BEFORE YOU PLAY // FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQ

Quick answers to what new operators ask most. Follow the links for the full story in the handbook.

Does it work on Bedrock, Fabric or Forge?

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No. Radiocraft is a NeoForge mod for Minecraft: Java Edition 1.21.1. See Installing the Mod.

Do I need Simple Voice Chat? Do I need a microphone?

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Simple Voice Chat is required: radios carry your real voice, and Radiocraft will not load without it. It must be on the server and on every player's game. You can still listen without a microphone, and digital modes such as teletype and APRS need none.

I am talking but nobody hears me.

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  • Hold the radio's own PTT while you speak: right click and hold a handheld, or hold PTT on the radio's screen. An open mic in voice chat never keys a radio.
  • If voice chat is set to push to talk, hold its talk key as well.
  • Both radios must be on the same frequency and band, and in the same mode (FM, SSB, CW).
  • Press V and check voice chat is connected and your microphone works. On a server, voice chat needs its own UDP port (24454 by default) open.
  • Base stations and HF radios need power and an antenna. See Your First Station.

Why can't I reach someone far away?

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VHF reaches about 500 blocks by line of sight, and less through hills and indoors. For further, use HF: it bounces off the sky, but only in a window of distances that depends on the band, the time of day and the sun. 80 and 40 m are best at night, 20 m by day, and 10 m only opens when the sun is lively. /bandcalculate <from> <to> estimates every band between two places. See Bands & Range and Repeaters.

Why is my HF radio full of static?

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HF always hisses; a strong signal pushes it down. Redstone clocks near your coax or antenna crackle, and lightning crashes on every radio. See Noise & Interference.

My radio went fizz and stopped transmitting.

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It blew: you transmitted into an SWR of 3 or worse. It still receives. Break it for its parts and craft another, and fix the antenna first: check the SWR in Jade, on an antenna tuner or with the antenna analyzer, and test on a dummy load. See SWR & Blown Radios. A lightning strike down the coax blows radios too: see Lightning.

What is a call sign? How do I get one?

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Every operator has one, and digital modes and repeaters send it so others know who they heard. Type /callsign to see yours, and /callsign claim to choose one (or have one chosen for you), if your server allows it.

Is there an in-game guide?

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Yes: this wiki is the in-game handbook. With Patchouli installed, craft a book with a piece of wire, or type /radiocraft guide.

Where are the recipes?

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Every handbook entry on this wiki shows its recipes, and Blocks & Items lists everything with links. In game, install JEI, or read the handbook. Radios are built around a crystal for their band.

Do I need Another Weather Mod?

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No, it is optional. Without it the weather gear reads vanilla weather, which has no wind. See Another Weather Mod.

Can I use it on a server, or in a modpack?

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Yes. The server and every player need the same Radiocraft version, with Simple Voice Chat and GeckoLib; see Playing on a Server. Radiocraft is open source (GPLv3) and can go in modpacks; get it from Modrinth or GitHub.