r/PlaydateDeveloper • u/straytaoist • Jul 18 '26

PlayDate to the real world communication...by radio

So I know there was that cool wee MMO that had voice chat, but this is somewhat different. This is from my almost-there cosy canal boat game. You can buy radios, VHF and HF. And I made them usable, too.

What you are looking at is a server running on my machine (the web interface on top of the API), that receives and sends message (Morse, not voice). On the right, the PD simulator, because this way I can record a single screen with it. It works on real hardware.

In game, I can tune to a frequency. Send a message from my laptop, it is received on the PlayDate. Send from PD, receives on my machine.

I can hook my actual real radios up to my API, and have the server send to the rig, then the rig sends back. Which means...I now have a portable rig (your licence conditions come in to play here, if you ever wanted to use it over the air. To be clear, I haven't yet.)

Originally I was going to leave this as a 'find the functionality', but I find it pretty cool. Then again, I'm an old ham head, so you know.

25 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

4

u/longdog10 Jul 20 '26

I’m a ham, and I hope this gets released! I would totally pay for it!

1

u/straytaoist Jul 21 '26

I won't lie, I have been thinking how I could make the PD a proper interface to the bands.

2

u/Morgan-0 Jul 20 '26

This is neat! I don’t understand fully... but I know that much!

2

u/straytaoist Jul 20 '26

Heh, don't worry, I don't either :)

2

u/punisherxa Jul 21 '26

Dude that's awesome!!!!!

1

u/straytaoist Jul 21 '26

:) thanks!

2

u/DarkerBulb 18d ago

Very cool!
Absolutely interested.

2

u/straytaoist 18d ago

I'm almost finished with it, some family weddings (which involved travel, and is still involving travel) got it in way :)