Lifecycle
Badge ecosystems keep moving after handout: apps, hexpansions, SAOs, antennas, cases, repair parts, firmware updates, and post-event hardware experiments.
The ESP32-S3 schematic backs ESP32-S3-WROOM, USB-C, SSD1306 OLED, WS2812B Mini LEDs, buttons, slide switch, I2C, and battery-rail claims; the repository's SAMD11-named tree contains an RP2040 schematic with USB-C, W25Q flash, battery, OLED, WS2812B Mini LEDs, and switches.
SourceThe hardware tree preserves KiCad schematic and board files whose schematic names RP2040, SPH0641LM4H microphone, PAM8302AAD amplifier, W25Q16JV flash, MCP1700 regulator, battery, buzzer, LEDs, micro-USB, BOOT, and RESET elements.
SourceThe public hardware tree preserves KiCad board, schematic, project, footprint, camera, MCU, USB, power, and mechanical-source files for the named 2026 artifact.
Sourcehelge's HiFi-Bodge project extends the badge as an audio-capable hardware add-on.
SourceThe documented 555/74LS design can free-run at an adjustable rate, single-step with a debounced button, or halt via an external HLT input; an SPDT switch selects the free-running or one-shot path.
SourceCreator and attendee writeups document a hidden challenge beneath the published CTF path, with PCB inspection and extra LED behavior rewarding hardware probing.
SourceHackerware documents replacing C1 and C2 with 22 pF capacitors, then adding SMD LEDs and resistors at D9-D13 and R8-R12 to play the CTF and unlock airship lights.
SourceBadge.Team documents supported OV5647-based camera modules and calls out unsupported IMX519-based Raspberry Pi camera modules.
SourceThe official store says the board's intended SAO connectors are wired mirrored and are not functional with a standard SAO, with no time to correct the layout before the convention. This is a source-specific compatibility limitation, not a generalized claim about all Gothcon or DEF CON hardware.
SourceThe guide documents an RP2040 microcontroller / Raspberry Pi Pico board manager for button inputs, LED control, battery charging/status, and power management.
SourceAfter removing the Omega shield and moving the jumpers from UART1 to UART0, the guide documents reconnecting at 115200 baud to see boot debug output and reach a root prompt.
SourceThe hardware repository visibly contains a KiCad PCB and schematic plus BOM, position, Gerber, backup, and layout files. The published tree is useful for traceability, but this pass did not reconcile it against a final populated board, fabrication output, BOM sourcing, test procedure, connector pinout, power design, or any explicit source license.
SourceThe hardware repository visibly contains KiCad board/schematic/project material, BOM/position data, front/back/prototype Gerbers, backup files, and a PFC161 datasheet. The published tree is traceability evidence, but this pass did not reconcile it to a final populated unit, fabrication order, component sourcing, test procedure, connector/power design, or explicit license.
SourceThe team built three development boards before final production so hardware wiring could be checked and firmware could be written while the final badges were produced.
SourceAn attendee teardown identifies the distributed board's ESP32-C6-WROOM-1, SSD1306 OLED, WS2812 RGB LED, ATC24C04 EEPROM, SAO connector, single-cell battery/TP4056 path, and USB-C CH340C serial bridge. It does not establish a final production revision, pinout, electrical characterization, or official design archive.
SourceThe current repository includes V4 documentation for an ESP32-WROVER platform with LEDs, buttons, accelerometer, LiPo/power circuitry, display headers, buzzer, and expansion pads. Its 2025 wording and old schematic link keep this as context rather than a claim about every optional 2026 e-badge unit.
SourceThe repository preserves two schematic PDFs and three Gerber archives alongside support material. These public documents make the collection technically discoverable, but are not presented as build, repair, power, safety, fabrication, or all-unit-parity instructions.
SourceThe technical archive publishes schematic and Gerber documentation and states that the documentation is Creative Commons Attribution licensed.
SourceThe workshop guide documents optional bodge wires for the mislabeled I2C bus and switch-tab trimming to avoid shorted contacts.
SourceThe post-event teardown identifies the badge core as an ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 and documents firmware extraction using ESP32-S3 tooling.
SourceThe badge page describes an 8-pin expansion header exposing GPIO for custom daughterboards and mods.
SourceThe badge exposed waveform-generator outputs, scope inputs, and through-hole prototyping space for filters, curve tracers, oscillators, analog video experiments, and external signal hacks.
SourceThe badge/topper arrangement exposed prototyping and expansion space, making the badge a workshop board rather than a closed souvenir.
SourceTechMaker documents a CAN-transceiver footprint for a CJMCU-2551/MCP2551 module plus a Shitty Addon Connector v1.69bis expansion header.
SourceThe badge exposed both Type A and Type B SAO connectors, with community notes tying SAO behavior and add-ons into the badge challenge trail.
SourceThe badge page documents two Shitty Add-Ons ports on the top corners of the badge and says the ports had no rotation.
SourceThe Supercon version added proto-board support and documented GPIO, I2C, serial, and SAO-style expansion paths for attendee-built peripherals.
SourceThe badge exposed I2C, UART, GPIO, ISP, TTL232, and prototyping surfaces for shields, sensors, and direct hardware experiments.
SourceGrand Idea Studio published shield and breakout documentation, Gerbers, OSH Park links, and Arduino Uno source so attendees could isolate and hack the flexible badge hardware.
SourceThe README and writeup document Adafruit Feather mounting on the back with pins broken out to test points for user-added electronics.
SourceThe 40-pin cartridge slot and prototype cartridges with onboard flash let attendees build removable hardware and software modules for the badge.
SourceJ1/J2 exposed GPIO and analog pins, while J3 provided an ESP8266 ESP-01 serial/Wi-Fi header with a documented mirroring caveat and wiring workaround.
SourceRemaining GPIO pins were broken out, and a separate development board was available at the Hardware Hacking Village for extra components or functions.
SourceThe hands-on article documents 11 GPIO pins plus RX/TX, DIO, RST, power, and ground breakouts as hardware-hacking surfaces.
SourceThe badge exposed a GoodFET-compatible programming connector for installing or replacing the bootloader, plus test points for spring-pin access.
SourceThe badge was based on the experimental gflpc1343 GreatFET design and exposed a TARGET header intended for future GoodFET-compatible use.
SourceHackerHotel 2019 added Grove I2C and SAO connectors on top of the SHA2017-derived base hardware.
SourceTiLDA MK4 exposed Grove headers, conductive thread points, and a SAO connector for sensors, add-ons, and badge-to-badge hardware experiments.
SourceThe MK4 wiki records Grove UART/I2C connectors, a Shitty Add-Ons connector, conductive-thread points, Neopixel header use, and UART numbering gotchas for hardware hacking.
SourceThe official badge site documents labeled voltage, ground, audio, headphone, and jumper pads plus unlabeled prototyping pins.
SourceThe public design archive preserves MicroSD, buzzer, and Badgelife SAO v1.69 expansion evidence for badge hacking and add-on use.
SourceThe README documents an optional Vishay TFBS4711 IR transceiver path, debug LEDs, UART/test points, expansion pins, and WS2812 data access for further hardware experimentation.
SourceThrough-hole and SMD prototyping areas invited campers to add LEDs, sensors, radios, or other circuits to the simple Joule Thief badge.
SourceThe badge exposes two JST-SH 4-pin footprints following the I2C Qwiic / STEMMA QT pinout, giving app authors a documented path to breakout-board hardware.
SourceQwiic gave badge hackers a documented I2C expansion path for sensor and breakout-board experiments.
SourceThe hardware docs record a 6-pin SAO connector and IR receive/transmit hardware, giving SHA2017 both badge-add-on and badge-to-badge interaction surfaces.
SourceThe badge was prepared for SAO and Qwiic/STEMMA QT expansion, shifting the focus toward external modules and simple electronics.
SourceThe BornHack 2022 badge exposed accessory connectors and a prototyping area for hardware add-ons.
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