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WhiskeyTangoHotel’s “Poorman’s Stream Deck” uses an ESP32 Cheap Yellow Display (CYD) as a small wireless touchscreen controller for RIT and XIT on a FlexRadio 6400. Four large touch areas change the offsets without reaching for SmartSDR’s small adjustment controls. It is a focused DIY radio controller—not a general-purpose replacement for an Elgato Stream Deck.
What the CYD FlexRadio controller does
The interface presents four touch regions: RIT−, RIT+, XIT− and XIT+. Tap a region to decrease or increase the corresponding offset. The posted firmware changes an offset by 10 Hz per accepted touch, shows the current RIT and XIT values, and displays the CYD’s local IP address.
The project author describes the controller as connecting to a FlexRadio 6400 over Wi-Fi and requiring 5 V power. The firmware sends FlexRadio command strings through a TCP connection to the radio on port 4992; the described radio-control path is wireless, not USB. Hackaday’s coverage also summarizes the four controls and Wi-Fi operation.
The code resets both offsets after 60 minutes without changes. That timeout belongs to this published firmware; it is not a built-in feature of CYD boards generally.
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Hardware and software used in the published build
Display and touch board
The author describes the Cheap Yellow Display as an ESP32 module with an onboard 2.8-inch touchscreen and Wi-Fi. The published display configuration is 240 by 320 pixels and uses a custom TFT_eSPI setup. The project’s name does not guarantee identical hardware across all CYD boards and revisions, so verify the candidate board’s display and touch controller against the project configuration before buying or flashing it.
Arduino libraries and radio connection
The post’s Arduino IDE configuration uses an ESP32 Dev Module board setting, the TFT_eSPI library for the display, and XPT2046_Touchscreen for touch input. Its firmware uses WiFiClient to open a TCP connection to the radio on port 4992. These are the author’s implementation details, not a claim that every CYD revision will work with the same configuration without adjustment.
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The author provides the project description and firmware here: WhiskeyTangoHotel’s Poorman’s Stream Deck for Flex Radio. Hackaday’s separate overview is available at Stream Deck Radio Controller Built With Cheap Yellow Display.
What to check before building
- Confirm the radio target. The documented project targets the FlexRadio 6400. The sources do not establish compatibility with other FlexRadio models or other radio brands.
- Match the CYD hardware. Check the board’s screen resolution and touch controller against the published 240-by-320 display setup and XPT2046 touch library configuration. Do not assume every board sold as a CYD is identical.
- Plan for Wi-Fi and power. The described build needs Wi-Fi connectivity to the radio and 5 V power at the CYD. Its radio-control connection uses TCP port 4992.
- Review the firmware behavior. The posted code changes the selected offset by 10 Hz per accepted touch and resets both offsets after 60 minutes without changes. Make sure that behavior suits the way you operate the radio.
CYD build or commercial Stream Deck?
The project’s purpose is narrower than a conventional Stream Deck: it provides four large touch controls specifically for RIT and XIT. A commercial Stream Deck is an alternative for someone who prefers an off-the-shelf controller, but it is not required for the CYD build. The sources do not provide a current price comparison or a hands-on reliability comparison, so those should not be inferred.
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| Consideration | CYD DIY controller | Commercial Stream Deck |
|---|---|---|
| Primary fit | Four touchscreen controls tailored to FlexRadio 6400 RIT/XIT adjustment | General-purpose commercial controller; the project does not establish its configuration for this radio task |
| Setup | Requires matching the board hardware, Arduino IDE settings, libraries, Wi-Fi and published firmware | Off-the-shelf device; setup for this specific FlexRadio task is not detailed in the sources |
| Input style | On-screen touch regions on a 2.8-inch display | Physical keys are a possible preference, but the cited sources do not compare specific models |
| Price evidence | The author reported seeing a $9 listing for an ESP32 touchscreen module on AliExpress on March 17, 2026; this is a dated observation, not a current price | The author described a Stream Deck as costing “over a hundred bucks” at the time of writing; this is historical, not current pricing |
| Reliability comparison | Not established by the cited project coverage | Not established by the cited project coverage |
Why the project exists
The author’s motivation was the inconvenience of reaching SmartSDR’s small RIT and XIT controls with a mouse. The larger touch targets turn that narrow adjustment task into a dedicated wireless interface. As the project page puts the underlying sentiment: “Dammit, real radios have knobs and buttons!”
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