Issue dossier
The LoRa connector was not pre-soldered, the supplied antenna was documented as a compromise 868/915 MHz antenna, and the wiki warned that transmitting without a connected or correctly matched antenna could permanently damage the Semtech SX1262 transmitter. The dedicated antenna page records VNA/SWR measurements, including one report above the safe SWR threshold at EU frequency before antenna rework; the compendium treats the colloquial bricked-antenna story as a source-backed RF-transmitter damage risk rather than as a literal claim that antennas themselves were bricked.
A linkable camp-impact record with badge context, severity, evidence confidence, and source notes.
Back to issues index
LoRa · primary wiki · documented caveat
LoRa was not a simple out-of-box feature: users needed soldering, antenna choice or tuning, and caution with auto-transmitting firmware such as Meshtastic to avoid RF damage.
- Badge
- WHY2025 Badge
- Category
- LoRa
- Severity
- moderate
- Confidence
- primary wiki
- Status
- documented caveat
- Timeframe
- during and after event
- Source note
- WHY2025 Badge, Badge Issues, and Badge/LoRa-Antenna wiki pages.
app store
Badge app distribution service.
Badge: WHY2025 Badge
issue tracker
Community issue page with hardware, firmware, LoRa, and user problems.
Badge: WHY2025 Badge
official wiki
Main badge page, warnings, LoRa notes, repair notes, app install instructions.
Badge: WHY2025 Badge
radio advisory
Dedicated antenna page for LoRa/FSK transmitter damage risk, SWR/VNA measurements, tuning notes, and antenna caveats.
Badge: WHY2025 Badge
source
Hardware and firmware project files.
Badge: WHY2025 Badge
team page
Public team page listing Team:Badge contacts, development groups, and team members.
Badge: WHY2025 Badge
Hackaday · retrieved 2026-05-15
Secondary coverage of the battery-safety controversy and badge-team resignation context.
Badge: WHY2025 Badge
Tweakers · retrieved 2026-05-15
Dutch report on queues, epoxy mitigation, and camp context.
Badge: WHY2025 Badge
WHY2025 orga mailing list · retrieved 2026-05-15
Primary public mailing-list evidence that a conflict existed.
Badge: WHY2025 Badge
WHY2025 orga mailing list · retrieved 2026-05-15
Primary public mailing-list evidence and caution about incomplete public facts.
Badge: WHY2025 Badge
WHY2025 wiki · retrieved 2026-05-15
Primary badge warnings, LoRa details, repair notes, and app install information.
Badge: WHY2025 Badge
WHY2025 wiki · retrieved 2026-05-15
Community-maintained issue and repair record.
Badge: WHY2025 Badge
WHY2025 wiki · retrieved 2026-05-15
Detailed fire-hazard advisory and response links.
Badge: WHY2025 Badge
WHY2025 wiki · retrieved 2026-05-15
Primary LoRa antenna advisory covering irreversible transmitter damage risk without a proper antenna, SWR thresholds, VNA measurement, and tuning notes.
Badge: WHY2025 Badge
WHY2025 wiki · retrieved 2026-05-15
Public attendee feedback on late distribution, queues, limited hacking, and documentation.
Badge: WHY2025 Badge
WHY2025 wiki · retrieved 2026-05-15
Primary public team page for Team:Badge member names and development-group structure.
Badge: WHY2025 Badge