# ESP-SDR Can Now Transmit

> **Key Architectural Takeaway:** Well, that was fast! Last week, we reported on two apparently simultaneous hacks using the 2.4 GHz radio inside many ESP32 variants that enabled raw access to the radio samples, turning it into a listen-only software defined radio (SDR) platform.

**Published:** 2026-10-13T20:00:21+00:00 
**Source:** Hackaday Hardware 
**Category:** open-hardware 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/esp-sdr-can-now-transmit.html 

## Executive Summary
Well, that was fast! Last week, we reported on two apparently simultaneous hacks using the 2.4 GHz radio inside many ESP32 variants that enabled raw access to the radio samples, turning it into a listen-only software defined radio (SDR) platform. That’s only half of the SDR story. Last weekend, [Murmel] got started fixing that, and released an early early version of ESP32 firmware that can also transmit , and got it working with gqrx.

## Architectural & Systems Analysis
From a silicon and hardware engineering viewpoint:

- **Interface Neutrality:** Mitigates dependency on proprietary BSPs, empowering open toolchains to address hardware directly.
- **Supply Chain Verification:** Schematics and open pinouts allow deterministic audits against silicon errata.
- **Lifecycle Decoupling:** Decouples physical hardware utility from commercial vendor end-of-life obsolescence.

## Impact on the Open Ecosystem
Ensures that computational autonomy remains in the hands of the architect rather than closed silicon vendors.