The ESP32-DIV V2 is a handheld, open-source wireless toolkit that CiferTech has documented in a detailed build write-up on Hackster, and it’s the kind of “because I can” project that turns into a practical RF learning platform surprisingly fast. If you want a quick refresher on the chip family behind it, here’s an ESP32 primer from our archives.

What ESP32-DIV V2 Is (and Isn’t)

Calling it “better than Flipper” is obviously provocative, but the real story is that ESP32-DIV V2 is a modular platform: a main board built around an ESP32-S3, and a plug-on shield that adds extra radios and I/O. According to the project’s source repository, the hardware stack includes a small TFT user interface, SD storage for logs and captures, USB-to-serial for flashing, battery management, WS2812 status LEDs, and a buzzer for feedback.
 

A hand holds an ESP32-DIV v2 handheld wireless toolkit with a colour display showing a spectrum/waterfall-style RF view and multiple SMA antenna connectors along the top edge.
Handheld ESP32-DIV v2 hardware running an RF visualisation screen, with multi-antenna connectivity for wireless experimentation. Source: GitHub/cifertech

The shield approach is the interesting part: it’s where the “wireless lab bench in your pocket” idea scales without constantly respinning the main board.

ESP32-DIV V2 Across Wi-Fi, BLE, 2.4 GHz, Sub-GHz, and IR

At a high level, the firmware is organized as a toolbox for observing and experimenting with common consumer bands: Wi-Fi and BLE up top, generic 2.4 GHz activity via nRF24 modules, Sub-GHz via a CC1101-class transceiver, plus infrared capture and replay. Some of the features described in the documentation are powerful enough to be illegal or disruptive if you point them at real systems. Treat it as lab gear: keep experiments on your own equipment, in RF-safe conditions, and with explicit permission where that applies.

Why This Matters to Makers

Even if you never build this exact board, ESP32-DIV V2 is a useful case study in how to design a “tool appliance” around a cheap MCU: consistent UI, logging-first workflows, and an architecture that separates a stable core from fast-changing RF add-ons. It also shows why the ESP32-S3 is such a convenient middle ground—enough RAM and I/O for displays and storage, plus ubiquitous tooling and community support.

If you’re tempted to tackle something similar, focus on the parts that translate to other embedded projects: power integrity with mixed RF loads, clean task separation, and a UI that doesn’t fight the user. And yes, you may still end up with a pocket gadget that makes you grin like an idiot every time the buzzer chirps. That’s allowed.

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