Milosch Meriac
Listed as the Camp 2007 speaker for Inside Sputnik & OpenBeacon.
SourceChaos Communication Camp 2007 · Germany · 2007
Sputnik / OpenBeacon
CCCamp 2007 active RFID badge
A small active 2.4 GHz RFID badge/tag used with OpenBeacon base stations for real-time camp tracking and post-camp hardware experiments.
SeriesChaos Communication Camp
LocationFinowfurt Aviation Museum
CountryGermany
People
Authors & Credits
Why It Mattered
Sputnik is an early European camp example where the badge was not just identification, but infrastructure: location sensing, mesh-node experimentation, RF protocols, post-event data analysis, and a privacy conversation all converged around one wearable device.
Hardware
Sputnik/OpenBeacon uses 2.4 GHz Nordic nRF24L01-class radio and PIC16F684 tag hardware, CR2032 power, LED output, touch input, and a PCB antenna, with Ethernet/PoE reader base stations, as described in the Camp 2007 talk. It also discusses a newer ARM7 AT91SAM7S128 USB-programmable meshing node with RP-SMA antenna.
Software & Apps
Sputnik/OpenBeacon firmware is GPL and GCC ARM toolchain friendly, with reprogramming over USB for custom low-cost 2.4 GHz nodes and applications such as remote controls, door security, art performances, and smart-dust meshing, as framed in the public talk abstract.
Lore
The Fahrplan explicitly says the goal was to let users keep using their Sputnik badges after camp. CCC later published collected Sputnik/OpenBeacon RFID tracking data, making the badge part of the camp's historical data exhaust as well as its hardware history.
Source-backed hardware metadata
Technical Profile
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.
Artifact type
-
Electronic badge documented
OpenBeacon documentation describes Sputnik as an electronic badge and tracking platform.
Signal source
Radio / wireless
-
2.4 GHz RF documented
The OpenBeacon project documents 2.4 GHz active RFID-style badge infrastructure.
Signal source
Lifecycle
Add-ons & Upgrades
camp infrastructure
historical
OpenBeacon base stations
Sputnik/OpenBeacon tags were read by 30+ OpenBeacon base stations installed around the event venue.
Source
hardware/software upgrade path
historical
USB-programmable 2.4 GHz node path
The talk describes a memory-stick-sized ARM7 meshing node design, USB power/reprogramming, RP-SMA antenna, and GCC ARM toolchain support for custom firmware.
SourceOperational history
Issues & Camp Impact
privacy and tracking
major
Sputnik/OpenBeacon made active RFID tracking part of the event experience, and CCC later noted the collected tracking data was made available for analysis.
The badge is a useful early case study for badge infrastructure as both playful telemetry and a privacy-sensitive camp artifact.
- Confidence
- primary docs
- Status
- historical
- Timeframe
- during and after event
- Source note
- Camp 2007 Fahrplan and CCC Event Blog Sputnik data post.
missing rights-cleared image
note
No Sputnik / OpenBeacon image is published because the current public source trail has not been paired with a reusable original badge or artifact photo or official upstream raster render with source URL, license or permission basis, attribution, and processing notes.
The Germany record remains source-backed and image-free rather than copying source-page media, documentation screenshots, event photos, social media, placeholders, or generated approximations.
- Confidence
- local project policy
- Status
- needs licensed original replacement
- Timeframe
- current catalogue build
- Source note
- badge.gallery image policy and OpenBeacon and CCCamp 2007 source trail.
source recovery
note
The surviving record is strong for talk abstracts and data history, but original project photos and source mirrors need archive/licensing review before adding imagery.
The page is sourceable, but the image remains empty until a licensed original badge photo is cleared.
- Confidence
- public archive
- Status
- needs deeper recovery
- Timeframe
- post-event archive
- Source note
- Fahrplan, media.ccc.de, CCC Event Blog, and archived OpenBeacon site.
Resources
24C3 Sputnik data
data release note · CCC Event Blog post about released Sputnik/OpenBeacon RFID tracking data.
Inside Sputnik & OpenBeacon
camp talk · Camp 2007 Fahrplan talk with hardware, firmware, and post-camp badge-use goals.
OpenBeacon project archive
project archive · Archived OpenBeacon project site for historical context.
media.ccc.de recording
talk recording · Recording page for the Sputnik/OpenBeacon Camp 2007 talk.
Sources
CCC Event Blog: 24C3 Sputnik Data available
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary context for the public tracking-data afterlife.
Camp 2007 Fahrplan: Inside Sputnik & OpenBeacon - Smart Dust for the Masses
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary source for hardware, firmware, protocols, base stations, and post-camp usage framing.
media.ccc.de: Inside Sputnik & OpenBeacon
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Recording source for the Camp 2007 talk.