The Flying Experience Starts From Beginning....

Building the BERT RC Controller: A DIY ESP32 Radio With a Built-In RubyFPV HD Ground Station

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 01:10:34 +0000

Most FPV pilots head to the field carrying a small mountain of gear: a radio in one hand, goggles or a separate screen in the other, plus a bag of receivers, antennas, and cables tying it all together. It works — but it has always bugged me. Why are the two things I stare at most, the controls and the video feed, living in two separate boxes?

So I stopped asking and started building. Meet the BERT RC Controller — a single handheld unit that fuses a fully custom ESP32-based radio with a long-range RubyFPV digital video ground station. One device. Two brains. Everything I need to fly, in my own design, down to the last toggle switch.

2026 Project

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 14:31:33 +0000

Finally designed a fully 3d printed quadcopter frame. I am using FreeCAD 1.0 on Ubuntu for designing this frame. After a few alterations and numerous wasted PLA print materials, the quadcopter frame is ready.

It will running on Pico Pi 2 and fully modularized components for newbies. The best part is that I am going to run RubyFPV on it with CM0 …. stay tuned….

New Year with New Idea and New Toy For 2026!

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:06:16 +0000

So this one a little bit different. I am using all modules expect the gyro and some 3.3V regulator for the sdcard (It may having lots of IO and separated it from the Pico Pi2)

What is this actually? It is a flight controller with:

Pico Pi 2 as the flight controller. It will be compatible with betaflight.
BMP580 via I2C
ICM-40609-D via SPI with interrupt pin. This will make it even smoother and less load on CPU
INA229 measuring voltage and current
BL-M8812EU2 for RubyFPV
Compute Module Zero: It provides the core processing capability of Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W in a compact, embeddable form factor, with on-board RAM and optional Wi-Fi® connectivity. Featuring 4-lane CSI and DSI for image and video capture and display applications, Compute Module Zero. I had enabled TVOUT for connecting to analog video display as debugging or development purposes. This will be using sdcard as I am using the LITE version and will be installing RubyFPV system that broadcast digital video feed.
ov5647 camera module CSI port.
2S to 3S. Will upgrade in future version.
Blackbox Enabled
2 x UART (one for ELRS another for GPS)
1 x Software UART as Telemetry (MAVLINK) to RubyFPV
4 x DSHOT150, DSHOT300
1 x I2C output for Magnetometer and other accessories
1 pair output power to the 4in1 ESC board.

The design already sent for fabrication and pending all the modules to be shipped. Once done will start to solder all the components and lets make it real.

Building Something Fun

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 04:43:03 +0000

I am building something fun for everyone. It will be running on Linux. I hope this works out. Now left 1 more section to be completed and sending it for fabrication…. Stay tuned.

RubyFPV Testing on 100mW

Mon, 19 May 2025 10:27:49 +0000

No doubt the power of digital system. Only 100mW and the quality never dropped.

My DiY Goggle Finally is READY!

Sat, 17 May 2025 15:24:14 +0000

The RubyFPV is really astounding!!! Very stable and solid. I had migrate my Eachine ev100 into a custom designed 3d case, putting the Pi Zero 2W, USB hub module, 5 DCDC regulator, bl-m8812eu2 WiFi module card and etc into one single case. I had chosen yellow because it looks like minion.

Below is my build video:

Subscribe my channel for more updates.

Parallel Charging Board (2S x 6)

Sun, 11 May 2025 18:15:13 +0000

Previously had designed and not working great as not added any fuse and polyfuses between the balancer lead and battery. This round I had made it to protect some serious shortcircuits that we never thought it will happened. Safety first.

What I had done this round is added the poly fuses to all the balancer leads. This will reset after it breaks off. Just cool it down and the fuse will be back to normal. For the battery leads, all added a fuse holder with fuse. This will allows the fuse to be easily changed if ever shortcircuit is happened.

Finally Able To Fly in Arco

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 16:04:27 +0000

After so many years, finally able to fiy in acro mode. I had been training myself intensively over simulator until I am confident enough to try it on REAL world. The system also had upgraded with digital video feed and is truly a whole new game.

In Progress....

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 16:09:06 +0000

Something coming up soon. This little guy will be driven by 2S battery. Yeah… meaning going to running on my latest 2S ESC version. Will keep you guys update soon… Stay tuned….

I am Back!

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 16:23:23 +0000

Had been really long busy year. Finally able to fork out some spare time to kickstart back my long waited project. This will be combining the Flight Controller, 4 x ESC, Current Sensor, High Efficient power regulator for 3.3v and 5v, Powered by 2 x 18650 battery and many more!!

Hope to get this done quick then can start to fly with my new BigRC (Installed with RubyFPV system and custom controller using ESP32). This will be mini long range quad!!!

Year 2022 - New Board Simple Designs (SimpleFC and SimpleESC)

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 06:12:15 +0000

Finally had send this latest version for PCB fabrication. I had been busy recently but able to fork out some time to continue this hobby.This year new objective 2022 is to make this one work better than previous version. What I had done:

I separated the ESC with Power Supply section to one board
For the FC board, just plainly MCU, Gyro, Receiver.
Now my custom receiver is upgraded to ESP12F. Sounds like expressLRS, but is not. It was my long time ago receiver until now. It was running on atmega328 but I had migrated to this ESP32 and now shrinking it. Also using E01-ML01 as the receiver (NRF24L01P compatible)
I call it SimpleFC because I want it to be simple and clean. So, this round I had removed BARO and also using STM32F411CEU6 microcontroller. How I did that? I reverse engineered from the code. Based on the code, I mapped back the pins and build backs the schematic. Is a pretty fun process.
Of course now is year 2022, we need USB C. I had found pin layouts from USB C pins and successfully linked it back to the board. No longer need to carry another USB cable for that. I know some are using WiFi cheap for flashing but I still prefer to have cables.
Both the board sizes are: 37mm x 37mm with 1mm thickness and 4 layers.

Interested? Support me via -> https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bertfpv/schematic-for-simple-fc-simple-esc
You will be able to download the schematics.

Diversity VTX Receiver

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 02:22:48 +0000

Recently flying my nano quad, felt a bit scary without a second receiver on the goggle. I had to keep moving my head to get the best reception for the video feed. Finally, I learned about the little display thing on every one’s FPV goggle is actually dual RX5808 receiver with some firmware that keep switching to the best video feed signal. My Eachine EV-100 having dual antenna but is not a very good in handling diversity. I found a few good opensource projects and saw their designs very good but I need audio output as well for the receiver so decided to make my own version. The board already sent for fabrication and now left the firmware to be developed and make it working. I had already tested the tv composite output is working and is very fun to built this diversity vtx receiver. Wish me luck!

All-in-One FC – BertFC Version 1.0 – Part 3

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 02:42:43 +0000

Had done all my testing and flying on this version. Found some bugs and fixed it. The problem was during 3.6v and above the output will be getting higher linearly. So I had added a diode with a 0.6v forward drop voltage. This enables it to have a stable output at 3.3v.

This board design is only meant for 1S. Meaning operating voltage is in between 2.0v ~ 4.2v. Higher than that you need to modify the buckbooster part into a 3.3v LDO as well as the 5v power line to a 5V LDO. I modified this from OMNIBUSF4PRO to my custom made version. I removed SDCard as the blackbox to save more space for the All-In-One board.

All-in-One FC - BertFC Version 1.0 - Part 2

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 02:30:21 +0000

Finally I am able to make it work on the ESC and flashed INAV into it. Testing out the functionality and the thrust power. The good news: IS WORKING! I am going to solder the rest of the components and make it fly…. Stay tune….

All-in-One FC - BertFC Version 1.0

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 02:01:45 +0000

Finally have the full confidence that this version will be working well. As I am using the previous design as RnD and finalized the ESC is working and also corrected a few mistakes that I had done on the previous version. This coming version will be having:

4-in-1 ESC with 5A on each channel (Good enough for a small 3-inch quads)
DSHOT600 is supported
BLHeli_S or BlueJay firmware are supported
STM32F405RTG6 as the heart of the Flight Controller
With a few serial ports for GPS
OnBoard OSD
SBUS protocol
Baro onboard
MPU6000 Gyro
Current Sensor
3.3V buckbooster for all the ESCs, STM32 and etc
5V buckbooster for VTX, Cam and GPS
Theoretically should be able to run from 2.0v ~ 4.2v. Yes, only 1S battery
32.5 x 32.5mm

**Why I build these?**The reason building this is to understand how the whole quad system works. This let me dive deep into every aspect. I learned about ESC, ESC firmwares and also understanding how the ESC MOSFET works. The interesting part of this FC is low power. Normally FC using the cheaper version of the buck converter. I am trying to use a decent powerful buckbooster converter and hopefully this will let me to fly my quad for more than 20 minutes on single cell. All these ideas came from DaveC FPV which he had built a very nice Nano Long Range Quad running on 1S. This is the video -> <

I would like to buy those FC but I just want to have something that I am able to build and opensource the schematic to everyone and build one for yourself. Once I am done, I will start to share out the schematic. Just need to make sure is working before sharing out.

Custom Radio Controller Transmitter

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 08:19:53 +0000

Since day one I am on this RC hobby, I never had any aftermarket Radio Controller Transmitter. I had bought a broken Futaba Radio Controller and stripped off all the components inside the case and just left only the toggle switches and the gimbals. I linked them to my arduino nano for the first version that I have. I was using a very long antenna to maximize the 2.4G range.

How To Flash BLHeli_S Firmware To EFM8BB21F16G

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 10:25:32 +0000

During the first time when I got my 1st ESC set up, I was stucked for a while and having a question in my head, " How do I flash in the firmware?". I am a pure Linux user. I don’t use Windows systems. Well, thanks to Google and I am able to find out a few ways. Somehow ended had to use the Windows Application and get the work done. In future, I will try to convert it to Linux when I have the time.

What I Am Planning

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 09:04:25 +0000

Well, this site is to share all my RnD work to everyone who likes to build things from scratch. I am building drones since 6 years ago till now. At time my first drone was a big giant bird. I was using 500 X-Mode Alien Multicopter 500mm Quadcopter Frame. I picked that frame because the FC was just an Arduino running on MultiWii and some custom made receiver. Yeah, I am building everything my own even the receiver and transmitter. I developed the firmware for the receiver as well as the transmitter. Is using custom data packets using nRF24L01 modules. Now I am using EByte module which is identical to nRF24L01 and with more power you can go with.
The fun thing of this hobby is letting you to build everything by yourself. Is a lengthy and long way to learn everything but is worth it. Trust me, is worth it. You will learn the electronics part, mechanical part and firmware developments. You can just buy DJI and fly but it will not last. You will get bored and forget about it. Building it your own will just let you keep this hobby non-stop on going to build more and more things on it. I will slowly share out all the things that I had built for this project from Custom Radio Controller, Receiver, FC and ESC. In order to learn more, you need to share more to others ;)

My Current Project – RnD on ESC – Day 2

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 08:48:07 +0000

Finally came to an end where I need to redesign the schematic again for lesser components and trying to get power source from FC rather from itself. The whole idea is to cut costs and able to build it easily. Below is the diagram currently I am working on and going to test out the firmware on BLHELI_s with the version O_H_5 but with some minor modification on the code. I had accidentally swapped the pins at the MOSFETs side. Lets see how it goes once the board is back from JLCPCB.

Added GiT Repository Server

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 04:59:09 +0000

Finally added a new repository server to my site. This will store all my source codes for the FPV related projects here. Freely shared to everyone to rebuild it. I will constantly update it. Stay tune.

https://git.bertfpv.com/explore/repos

My Current Project - RnD on ESC - Day 1

Sat, 29 May 2021 15:42:26 +0000

So far I had finished assembling the parts but still awaiting for some major parts arrival to confirm all the schematic are working before migrating to the All-In-One board.
Front PCB:

Back PCB:

Is my first time working on 0402 size components. Still need to clean up those small dirty residuals from the paste. Also noticed that some of the parts still empty as I am still awaiting for the arrival of the components. That is the main buck-boost converter for this ESC project. As this ESC specification is as below:
i. Operation Voltage: 2.5v ~ 4.2v
ii. Operation Current: Maximum at 5A
iii. BLHELI firmware compatible

Welcome To The Quad Building Site

Sat, 29 May 2021 15:12:43 +0000

This site is dedicated to all my creations and builds. All my info on building the quad including the electronic boards and everything. I hope this will keep on going as I had already on this hobby for more than 5 years of Research and Development.

Previously, I had a site known as EchoWii which no longer available. EchoWii was only for FC that builds on-top on MultiWii. I had done lots of improvement on it and started to moved on and building receivers and radio controllers. So after a while moved on to FPV flying with acro mode. Then slowly learns about INAV, betaflight and so on. I am also building custom ESC PCB for the quad.