Issue dossier
The official event page documents the Underground badge's ESP32, screen, controls, badge-to-badge communication, SAO support, and CTF framing, and a maker writeup documents a WS2812B SAO board. A March 24 organizer post says the 20-puzzle conference badge received a full source-code release, but it routes through an unresolved LinkedIn short link; this pass therefore did not independently recover or inspect firmware, schematic, PCB, BOM, radio protocol, or production files for the main badge.
A linkable camp-impact record with badge context, severity, evidence confidence, and source notes.
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source-code archive gap · organizer-reported release but archive unrecovered · needs public canonical source-archive link
The record captures the post-event challenge and stated-release evidence while avoiding unsupported chip pinout, firmware, radio, protocol, software-license, or shipped-behavior claims until the canonical archive is retrieved.
- Badge
- BSides Ballarat 2026 Underground Badge
- Category
- source-code archive gap
- Severity
- note
- Confidence
- organizer-reported release but archive unrecovered
- Status
- needs public canonical source-archive link
- Timeframe
- 2026 post-event archive pass
- Source note
- BSides Ballarat 2026 event page, Ballarat Hackerspace reference, Eurekative reference, dmoges SAO maker writeup, and Dr Paul Black's March 24, 2026 post-event update.
SAO maker writeup
dmoges writeup documenting a BSides Ballarat 2026 SAO made for the badge ecosystem, including six-pin SAO basics, pass-through connector design, WS2812B addressable RGB LED choice, KiCad schematic/design context, PCBWay production, and first-board testing.
Badge: BSides Ballarat 2026 Underground Badge
ctf developer reference
Organization credited on the BSides Ballarat page, alongside volunteers, for developing the conference CTF tied to the Underground badge fiction.
Badge: BSides Ballarat 2026 Underground Badge
event and badge page
Official event page documenting the February 28-March 1, 2026 Central Ballarat event, Underground interactive ESP32 badge, screen, controls, badge-to-badge communication, SAO support, limited BSides SAO, and CTF story.
Badge: BSides Ballarat 2026 Underground Badge
maker-space reference
Local hackerspace credited by the event page as the production context for Firnsy's badge work and beneficiary of limited SAO proceeds.
Badge: BSides Ballarat 2026 Underground Badge
post-event organizer update
March 24, 2026 first-hand organizer update confirming the CTF results and reporting that the conference badge had 20 puzzles and a full source-code release; the post's LinkedIn short-link target was not independently recovered in this pass.
Badge: BSides Ballarat 2026 Underground Badge
BSides Ballarat · retrieved 2026-05-15
Primary source for the February 28-March 1, 2026 date range, Emerging Technologies Hub venue, Underground interactive ESP32 badge, badge-to-badge communication, screen, controls, SAO support, limited BSides SAO, Firnsy/Ballarat Hackerspace credit, and Eurekative/volunteer CTF credit.
Badge: BSides Ballarat 2026 Underground Badge
Ballarat Hackerspace · retrieved 2026-05-15
Credited maker-space reference for the local hackerspace tied to badge production and SAO support context.
Badge: BSides Ballarat 2026 Underground Badge
Dr Paul Black · retrieved 2026-05-15
March 24, 2026 first-hand post-event update reporting final CTF results, more than 10 teams, five CTF challenges, 20 conference-badge puzzles, and a stated full source-code release. Its LinkedIn short link does not expose a canonical source archive in this pass.
Badge: BSides Ballarat 2026 Underground Badge
Eurekative · retrieved 2026-05-15
Credited CTF developer reference for the Underground badge story and challenge context.
Badge: BSides Ballarat 2026 Underground Badge
dmoges · retrieved 2026-05-15
First-hand maker source for a BSides Ballarat 2026 Simple Add-On built for the badge ecosystem, covering the six-pin SAO interface, WS2812B LED design, pass-through connector, KiCad and PCBWay workflow, Firnsy design review, and prototype-board completion.
Badge: BSides Ballarat 2026 Underground Badge