2.4GHz COFDM Software Defined Radio Module

Story

My project is an open source 2.4GHz COFDM radio system designed to transmit HD video, telemetry, and RC control over a single wireless link. The goal is to create an affordable alternative to expensive commercial systems while giving developers complete freedom to customize the hardware and software.

Why I Started This Project

My interest in robotics and drones led me to a common problem that almost every developer faces reliable communication.

Every project I built required three essential data streams:

• Live video
• Telemetry data
• Remote control (RC) commands

I experimented with many solutions, including ESP32-based wireless systems and other commercially available radio modules. While they worked for simple applications, they were not reliable enough for long-range, low latency communication and did not provide the flexibility I needed.

Commercial digital radio systems capable of transmitting video and control data often cost $1,500 or more, making them difficult for students, universities, hobbyists, and researchers to afford. Many of these systems are also closed source, meaning users must rely on the manufacturer's protocols and firmware without the ability to modify or improve them.

That inspired me to build something different.

Goal

I want to develop a low-cost (under $200), open-source 2.4GHz COFDM radio module consisting of an Air Unit and a Ground Unit.

The system will support:

• Digital video transmission
• Telemetry communication
• RC control
• All over a single wireless link

The radio will use fixed bandwidth, modulation, and Forward Error Correction (FEC) to provide predictable and reliable performance while keeping the hardware affordable.

More importantly, the entire project will be open source, allowing anyone to study it, modify it, and integrate it into their own robotics or drone projects without vendor restrictions.

Technical Challenges

Building a digital COFDM radio system is an enormous engineering challenge for an individual developer.

The project involves many advanced fields, including:

• High-speed RF PCB design
• Selecting suitable RF transceivers
• Front-End Module (FEM) design
• Baseband processing
• FPGA development
• COFDM implementation
• Digital signal processing
• Embedded firmware
• Hardware manufacturing and testing

This is my first project involving technologies such as FPGA-based processing, so there is a great deal to learn throughout the development process.

Future Vision

My vision is to create an affordable digital communication platform that anyone can build upon.

Instead of being limited by expensive proprietary systems, developers will have the freedom to:

• Study the complete hardware and software design.
• Modify the communication protocols.
• Add new features.
• Adapt the system for drones, robots, autonomous vehicles, and research projects.

I believe open-source hardware can accelerate innovation, and I hope this project becomes a platform that inspires others to learn, improve, and create.

I Hope From PCBWay

I am not looking for financial sponsorship or funding. My goal is to receive technical and manufacturing support that will help transform this idea into a real product.

This project requires multiple prototype revisions, PCB manufacturing, PCB assembly, and continuous testing. As an individual developer, it is difficult to access the resources needed to develop advanced RF hardware, especially a project involving high speed PCB design and COFDM communication.

What I hope to receive from PCBWay is comprehensive support throughout the product development process, including:

• High-quality PCB manufacturing
• PCB assembly (PCBA)
• Assistance with prototype iterations
• Manufacturing guidance for RF PCB design
• Support in turning a concept into a reliable hardware product

With PCBWay's expertise and manufacturing capabilities, I believe this project can grow from an idea into a practical, open source communication platform that benefits students, universities, researchers, robotics developers, and the drone community worldwide.

More than anything, I hope PCBWay will become a partner in this journey. Together, we can transform this concept into a real product that makes advanced digital radio technology more accessible to everyone.