Ep.04 - S1|E4: When the SD Card Won… and Why I’m Switching to CircuitPython for My Drone Telemetry

This week on Build, Create & Learn – A Maker’s Journey, I hit a wall with my STM32 drone telemetry project. My GPS parser worked beautifully, but the SD card shield? Not so much. After days of debugging SPI conflicts, wiring quirks, and endless C/C++ frustration, I had to face a tough question: keep grinding, or pivot to a tool that actually fits my maker workflow?

 

In this episode, I share the full story of why I’m switching from STM32 and C to CircuitPython on the RP2040 for my drone telemetry logger. We’ll talk about NMEA strings (RMC & GGA), testing external GPS antennas, and the lessons I learned from failing at SD card logging. More importantly, I’ll reflect on the maker’s mindset: knowing when to push through and when to change tools so you can keep learning, building, and actually finish projects.

 

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How I parsed GPS NMEA data (RMC & GGA) and added a motion filter
• Why my STM32 + SD card shield setup refused to cooperate
• The moment I realized C wasn’t helping me move forward
• Why CircuitPython + RP2040 is the better fit for my telemetry project
• My next steps: reconnecting sensors, logging to SD, and moving toward a flight-ready prototype

Listen now and let's keep building, creating, and learning – together!