, and callsign management commands. Hop into our Discord development server to test builds and share feedback.
Backed by a $20,000 grant from the ARRL Foundation through PART of Westford (WB1GOF), Radiocraft made its public debut with live hands-on demos in Marlborough, MA. Read the coverage on ARRL New England Division News.
01 // HARDWARE & MECHANICS
Radiocraft isn't just a reskinned chat box. Getting on the air means crafting crystals and ferrite cores, setting up off-grid solar or battery power, and matching your antenna to the band you want to work.
Carry a battery-powered VHF Handheld (HT) for local line-of-sight simplex or repeater work, pack a low-power 20m or 40m QRP rig for field expeditions, or wire up dedicated 80m, 40m, 20m, 10m, and All-Band HF transceivers at your home base.
String physical Antenna Wire between connectors and insulators, wind 1:1 or 2:1 Baluns with ferrite cores, or erect copper J-Pole, Slim Jim, and directional Yagi antennas. Run coaxial cable back to your desk and check your setup with an Antenna Analyzer.
Every transmission draws energy. Wire up Solar Panels through a Charge Controller into Large Batteries, keep spares in a Desk Charger, and monitor the Solar Weather Station to see how noise floor and ionospheric events affect your signal.
The workhorse daytime DX band. Pair a 20m HF Radio or QRP rig with a resonant dipole or roof Yagi to reach operators thousands of blocks away while the sun is up.
03 // FIELD LOGS & SCREENSHOTS
Custom 3D block models designed to fit right alongside vanilla Minecraft and tech mods, with Jade HUD support for inspecting wire lengths and connections.
04 // PROJECT HISTORY & EVOLUTION
Radiocraft started in 2022 when Lucas (W1BTR) noticed that while Minecraft had mods for nuclear physics, spaceflight, and complex automation, there wasn't a single mod dedicated to amateur radio. Sponsored by the Police Amateur Radio Team (PART) of Westford, MA (WB1GOF), the project was funded with a $20k grant from the ARRL in early 2023 to bring a playable amateur radio simulation into Minecraft and introduce younger generations to the hobby.
In August 2023, Radiocraft was publicly unveiled with live playable demos at the Northeast HamXposition (ARRL New England Division Convention) in Marlborough, MA—where young players and veteran hams alike sat down with headsets to build stations and make contacts in-game.
We still share our original August 2022 grant proposal document so anyone can see how the project was pitched and structured. Please note that we've modified the goals, scope, and technical specifics since that document was written—including moving to modern Minecraft versions (such as NeoForge 1.21.1), reworking how antennas, power, and audio networking operate in code, and adjusting feature priorities based on real playtesting.
"This is great! I've been advocating gamification for several years now. I'm convinced this will be part of ham radio's future."
05 // ALL STATIONS INVITED
Whether you're a licensed Extra class operator, a Minecraft modder, a server admin, or someone who just wants to see how ham radio works—everyone is welcome in our Discord server. Follow active development, test new builds, report bugs, or share screenshots of your in-game antenna farm.