{"name":"Channel IDs","title":"Channel IDs","type":"topic","url":"https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Channel_IDs","revid":376795,"updated":"2025-11-20T17:35:01Z","aliases":[],"markdown":"In Arma 3, chat, radio, VON and markers all use the same channel ID system. However, channel IDs for custom channels behave a bit differently. This is explained in the table below.\n\n### Description\n\n> [!NOTE]\n> \"Content\" designates anything channel-related: markers, messages, voice.\n\n| Channel ID | Channel Name | Visible To | Additional Information |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| -1 | None | All players. | Is used when a marker is created with createMarker and the **channelID** parameter was not defined. Markers in \"none\" channel are visible in all other channels as well. |\n| 0 | Global | All players. | |\n| 1 | Side | Content is only visible to the side of the player who created it. | |\n| 2 | Command | | |\n| 3 | Group | Content is only visible for the players in the group of the player who created it. | This channel cannot be disabled. It's the default fallback channel if all other channels are disabled. |\n| 4 | Vehicle | Content is only visible to the vehicle's crew. | |\n| 5 | Direct | Players in close proximity. | |\n| 6..15
26..65 | Custom Channels | Content will only be available for players which have been assigned to this channel. See radioChannelAdd. | Custom channels can be created on the fly. See radioChannelCreate.
> [!WARNING]
> The **custom channel ID** returned by radioChannelCreate is going to be in a range from 1 to 50 (0 if failed).
>
> Internally, these numbers are converted to the **channel IDs** 6..15 and 26..65 (notice the additionaloffset) which are reserved for custom channels.
>
> \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\|
> \\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|
> \\| Channel ID \\| **6** \\| 7 \\| 8 \\| 9 \\| 10 \\| 11 \\| 12 \\| 13 \\| 14 \\| **15** \\|
> \\| Custom Channel ID \\| **1** \\| 2 \\| 3 \\| 4 \\| 5 \\| 6 \\| 7 \\| 8 \\| 9 \\| **10** \\|
>
> **since Arma 3 v2.22**
>
> \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\|
> \\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|
> \\| Channel ID \\| **26** \\| 27 \\| 28 \\| 29 \\| 30 \\| 31 \\| 32 \\| 33 \\| 34 \\| 35 \\| 36 \\| 37 \\| 38 \\| 39 \\| 40 \\| 41 \\| 42 \\| 43 \\| 44 \\| **45** \\|
> \\| Custom Channel ID \\| **11** \\| 12 \\| 13 \\| 14 \\| 15 \\| 16 \\| 17 \\| 18 \\| 19 \\| 20 \\| 21 \\| 22 \\| 23 \\| 24 \\| 25 \\| 26 \\| 27 \\| 28 \\| 29 \\| **30** \\|
>
> \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\|
> \\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|
> \\| Channel ID \\| **46** \\| 47 \\| 48 \\| 49 \\| 50 \\| 51 \\| 52 \\| 53 \\| 54 \\| 55 \\| 56 \\| 57 \\| 58 \\| 59 \\| 60 \\| 61 \\| 62 \\| 63 \\| 64 \\| **65** \\|
> \\| Custom Channel ID \\| **31** \\| 32 \\| 33 \\| 34 \\| 35 \\| 36 \\| 37 \\| 38 \\| 39 \\| 40 \\| 41 \\| 42 \\| 43 \\| 44 \\| 45 \\| 46 \\| 47 \\| 48 \\| 49 \\| **50** \\| |\n| 16 | System | All players, dedicated and headless client. | System messages like \"Player connecting\" or scripted from systemChat. |\n\n### Colours\n\n```sqf\ndriver vehicle player sideChat \"sideChat\";\ndriver vehicle player globalChat \"globalChat\";\ndriver vehicle player groupChat \"groupChat\";\nvehicle player vehicleChat \"vehicleChat\";\ndriver vehicle player commandChat \"commandChat\";\ndriver vehicle player customChat [1, \"customChat\"];\nsystemChat \"systemChat\";\n```\n\n### Changing Channels\n\n**Ingame Controls:** , and . cycle through the channels\n\n**Scripting:** setCurrentChannel\n\n### Custom Channel Example\n\n```sqf\n// Create custom channel\n_customChannelID = radioChannelCreate [[0.96, 0.34, 0.13, 0.8], \"Q-dance Radio\", \"%UNIT_NAME\", [player]]; // _customChannelID is 1\n\n// Switch current channel of the player to the newly created channel.\nsetCurrentChannel (_customChannelID + 5); // Note the channel ID used here. Even though the ID returned by radioChannelCreate is 1, we have to use 6 as channel ID - see table above.\n\n// Let us use this channel for a message\nplayer customChat [_customChannelID, \"Hi, I am a custom chat message\"]; // Since this command uses the customChannelID we have to use 1 (_customChannelID) here\n```\n\n> [!IMPORTANT]\n> Always be aware of what kind of channel ID you are currently working with and what channel ID is expected by the command you are using.\n> See Command Group: Custom Radio and Chat for commands which expect a customChannelID.\n\n### See Also\n\n- Command Group: Markers\n- Command Group: Custom Radio and Chat\n- Command Group: Radio and Chat","sections":[{"heading":null,"level":1,"markdown":"In Arma 3, chat, radio, VON and markers all use the same channel ID system. However, channel IDs for custom channels behave a bit differently. This is explained in the table below."},{"heading":"Description","level":3,"markdown":"> [!NOTE]\n> \"Content\" designates anything channel-related: markers, messages, voice.\n\n| Channel ID | Channel Name | Visible To | Additional Information |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| -1 | None | All players. | Is used when a marker is created with createMarker and the **channelID** parameter was not defined. Markers in \"none\" channel are visible in all other channels as well. |\n| 0 | Global | All players. | |\n| 1 | Side | Content is only visible to the side of the player who created it. | |\n| 2 | Command | | |\n| 3 | Group | Content is only visible for the players in the group of the player who created it. | This channel cannot be disabled. It's the default fallback channel if all other channels are disabled. |\n| 4 | Vehicle | Content is only visible to the vehicle's crew. | |\n| 5 | Direct | Players in close proximity. | |\n| 6..15
26..65 | Custom Channels | Content will only be available for players which have been assigned to this channel. See radioChannelAdd. | Custom channels can be created on the fly. See radioChannelCreate.
> [!WARNING]
> The **custom channel ID** returned by radioChannelCreate is going to be in a range from 1 to 50 (0 if failed).
>
> Internally, these numbers are converted to the **channel IDs** 6..15 and 26..65 (notice the additionaloffset) which are reserved for custom channels.
>
> \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\|
> \\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|
> \\| Channel ID \\| **6** \\| 7 \\| 8 \\| 9 \\| 10 \\| 11 \\| 12 \\| 13 \\| 14 \\| **15** \\|
> \\| Custom Channel ID \\| **1** \\| 2 \\| 3 \\| 4 \\| 5 \\| 6 \\| 7 \\| 8 \\| 9 \\| **10** \\|
>
> **since Arma 3 v2.22**
>
> \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\|
> \\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|
> \\| Channel ID \\| **26** \\| 27 \\| 28 \\| 29 \\| 30 \\| 31 \\| 32 \\| 33 \\| 34 \\| 35 \\| 36 \\| 37 \\| 38 \\| 39 \\| 40 \\| 41 \\| 42 \\| 43 \\| 44 \\| **45** \\|
> \\| Custom Channel ID \\| **11** \\| 12 \\| 13 \\| 14 \\| 15 \\| 16 \\| 17 \\| 18 \\| 19 \\| 20 \\| 21 \\| 22 \\| 23 \\| 24 \\| 25 \\| 26 \\| 27 \\| 28 \\| 29 \\| **30** \\|
>
> \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\| \\|
> \\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|---\\|
> \\| Channel ID \\| **46** \\| 47 \\| 48 \\| 49 \\| 50 \\| 51 \\| 52 \\| 53 \\| 54 \\| 55 \\| 56 \\| 57 \\| 58 \\| 59 \\| 60 \\| 61 \\| 62 \\| 63 \\| 64 \\| **65** \\|
> \\| Custom Channel ID \\| **31** \\| 32 \\| 33 \\| 34 \\| 35 \\| 36 \\| 37 \\| 38 \\| 39 \\| 40 \\| 41 \\| 42 \\| 43 \\| 44 \\| 45 \\| 46 \\| 47 \\| 48 \\| 49 \\| **50** \\| |\n| 16 | System | All players, dedicated and headless client. | System messages like \"Player connecting\" or scripted from systemChat. |"},{"heading":"Colours","level":3,"markdown":"```sqf\ndriver vehicle player sideChat \"sideChat\";\ndriver vehicle player globalChat \"globalChat\";\ndriver vehicle player groupChat \"groupChat\";\nvehicle player vehicleChat \"vehicleChat\";\ndriver vehicle player commandChat \"commandChat\";\ndriver vehicle player customChat [1, \"customChat\"];\nsystemChat \"systemChat\";\n```"},{"heading":"Changing Channels","level":3,"markdown":"**Ingame Controls:** , and . cycle through the channels\n\n**Scripting:** setCurrentChannel"},{"heading":"Custom Channel Example","level":3,"markdown":"```sqf\n// Create custom channel\n_customChannelID = radioChannelCreate [[0.96, 0.34, 0.13, 0.8], \"Q-dance Radio\", \"%UNIT_NAME\", [player]]; // _customChannelID is 1\n\n// Switch current channel of the player to the newly created channel.\nsetCurrentChannel (_customChannelID + 5); // Note the channel ID used here. Even though the ID returned by radioChannelCreate is 1, we have to use 6 as channel ID - see table above.\n\n// Let us use this channel for a message\nplayer customChat [_customChannelID, \"Hi, I am a custom chat message\"]; // Since this command uses the customChannelID we have to use 1 (_customChannelID) here\n```\n\n> [!IMPORTANT]\n> Always be aware of what kind of channel ID you are currently working with and what channel ID is expected by the command you are using.\n> See Command Group: Custom Radio and Chat for commands which expect a customChannelID."},{"heading":"See Also","level":3,"markdown":"- Command Group: Markers\n- Command Group: Custom Radio and Chat\n- Command Group: Radio and Chat"}],"categories":["Scripting Topics"],"groups":["Scripting"]}