Ep.07 - S1|E7: Season Finale: Lessons from the Drone Telemetry Project

In this season finale of Build, Create & Learn – A Maker’s Journey, I look back on my FPV drone telemetry project and what it taught me. From frustrating SD card issues and wiring mishaps to the breakthrough of logging my first GPS data, this season has been a mix of struggles, pivots, and small wins. I also share behind-the-scenes insights about starting this podcast, balancing projects with a full-time job, and why documenting the journey helped me stay consistent. Finally, I tease what might be coming in Season 2 — new projects, new formats, and fresh challenges. Thanks for joining me on this first season. Here’s to more building, creating, and learning ahead!

Episode Transcript

Hey everyone and welcome back to the season final of Build, Create & Learn (00:00):
A Maker’s Journey.
I’m your host Stefan and starting this podcast was one of the best decisions I’ve made this year.
It’s been a ride full of twists and turns I didn’t anticipate.

(00:20):
The idea was simple - share my projects and document the journey with all the ups and downs along the way.
Before season 1 I set myself the challenge of upgrading my FPV drone with a telemetry system to track GPS data and environmental data.
Today I want to look back on what worked, what didn’t, what I learned and where I want to go next.

(00:50):
When I started I honestly didn’t know what hardware I would need.
I just had this itch, I want my drone flights to finally also have useful GPS data.
The road was not straightforward.
The hardest point for me was this episode about the SD card challenge.
I wasted a lot of time debugging with the wrong breakout board and for a while I blamed the STM32 microcontroller itself.

(01:19):
I was close to giving up.
When a breakthrough came when I pivoted to CircuitPython.
Suddenly I had a working library, faster feedback and I was able to log my first real data.
Looking back maybe just switching the SD card model could have solved my problem on SDM32 2.

(01:41):
But that’s part of the journey.
Sometimes a pivot gives you back motivation when frustration is too high.
Along the way I also had to face soldering and wiring challenges.
Removing pin headers without destroying a board felt like surgery and I realized I need a lot more precision in my soldering.

(02:02):
That was frustrating but also one of the biggest learning moments.
Reaching a working prototype, being able to log GPS data and see it mapped felt like a huge win.
For someone like me with a generalist mindset and tons of ideas pulling me in different directions sticking to a project long enough to have something to show is already an achievement.

(02:33):
Looking back this season was about more than telemetry.
It was about growth.
I learned new skills in electronics, programming and CAD.
I discovered that the areas I struggle most with given me the biggest breakthroughs.
Documenting the journey was a powerful tool.

(02:54):
It forced me to stop, reflect and think about alternatives instead of just pushing forward blindly.
In reflection I believe this is the key to building working prototypes without over-engineering.
I even created a small motivational poster series for workshops as a reminder that sometimes just the spark is enough to keep pushing through the tough moments.

(03:18):
Having mine on the wall was a small but useful motivator.
So, what’s next?
I don’t have a final answer yet.
I’ve exploring ideas.
Another drone project, maybe something in aerospace, maybe even a small SaaS product from scratch.

(03:39):
I’m also intrigued by products that combine hardware and software into a new product.
For the podcast itself I would like to continue the story-based approach but I’m also curious about trying interviews or experiment with the format a bit.
And one thing I want to improve is the pacing.
Slowing down a little so it’s easier to follow.

(04:04):
What I know for sure season 1 was about finding my rhythm, experimenting and proving to myself that I can stay consistent.
Season 2 will all about building on that foundation.
Thank you so much for listening whether you joined from the beginning or just tuned in recently.

(04:26):
This podcast is about sharing my journey as a maker.
The good, the bad and the unexpected.
I hope it inspires you to build something, create something or simply learn something new.
And of course if you want a weekly behind the scene peek at what I’m thinking about projects that don’t always make it into the podcast, subscribe to my makers logbook newsletter and get a free poster for your workshop.

That’s it for season 1 of Build, Create & Learn (04:54):
A Maker’s Journey.
Thanks again for following along and I will see you in season 2.
Let’s keep building, creating and learning together.