PhreakNIC
The November 14-15, 2025 PhreakNIC edition in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, whose official schedule included Tyler Crumpton's electronic shelf-label talk and whose post-event project writeup documents the official PN26 electronic badge.
Murfreesboro, Tennessee · United States · 2025
PhreakNIC 26's official electronic badge reused dead-battery ZBD 55c-RB electronic shelf labels as 3D-printed pager-styled badges with static 240x96 one-bit displays, QR-code-backed attendee customization, and on-site reflashing.
Lifecycle
A unique 3D-printed QR code on each case led attendees to a configurator for frame selection, name text, size, and position before firmware generation.
The badge update pipeline patched one-bit 240x96 image data and a hash into a base firmware image, then reflashed the badge with cc-tool and CC Debugger hardware.
Mog noticed the exposed pad spacing lined up well enough with DB9/DE9 connector pins, leading to a pogo-pin cable and CC Debugger flashing workflow.
The badge reused surplus ZBD 55c-RB / EPOP55 electronic shelf labels with CC1110 control hardware and a bistable LCD that keeps its image without power.
Operational history
The project owner notes that interrupted flashing could leave a badge in a broken state; EEPROM storage is listed as a future improvement.
The record remains source-backed and image-free rather than copying article media, site-optimized photos, screenshots, generated art, or other unclear imagery.
Badge updates were handled manually at the event with a Bluetooth barcode scanner, local script, CC Debugger, and programming jig.