ToorCon 14 RfCat Badge
The ToorCon 14 badge was an open-source sub-1 GHz wireless-transceiver badge from Great Scott Gadgets, controlled over USB from a computer and shipped with atlas's RfCat firmware plus CC Bootloader.
ToorCon
ToorCon San Diego 14
The October 19-21, 2012 ToorCon San Diego 14 edition whose public conference metadata and Great Scott Gadgets badge page document a USB-controlled sub-1 GHz RfCat badge.
San Diego Westin Emerald Plaza, San Diego, California · United States · 2012
Lifecycle
Add-ons & Upgrades
ToorCon 14 RfCat Badge
source-backed
Sub-1 GHz IM-Me radio lineage
The project page says the ToorCon 14 badge used the same radio circuit as the IM-Me, turning IM-Me-style firmware customization into a USB badge workflow.
ToorCon 14 RfCat Badge
source-backed
RfCat interactive Python shell
The badge shipped with RfCat firmware so attendees could connect over micro USB, run `rfcat -r`, and control the sub-1 GHz transceiver from an interactive Python shell.
ToorCon 14 RfCat Badge
source-backed
CC Bootloader firmware upgrade
Great Scott Gadgets documents entering bootloader mode from RfCat, using `bootload.py`, erasing, and downloading properly linked RfCatDonsCCBootloader firmware images.
ToorCon 14 RfCat Badge
source-backed
GoodFET-compatible programming connector
The badge exposed a GoodFET-compatible programming connector for installing or replacing the bootloader, plus test points for spring-pin access.
Operational history
Issues & Camp Impact
Great Scott Gadgets warns that replacement firmware must be linked properly for CC Bootloader and tells users to use RfCatDonsCCBootloader rather than the non-bootloader RfCatDons image.
The record preserves an operational caveat that matters for surviving badges and avoids presenting reflashing as a risk-free generic CC1111 workflow.
No ToorCon 14 badge image is published because the project page and hardware repository do not provide a specific rights-cleared original photo or official upstream raster render with complete provenance.
The entry remains source-backed and image-free rather than publishing generated renderings, SVG/PDF conversions, or uncleared project-page media.
Resources
ToorCon 14 assembly PDF
assembly guide · Assembly PDF in the public hardware repository for the ToorCon 14 badge.
CC Bootloader repository
bootloader source · Public CC Bootloader repository linked from the badge page as the bootloader path for badge firmware replacement.
ToorCon San Diego 14 InfoconDB record
event metadata · InfoconDB source for ToorCon San Diego 14 dates, San Diego Westin Emerald Plaza venue, San Diego location, and schedule context.
RfCat repository
firmware/tooling source · Public RfCat repository used for the badge firmware and interactive Python RF shell workflow.
ToorCon 14 badge hardware files
hardware source · Public cc11xx repository tree preserving ToorCon 14 KiCad board and schematic files plus assembly, part-list, and schematic PDFs.
ToorCon 14 badge project page
project page · Great Scott Gadgets project source for the sub-1 GHz wireless-transceiver badge, RfCat firmware, CC Bootloader, USB control, GoodFET connector, sponsors, and credits.
ToorCon 14 schematic PDF
schematic · Schematic PDF in the public hardware repository for the ToorCon 14 badge.
Sources
GitHub / Fergus Noble: fnoble/CC-Bootloader
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Bootloader source repository linked by Great Scott Gadgets as the firmware-upgrade path for ToorCon 14 badge users.
GitHub / Michael Ossmann: mossmann/cc11xx tc14badge
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Hardware-source repository preserving ToorCon 14 KiCad board/schematic files, assembly PDF, part list, schematic PDF, and GPL COPYING file.
GitHub / atlas: atlas0fd00m/rfcat
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · RfCat source repository and BSD license source for the interactive Python RF control stack referenced by the badge page.
Great Scott Gadgets: ToorCon 14 Badge
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary project source for the sub-1 GHz wireless transceiver badge, IM-Me radio-circuit lineage, RfCat firmware, CC Bootloader, USB control, GoodFET connector, and sponsorship/credit trail.
InfoconDB: ToorCon San Diego 14 (2012)
Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Event metadata source for October 19-21, 2012 dates, San Diego Westin Emerald Plaza venue, and ToorCon San Diego 14 schedule context.