DIY project pairs FT232H USB board with CC1101 to scan 433MHz signals
A hobbyist built a 433MHz signal scanner by wiring a CC1101 radio module to a CJMCU-232H FT232H board, controlled entirely from a laptop via a Python script using pyftdi, with no microcontroller flashing required. The setup was tested against a cheap AliExpress copy remote with a fixed code, successfully decoding all four of its buttons, with testing against actual gate remotes planned for a follow-up post.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The project illustrates how USB-to-SPI adapters like the FT232H can replace microcontroller-based setups (such as an ESP32 running ESPHome) for simple radio-frequency experimentation, removing the need to rebuild and reflash firmware for each change. This could make low-level RF signal analysis more accessible to hobbyists without embedded programming experience, though the author notes real-world testing against rolling-code gate remotes is still pending.
- A CC1101 433MHz module was connected to an FT232H USB board using six jumper wires and no microcontroller.
- The scanner, run via a Python script, successfully decoded all four buttons of a fixed-code AliExpress copy remote.
- The CC1101 requires 1.8-3.6V power, and the author warns that the nearby 5V pin on the FT232H board could destroy the module if miswired.
CJMCU-232H FT232H USB Breakout Board — This is the exact FTDI board the article uses to bridge the CC1101 radio to a laptop with no microcontroller flashing required. It's a handy general-purpose tool for SPI/I2C/UART projects beyond just this 433MHz scanner build.
See CJMCU-232H FT232H USB Breakout Board on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: blog.jacq.cc, 2026-11-02
Published there as: “433MHz TUI scanner: using a FT232H connected to a CC1101”
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