An ESP32‑based FM radio was built around the TEA5767 tuner, a KY‑040 rotary encoder, a PAM8403 amplifier, and a 0.96" OLED display, all on a custom PCB.

The project began in January 2026 using an Arduino UNO to prototype manual and preset FM tuning, a 16×2 LCD for frequency display, and wired headphone output—soldering directly onto the TEA5767 because it lacks built‑in amplification.

Phase 2 shifted to a compact PCB layout. The ESP32 dev board replaces the UNO to save space, the OLED takes the place of the LCD, and the PAM8403 feeds two 3‑W, 4‑Ω speakers, acting as a volume control. During breadboarding it was discovered that the TEA5767, though rated for 5 V, must run at 3.3 V to protect the ESP32’s I/O pins; powering it at 5 V would raise the data lines above the 3.3 V limit and risk damage. The amplifier requires a 5 V, 1.5 A supply separate from the microcontroller, so both are powered from a single transformer to avoid brown‑outs.

Custom footprints were created in Ki‑Cad for the ESP32‑Dev Kit‑32E, TEA5767, PAM8403, KY‑040, and OLED. The finished board was ordered from JLCPCB, and videos and a PDF of the design process are available online. This first PCB project has sharpened the author’s hardware‑design skills and serves as a guide for newcomers.