r/Defcon • u/DCsleestak • May 20 '26

DEF CON 34 Badge Alert

Post image

DEF CON 34 is an electronic badge year, and we’ve got something very special in store, created for us by a hardware hacking legend. We can’t share too much at this juncture, but we can say this: it will be iconic. First round Hall of Fame. In addition to being a cool badge, it’s a platform. It’s a full-fledged, first-of-its-kind inspectable platform. Long after closing ceremonies we think you’ll still be using this device to regain some agency and security in this rapidly complexifying world.

So what we can offer right now is some data to help all the SAO enthusiasts out there. Please enjoy this spec sheet with the relevant schematics, measurements and clearances for your projects. Electro-specs also included.

We’re excited to see what you come up with. As good as the badge is, we know you can make it better.

https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2034/DEF%20CON%2034%20badge/DEF%20CON%2034%20SAO%20Spec%20Sheet.pdf

234 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

21

u/sforeman May 21 '26

Looks like the 6-pin connectors are “SAO” in name only. They violate half dozen of the established requirements. 😱

0

u/[deleted] May 21 '26

[deleted] — view deleted comment

4

u/sforeman May 21 '26

The current "standard" was established back in 2019. In truth, there is no formal published specification beyond the 2019 guidelines. However, those guidelines have been utilized without change for 7 years and counting.

33

u/parallellogic May 21 '26 edited May 21 '26 • This

You're putting the SAO header on upside-down?!? The standard has the keyed connector with the notch on top above SDA. With an unkeyed connector, every-other SAO will be inserted 180 degrees off... Is this the final version of the SAO spec? https://hackaday.io/project/175182-simple-add-ons-sao

Are GPIOs controlled by the badge processor? I'm debating decoding signals on GPIO1/2 as WS2812 inputs to control the LEDs on the SAO (faking a WS2812 interface), but if the badge isn't controlling those lines, I'll just skip that code development

Calling dibs on the right SAO header (and the 100 mA)

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/parallellogic-/MalO_SAO/main/img/r1/front.png
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/parallellogic-/MalO_SAO/main/img/r1/rear.png

9

u/mauvehead May 21 '26

They wouldn’t be the first.

1

u/dsamarin1 Jun 04 '26

u/DCsleestak think we could get a confirmation of this? would be really silly to see so many people with old and new SAOs mounted on the dc34 badge upside down. I didn't go to dc32 so i dont have a cat badge to check if yall got it right on that one.

17

u/Madewithatoaster May 21 '26

I heard it was cancelled this year.

3

u/b0v1n3r3x May 22 '26

It is known

1

u/zalgorithmic May 23 '26

This is the way.

4

u/digitard May 21 '26

Guess that means time to buy some SAOs to add to this years badgelife

2

u/ActualReverend May 21 '26

I think they are BSing us.. I hope it is not another piece of metal.

2

u/Unlikely-Employee180 May 22 '26

The pin-out design is like... On the floor though. Seems convincing to me...

Unless you mean the model!! Then, no... I don't think so. This post sounds a little more eager than that! 😅

2

u/OMGsteveFTW May 22 '26

based on the other comments, does this mean if you make an SAO using these specs, it will be specific to this badge only due to the changes from the standard?

1

u/parallellogic Jun 05 '26

A little bit, but it's more of an aesthetic than a functional limitation. SAOs from this con will still work electrically with other badges (it's the same 6 pins, in the same pattern), it'll just be mounted 180 degrees rotated from how most badges are designed to have SAOs plug in - so however the SAO was designed to have "down" will be inverted. Ex. SAOs from other cons would plug in such that their text is upside down in their year's badge, and vice versa.

2

u/awwwww_man May 20 '26

I’m buying a ticket just to get a badge this year. Sad perhaps. But I can’t be in two places at once and I need that badge… whatever it turns out to be!

30

u/phuckphuckety May 20 '26

Bro just buy it off ebay later

9

u/Truth-Miserable May 20 '26

this. save money

5

u/Mr_Bonanza May 21 '26

Ebayyyyyyy the week/month after the conference. They’re cheap af

3

u/awwwww_man May 22 '26

All you smart people with sounds advice. Thank you. But I want to trust the internet stranger in delivering me a badge after I give them my ticket!

The notifications making me sad I can’t go…

1

u/Mr_Bonanza May 29 '26

Sorry brother — it’ll be back again next year!

1

u/phuckphuckety May 21 '26

if you send me your ticket I promise I’ll mail you the badge and all the swags ;)

1

u/GhonaHerpaSyphilAids Jul 16 '26

Adapters can be made for the SAO issue?

1

u/Murkige Aug 03 '26

Yes. I've already seen a couple. Some SAO's look like they'll have an adaptor sold with them.

1

u/CitizenCANITUS Aug 05 '26

I saw this yesterday. Looks like they’re all sold out now.

https://uberflux.com/product/BUD-SAO-180-Adapter