DEF CON 34 · United States · 2026
Maker-announced independent Hacker Pager revision for DEF CON 34; handoff outcome unverified
A first-hand Exploitee.rs announcement says the team is bringing a new Hacker Pager revision to DEF CON 34, with planned online availability and BadgeLife Village pickup. Its official project site documents an ESP32-S3, Semtech SX1262 LoRa radio, monochrome LCD, microSD, USB-C, rechargeable LiPo power, buttons, speaker, vibration motor, LEDs, and open design sources; its current update page labels firmware 2.7.26.pager as DEF CON 34. Public electronics and case repositories publish KiCad/BOM and mechanical source material under CERN-OHL-S-2.0. This is sufficient evidence for a distinct, independently sold pre-event BadgeLife artifact associated with DEF CON 34, not evidence of DEF CON issuance, authorization, admission, a completed sale, pickup, delivery, final production configuration, or rights-cleared image.
People
The official project site, source repositories, update page, and first-hand DEF CON 34 announcement identify Exploitee.rs as the project publisher. This records a source-backed team role only; it does not assign unnamed individuals, DEF CON affiliation, vendor authorization, production, fulfillment, image-reuse authority, or universal authorship of every source component.
SourceThe record captures a source-rich current BadgeLife revision without collapsing a maker's conference pickup plan into an official DEF CON credential. It also keeps three different claims separated: a current firmware label does not prove each physical unit uses it, 2025-released design repositories do not automatically identify every 2026 revision change, and open hardware/software sources do not automatically clear promotional images for catalogue use.
The official project site specifies an Espressif ESP32-S3 with 8 MB flash and 2 MB PSRAM, a Semtech SX1262 868/915 MHz LoRa/FSK radio with 915 MHz internal antenna wording, a 192×64 monochrome LCD, four directional buttons plus two action buttons and a side button, buzzer speaker, vibration motor, 36 addressable RGB LEDs, 12 addressable UV LEDs, microSD slot, USB-C power/data port, rechargeable LiPo battery, black SLA-resin body, translucent SLA buttons, and UV-reactive acrylic panels. The electronics repository says its PCB design is based on a Heltec V3 LoRa module and adds a screen, I/O, and battery management; it exposes KiCad, schematic PDF, and BOM material. The reviewed sources do not establish an exact 2026 PCB or case revision for every unit, battery cell/charger settings, power/current budgets, thermal or fault behavior, antenna/RF measurements, compliance, test results, final assembly quality, or a safe modification result.
The project site describes standalone Meshtastic-powered messaging, optional pairing with the official Meshtastic application, SD-card storage, and a CHIP-8 ROM surface. The linked public firmware repository is an Exploitee.rs Meshtastic fork for the Hacker Pager, while the update page calls 2.7.26.pager the latest DEF CON 34 firmware. These sources establish an active project and update surface, not a reproducible source-to-device build for every unit, a complete dependency or release-integrity record, radio configuration, default security/privacy settings, data-retention policy, support guarantee, vulnerability review, or a recommendation to install firmware or operate radio functions.
The Hacker Pager is a retro pager-shaped independent hardware project from Exploitee.rs, framed by its own site as Badgelife and intended for hacker-con use. The maker's August 4 announcement calls the DEF CON 34 item a new revision, says conference orders have planned BadgeLife Village pickup windows, and says there will be no on-site sales. This supports an independent pre-event DEF CON association and proposed handoff context only; it does not make Exploitee.rs a DEF CON organizer, prove vendor authorization, confer entrance, replace a Human badge, establish a final stock count or price, or confirm any pickup or post-event distribution.
Source-backed hardware metadata
Structured technical signals seeded from public badge documentation, repositories, schematics, firmware notes, or event evidence. These fields are designed for filtering, API use, repair planning, preservation, and future Companion Gear matching.
Exploitee.rs describes the Hacker Pager as a Badgelife, hacker-con-oriented electronic hardware project; its first-hand maker announcement identifies a new revision for DEF CON 34, while final handoff and event authorization remain unverified.
Signal sourceThe official Hacker Pager specifications identify an Espressif ESP32-S3 with 8 MB flash and 2 MB PSRAM; they do not map that specification to every physical 2026 unit.
Signal sourceThe project site identifies Bluetooth LE 5 and optional pairing with the official Meshtastic app, without documenting deployment settings, protocol details, or data handling for a specific 2026 unit.
Signal sourceThe official project site identifies a Semtech SX1262 radio and LoRa/FSK support; it does not establish final radio configuration, allowed operation, performance, or compliance for every unit.
Signal sourceThe project site lists the ESP32-S3 Wi-Fi capability, without documenting default enablement, configuration, deployment policy, range, or user-data handling for the DEF CON 34 revision.
Signal sourceThe official site says the Pager runs Meshtastic-powered software and can communicate with Meshtastic-compatible devices; it does not establish channel configuration, keys, data policy, or a final event deployment.
Signal sourceThe official specifications list a USB-C port for power and data, but do not establish port protections, power limits, cable compatibility, charging behavior, or safe modification guidance.
Signal sourceThe official specifications list a 192×64 monochrome LCD display; they do not establish a display part revision, controller, brightness behavior, or final-unit parity.
Signal sourceThe official specifications list 36 addressable RGB LEDs and 12 addressable UV LEDs; the technical signal records the documented RGB LED surface without treating it as a final production or electrical specification.
Signal sourceThe official site lists a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, but does not identify its cell, capacity, protection, charger settings, runtime, fault behavior, or safety validation.
Signal sourceThe official site lists USB-C battery charging, but does not establish charger design, input limits, power-delivery behavior, electrical certification, or safe service procedures.
Signal sourceThe official specifications list a microSD card slot and included 8 GB card, without establishing media format, data handling, card reliability, or final shipping contents for every unit.
Signal sourceRepair, preservation, and legal lab context
Parts, tools, and supplies that match this badge's documented hardware, protocols, or preservation needs. These are category-level recommendations, not compatibility guarantees.
Display modules and related parts for repair and preservation planning.
This badge has a documented display signal. Matched technical signals: LCD.
Vendor link · selected for technical relevance
Headers, sockets, and connector supplies for display repair or replacement work.
Display headers and connectors are useful for repair and preservation planning. Matched technical signals: LCD.
Vendor link · selected for technical relevance
Debug probes for ARM/RISC-V badge development, recovery, and documentation.
Debug probes can support authorized recovery, firmware work, and documentation for microcontroller badges. Matched technical signals: ESP32-S3.
Vendor link · selected for technical relevance
USB serial adapters for logs, recovery, and firmware documentation workflows.
This badge has a documented microcontroller platform where serial logs or flashing workflows may be relevant. Matched technical signals: ESP32-S3.
Vendor link · selected for technical relevance
Receive-side RF and SDR lab accessories for lawful testing and documentation.
This badge has documented RF, SDR, LoRa, or ADS-B-related signals. Matched technical signals: LoRa.
Vendor link · selected for technical relevance
Lifecycle
The Exploitee.rs announcement says a new Hacker Pager revision is being brought to DEF CON 34, describes online availability windows, BadgeLife Village pickup, and no on-site sales. It does not publish a final inventory, price, order ledger, vendor authorization, completed sale, pickup, delivery, refund, replacement, or post-event availability result.
SourceThe official site lists an ESP32-S3, SX1262 LoRa radio, 192×64 LCD, microSD, USB-C, rechargeable LiPo, buttons, speaker, vibration motor, 48 addressable LEDs across RGB/UV groups, resin body, acrylic panels, and related package items. It is a published platform description, not a verified 2026 per-unit configuration, electrical test result, or safe operating specification.
SourceThe official site says the Pager runs Meshtastic-powered software for standalone messaging with Meshtastic-compatible devices and optionally pairs with the official mobile application. The description does not establish default radio enablement, channel/key configuration, data practices, performance, legal operating context, or a final DEF CON 34 firmware image.
SourceThe maker's update page calls 2.7.26.pager the latest Hacker Pager firmware release and adds a DEF CON 34 label. It does not identify every code change, cryptographic release verification, hardware-revision mapping, installed-unit population, successful update record, support outcome, or permission to reproduce update steps here.
SourceThe electronics repository publishes the PCB design in KiCad with schematic PDF and BOM exports, and its companion case repository publishes case/button/acrylic design files; both state CERN-OHL-S-2.0 for design files. Those releases document modifiable design sources, not a promise that every commercial unit matches them, a safe build recommendation, source-code license scope, or image-reuse permission.
SourceOperational history
The catalogue links a real public project without implying that a labelled firmware build is complete, audited, installed on every unit, safe for a particular radio/data context, or accompanied by a support guarantee.
The record provides the documented hardware surface without becoming an electrical, radio, battery, fabrication, or repair endorsement.
The catalogue records a real maker-announced DEF CON-associated BadgeLife artifact without representing it as an official Human badge, conference credential, completed transaction, or guaranteed handoff.
The United States record remains source-backed and image-free rather than copying source-page media, documentation screenshots, event photos, social media, placeholders, or generated approximations.
The record remains image-free and source-conservative rather than treating open design files or promotional media as proof of exact 2026 unit parity or reusable catalogue artwork.