Build Your Own Mini Walkie-Talkie with ElectronicTricks’ SnapOnAir PCB

France-based ElectronicTricks are known for designing PCBs that act as the foundation for specific LoRa-based project builds, such as pagers, shields for the Raspberry Pi, game stations, and a host of others. The company has recently added another addition to their repository of boards with the SnapOnAir Micro Walkie Talkie PCB — a mini LoRa communication platform that uses an ESP32 module, along with a joystick and an OLED.

The walkie-talkie uses LoRa communication technology utilizing license-free sub-gigahertz RF bands, including 169MHz, 433MHz, 868MHz (Europe), and 915MHz (North America). The protocol is popular for its long-range data transmission capabilities, which can reach six miles or more depending on the area.

As mentioned earlier, ElectronicTricks only sells the PCB; you will have to populate it with additional components yourself to turn it into a communications device — a 0.96-inch OLED display, small SMD buttons for the joystick, tiny SMD resistors, a power source (USB or LiPo), and an ESP32.

ElectronicTricks has uploaded the design files and source code to its GitHub page, which includes an I2C library to emulate a mini keyboard on the OLED display (works with ESP32/ESP8266), Arduino test code for the LoRa protocol, and demo software for all features of the walkie-talkie. All in all, the Micro Walkie Talkie PCB would probably be a great starter project for those just entering the world of electronics that costs very little to build (@ around $15 or so), or maybe use it as a relay for long-range IoT projects.