This DIY GoPro Remote is one square inch and only costs $15

GoPro action cameras are small enough that they can be placed almost anywhere. But the problem with choosing unconventional locations is that you still have to press the record button yourself.

Of course, you could use GoPro’s smartphone app to trigger the camera. But there are undoubtedly times when you don’t want to put your smartphone at risk, or want to worry about your smartphone’s battery dying.

For these times, it’s best to have a backup wireless remote.

Now, with a little know-how, you can create a very inexpensive and incredibly small DIY GoPro remote, saving you from the cost of GoPro’s $65 proprietary remote.

Created by DIY guru euerdesign, this 1”x1” remote costs only $10 (a piece) to build and fairly easy to put together with the help of provided instructions.

The premise behind how the remote works is fairly straightforward. Simply press a button attached to a transceiver module and the remote will will fire off a url string to a GoPro across an automatically created ad hoc WiFi network.

As Hackaday points out, this little hack is not only inexpensive, but also versatile, as you can program different URL strings to control other functions. Theoretically, you could create a multi-button module that controls other functions, such as shooting modes, resolution, frame rates and more. You can also control more than one camera with a single remote

Below are the required components to start the build:

• CP2102 Module – $6
• ESP8266 Wireless Transceiver – $7
• Push Button Switch – $1.75 (10 pieces)
• Widerstand 33K Ohm Resister – $3.75 (25 pieces)
• GoPro Camera

Below you will find the tutorial video detailing how to properly create the wireless remote, including how to implement the code onto the transceiver. Euerdesign has provided the code here for you to simply copy and paste, rather than having to go and look it up—or worse yet, create it from scratch.

Once you’ve finished with your build, it’s time to get out and test it.

Below is a video of the prototype remote module that you will have as a result of the tutorial.

Considering the remote only costs $15 to build, you’ll be saving a whopping $50 compared to buying GoPro’s own remote. Sure, it’s not as easy as pressing buy on Amazon, but if you’re a DIYer who loves to tinker or prefer something with a little more customization, this is a wonderful little device to create.