TiLDA MK4
An EMF badge with MicroPython, WiFi, GSM/SMS/calling, screen, sensors, keypad, Grove connectors, and a badge store.
Electromagnetic Field
Electromagnetic Field 2018
The TiLDA MK4 badge combined MicroPython, sensors, WiFi, GSM, and a badge store.
Eastnor Castle Deer Park · United Kingdom · 2018
Lifecycle
Add-ons & Upgrades
TiLDA MK4
historical
Badge Store installation flow
The MK4 wiki documents installing apps directly on badge through the Badge Store app: choose Install, pick a category/app, save it, then restart back to the launcher.
TiLDA MK4
historical
Badge Store submission workflow
Apps were submitted by adding a folder with main.py metadata headers to the Mk4-Apps GitHub repository, validating with tilda_tools, and opening a pull request; official rules banned malicious apps and code/image hot-loading without good reason.
TiLDA MK4
historical
USB firmware update path
Base firmware updates used tilda-tools over USB/DFU rather than the Badge Store; the update page says they fixed stability, performance, and phone-call problems but wiped apps and settings.
TiLDA MK4
historical
Grove and SAO connectors
TiLDA MK4 exposed Grove headers, conductive thread points, and a SAO connector for sensors, add-ons, and badge-to-badge hardware experiments.
TiLDA MK4
historical
Grove and SAO expansion headers
The 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.
Operational history
Issues & Camp Impact
TiLDA MK4
moderate
The MK4 wiki says firmware was substantially fixed and improved during and after EMF, resolving issues with call handling and apps; the firmware-update page also warns that updating wipes apps and settings.
MK4 needs lifecycle treatment because the shipped camp experience, app behavior, and post-event firmware state were not identical.
TiLDA MK4
note
The Badge Store submission rules required general-audience, non-malicious apps, Code of Conduct compliance, unique app folders, metadata headers, validation, and pull requests; they also warned that others could improve submitted apps.
The app store was curated and collaborative rather than an anonymous binary upload service.
TiLDA MK4
note
The wiki warns that some badges needed factory reset before showing the loading screen and that first software download might require reset retries.
The detail page should preserve first-boot and recovery behavior, not only final hardware specifications.
TiLDA MK4
note
The MK4 wiki says the badge team was aware of instability while using calling capability and records a community observation that external antennas improved cellular reliability.
Useful reminder that badge RF/cellular features can be field-sensitive.
Resources
TiLDA MK4 Badge Store submissions
app-store publishing docs · Official badge-store app rules, folder/header requirements, categories, validation, and pull-request workflow.
Archived TiLDA MK4 get started
archived docs · Internet Archive mirror for the MK4 setup and first-app workflow.
Archived TiLDA MK4 firmware update
archived firmware docs · Internet Archive mirror for the MK4 USB/DFU update page and wipe warning.
Archived TiLDA MK4 Badge Store submissions
archived publishing docs · Internet Archive mirror for the MK4 app-store validation and pull-request rules.
Archived TiLDA MK4 wiki
archived wiki · Internet Archive mirror for the canonical EMF MK4 wiki, preserved because plain link checkers currently receive 404 from badge.emfcamp.org for the live path.
TiLDA MK4 get started
developer docs · Step-by-step MicroPython, tilda_tools, and app creation guide.
TiLDA MK4 firmware update
firmware docs · USB/DFU firmware-update path and warning that updates wipe apps and settings.
TiLDA MK4 wiki
official wiki · Primary EMF 2018 badge wiki for usage, firmware, app store, hardware, cellular, Grove, SAO, and expansion notes.
TiLDA MK4 hardware repository
source · Hardware repository used after the old EMF badge wiki began returning 404 responses.
The making of TiLDA Mk4
talk · Creation-process talk.
Sources
EMF Badge wiki: TiLDA MK4
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary source for post-event firmware fixes, Badge Store installation, app repositories, hardware, Grove, SAO, and cellular caveats.
EMF Badge wiki: TiLDA MK4/Badge Store Submissions
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary source for app-store rules, metadata headers, categories, validation, and pull-request submission flow.
EMF Badge wiki: TiLDA MK4/Firmware Update
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary source for USB firmware updates, DFU mode, stability fixes, call fixes, and wipe warning.
EMF Badge wiki: TiLDA MK4/Get Started
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary source for tilda_tools, USB MicroPython workflow, and first-app publishing path.
GitHub: Mk4-Hardware
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Hardware source replacing the dead EMF badge wiki URL.
Internet Archive: Archived TiLDA MK4
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Archived mirror for the canonical MK4 wiki page.
Internet Archive: Archived TiLDA MK4/Badge Store Submissions
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Archived mirror for the app-store publishing rules page.
Internet Archive: Archived TiLDA MK4/Firmware Update
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Archived mirror for the firmware-update and wipe-warning page.
Internet Archive: Archived TiLDA MK4/Get Started
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Archived mirror for the setup and first-app workflow page.
media.ccc.de: The making of TiLDA Mk4
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Talk on development and challenges.