Signal Intelligence Challenge 2026

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The Story

This year, we celebrate the 10th edition of the Signal Intelligence Challenge! And to celebrate this, signals from past challenges have found their way back into our transmitter, together with brand new signals and engineering puzzles. So help us decipher this amalgamation of signals from space (which we had 3 times in the past), while helping Radio-man fight the Doppler demons, learning about a parallel-universe-CEL, meddling in a sci-fi dwarf civilization and much more! We are looking forward to @MP#sending mixed messages!#isic

Orga

  • Time frame: 23.04.2026 - 20.05.2026 (submission closes on 20.05.2026 23:59)

  • Frequency: 863-870 MHz

  • Kick-off Event: 23.04.2026, 18:00 at CEL (Seminarraum 2.OG)

  • Registration is open through the duration of the challenge

  • For participation, you need teams of 2 to 4 students. Knowledge of communication engineering and cryptography is helpful.

  • The Kick-off Event is intended to form teams, so you don't need to do that beforehand!

  • We rent out SDR-dongles (for free) for the duration of the challenge

Kick-off Event

During the kick-off event, you will be able to form groups and we will demonstrate the CDF system where you will hand in your solutions. We will also give you a first introduction to the tools and techniques you can use to solve the challenges, especially help with capturing a real radio signal.

Communication & Handing in results

During the competition, to communicate with other participants and the organizers you can use our Matrix room. Also keep an eye since hints or additional challenges might appear there. Results of challenges to hand in have the prefix "@MP#" and the postfix "#isic".

The system to hand in solutions is our CTF system. You can monitor your team's progress there. We will show off how to create teams in the kick-off event.

Rules

Rules are identical to last year, we will notify participants before the challenge starts is changes occur.

  • Groups consisting of students are eligible for prizes. However, we encourage everyone to participate and have fun, even if you are not eligible for prizes!

  • Global rankings of groups will be posted in even intervals during the challenge.

  • Problems tend to consist of multiple levels, so it is worth it to analyse them in detail!

  • Not all problems are send over the air, mind other hints, for example on our webpage or the in the matrix group!

  • Handing in false solutions does not result in point-deduction. However, obvious brute-force-attacks will result in your team being disqualified!

  • Each problem solution (secret) will award your team with 100 points.

  • The fastest teams gain bonus points.

  • The team collecting most points during the challenge wins. In case of a tie, we will hold a quiz concerning topics of the challenge until a winner is found.

  • The jury can provide hints to find the signals. This information might reduce the amount of points given for the solution of this problem.

Prize ceremony

The prize ceremony is held on May 21, starting at 18:00 at CEL. Every contestant but also non-contestants are invited to this free of charge event, there is no registration necessary.

Additionally to the prize ceremony, there will be an interesting presentation! Exact details on the topic will follow shortly before the event.