diff --git a/lib/radio_esp8266.c b/lib/radio_esp8266.c
index 6f5fc1a..58d25be 100644
--- a/lib/radio_esp8266.c
+++ b/lib/radio_esp8266.c
@@ -107,11 +107,11 @@ void radio_esp8266_setup(void)
 	}
 }
 
-void radio_esp8266_tcp_open(char* host, uint16_t port)
+void radio_esp8266_open(const char* host, uint16_t port, bool tcp)
 {
 	char command[256] = {0}; // string to create command
-	int length = snprintf(command, LENGTH(command), "AT+CIPSTART=\"TCP\",\"%s\",%u\r\n", host, port); // create AT command to establish a TCP connection
-	if (length>0) {
+	int length = snprintf(command, LENGTH(command), "AT+CIPSTART=\"%s\",\"%s\",%u\r\n", tcp ? "TCP" : "UDP", host, port); // create AT command to establish a TCP connection
+	if (length > 0) {
 		radio_esp8266_transmit((uint8_t*)command, length);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/lib/radio_esp8266.h b/lib/radio_esp8266.h
index b66e7f5..cf95451 100644
--- a/lib/radio_esp8266.h
+++ b/lib/radio_esp8266.h
@@ -18,10 +18,11 @@ extern volatile bool radio_esp8266_success;
 void radio_esp8266_setup(void);
 /** establish TCP connection
  *  @param[in] host host to connect to
- *  @param[in] port TCP port to connect to
+ *  @param[in] port port number to connect to
+ *  @param[in] tcp if connect to a TCP port (else UDP)
  *  @note wait for activity to get success status
  */
-void radio_esp8266_tcp_open(char* host, uint16_t port);
+void radio_esp8266_open(const char* host, uint16_t port, bool tcp);
 /** send data (requires established connection)
  *  @param[in] data data to send
  *  @param[in] length size of data to send