LILYGO T-TWR

Overview

The LILYGO T-TWR is an ESP32-S3-based handheld radio transceiver development board that combines WiFi, Bluetooth 5, and analog radio (UHF, VHF, or 350MHz depending on variant) in a single platform. The "TWR" name references its two-way radio capability, making it suitable for digital walkie-talkie projects, APRS trackers, and amateur radio applications.

At its core, the ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8 module provides 16MB of Flash and 8MB of PSRAM, with dual Xtensa LX7 cores for processing audio and radio data simultaneously. A 0.96-inch SSD1306 OLED (128x64, I2C) provides the display interface. Three buttons (Boot + IO3 + Reset) and 18650 battery support with USB fallback power are included. An upgraded T-TWR Plus model is also available on the LILYGO website.

Firmware Compatibility

The T-TWR is compatible with Arduino IDE and ESP-IDF. The GitHub repository at Xinyuan-LilyGO/T-TWR contains example firmware for radio operation, OLED display, and WiFi connectivity. The SA868 or similar radio module is controlled via UART AT commands from the ESP32-S3.

Flashing Guide

1. Install ESP32-S3 Arduino core via Boards Manager.
2. Connect via USB (ESP32-S3 native USB).
3. Select "ESP32S3 Dev Module" with 16MB Flash and 8MB PSRAM.
4. Enable USB CDC On Boot in board settings for serial output.
5. Hold Boot button and press Reset to enter DFU mode, then upload your sketch.