RF-Clown v2: The Wireless Beast Just Got a Turbo Boost

Hey everyone, Cifer here!You know that feeling when a project you built just won’t leave your head? That was RF-Clown for me.The first version worked great — compact, powerful, and fun to build — but I knew it could go further. So I tore it apart, redesigned everything, and ended up with something way more capable.Meet RF-Clown v2, my biggest upgrade yet.

🧩 Why I Rebuilt It

Version 1 was solid — it had one button, a few LEDs, and did its job well. But it was limited in range, control, and user feedback. I wanted something smarter, stronger, and a bit more futuristic.

The goal for v2 was simple:

• Boost performance with more radios and better antennas.
• Upgrade the interface with an OLED display and real navigation.
• Keep it open-source so anyone can build, tweak, or improve it.

Like most of my projects, you can find the documentation, PCB, and code on my GitHub, and if you’d like to support my builds, you can join my Patreon — it really helps keep these projects alive.

⚙️ What Changed

🧱 Still Rock-Solid Foundations

ESP32-WROOM-32U remains the main MCU — perfect for Wi-Fi and BLE features I plan to integrate later.

• ESP32-WROOM-32U remains the main MCU — perfect for Wi-Fi and BLE features I plan to integrate later.
• TP4056 handles battery charging for the single-cell setup.
• CP2102 makes programming plug-and-play, no hassle.
• LF33 regulator supplies a clean 3.3 V line for all components.

🚀 The Big Upgrades

Three × GT24 Mini (NRF24 compatible) transceivers instead of two — inspired by my NRFBox project. Having three radios improves coverage and performance dramatically.

• Four IPEX extension cables link the radios and ESP32 to external antennas, giving much more flexibility.
• Eight 8 dBi antennas for a clean balance between size and gain.
• OLED display + three tactile switches for menu navigation — and yes, it’s simple, but so satisfying.
• One NeoPixel replaces multiple LEDs for a cleaner look and dynamic feedback.

Of course, with these upgrades comes a slightly larger build, but it’s still portable enough to fit in a bag — and that’s a trade-off I’ll gladly take.

🔧 Building the Hardware

The PCB layout was tight. Three radios, external antenna lines, battery circuit, and the ESP32 — all had to fit without causing noise or interference.Thermal management was another challenge. With three NRF24s pushing hard, temperatures can climb fast.So I added small heatsinks to the radio modules, which helped stabilize performance.

Here’s a quick spec snapshot:

Core MCU: ESP32-WROOM-32U
Radios: 3× GT24 Mini (NRF24 compatible)
Display: 0.96” OLED
Indicator: 1× NeoPixel
Battery: 1-cell LiPo (TP4056 charger)
Voltage Regulator: LF33 3.3 V
Antennas: 8 dBi External via IPEX

The design may not be ultra-compact anymore, but it’s far more capable and robust — built for performance first.

🧠 Firmware & Menu System

Firmware-wise, I moved from the “one-button madness” of version 1 to a more structured, menu-based system.Three buttons now let you scroll, select, and navigate through modes — and the OLED display gives you instant visual feedback.

The NeoPixel acts as a status indicator:

• Green for active,
• Blue for standby,
• Red for errors or overheating.

This setup feels like a mini control panel on your thumb — clean, functional, and intuitive.

🔬 Testing the Beast

Time for the fun part.

In the previous video, I tested RF-Clown v1 in different ways — including with BLE speakers (you can check that video if you haven’t already).For this version, I went a step further.

📷 Test 1 — Wi-Fi Camera

I connected a small Wi-Fi-based camera and monitored the live feed.When I activated RF-Clown v2, the video froze instantly. After deactivation, it returned to normal.

💻 Test 2 — Laptop

Next, I tested it with my laptop. Once activated, the system couldn’t even scan for access points — everything went dark.The moment I deactivated it, networks popped back up immediately.

The difference in signal range and consistency compared to v1 is huge — all thanks to the triple-radio setup and new antennas.

🌡️ Heat & Optimization

Let’s talk about the one drawback: heat.In normal NRF24 applications, temperature isn’t a big deal — but as you know, normal isn’t what we do here.When running three transceivers simultaneously, heat builds up fast.

The simple fix: attach aluminum heatsinks to the radio modules.After that, the modules stayed noticeably cooler, and the performance stabilized.

🧡 Sponsored by NextPCB

Big thanks to NextPCB for supporting this project!If you're building your own nRFBOX or any other PCB project, I highly recommend NextPCB for fast, reliable, and affordable PCB manufacturing and assembly.

🛠️ Get your boards made here → https://www.nextpcb.com

💻 Code & PCB

If you’re interested in building this project, the code and schematic are available on GitHub. Simply visit the GitHub repository to download the necessary files. Feel free to test the code and share your feedback or improvements.

GitHub repository: github.com/cifertech/RF-Clown

🧩 Final Thoughts

This build was one of my most satisfying upgrades so far.It’s not just stronger — it feels complete. The extra hardware, better UI, and smarter design make it a true evolution of the original RF-Clown.

If you’ve been following my projects for a while, you’ll know I’m all about exploring what’s possible when you push hardware just a little further than it was meant to go.This is exactly that.

As always — build it, tweak it, break it, and make it your own.See you in the next one.