Support Equipment

AR-924 Gold Apollo Rugged pager

Also known as
  • AR-924
  • AR924
  • Gold Apollo AR-924
  • Gold Apollo Rugged pager
  • Gold Apollo AR-924 pager
  • Apollo AR-924
  • BAC Consulting AR-924
  • Frontier Group Entity AR-924

The AR-924 Gold Apollo Rugged pager was a 460 MHz POCSAG alphanumeric pager sold under Gold Apollo branding through a disputed outside-Taiwan supply chain. Reporting and Taiwan prosecutors later linked the branded model to BAC Consulting Kft. and Frontier Group Entity, while Amnesty assessed destroyed September 2024 devices as consistent with AR-924 pagers modified with hidden explosive charges.

AR-924 Gold Apollo Rugged pager, Pager model, Support Equipment
Image source: Swissphone RES.Q Hybrid with GSM and GPS module.jpg
Profile / Specs

Specifications

Band
450-470 MHz / marketed for 460 MHz paging
Display
146 x 64 pixel LCD, four-line alphanumeric display
Messaging
POCSAG 512 / 1200 / 2400
Battery
Rechargeable Li-ion battery with USB-C charging, up to 85 days duration
Enclosure
IP67-rated rugged housing
Dimensions
50 x 73 x 27 mm
Weight
95 g
Controls
Four buttons with two-way scrolling
Supply-Chain Attribution

The AR-924 attribution trail is split across branding, sales responsibility, and later investigative reporting.

EntityReported roleSource basis
Gold ApolloTrademark owner whose branding appeared on the pagers.AP and VOA/Reuters reporting said Gold Apollo authorized use of the Apollo trademark but denied Taiwan manufacture.
BAC Consulting Kft.Entity named by Gold Apollo for product sales and design/manufacturing responsibility in designated regions.Associated Press reported Gold Apollo's statement on the BAC arrangement; Hungary described BAC as an intermediary.
Frontier Group EntityFirm later identified by Taiwan prosecutors as responsible for manufacturing, trading, and shipping the AR-924 model outside Taiwan.Reuters reporting carried by VOA described the prosecutor statement that closed the Taiwan case.
Modified Device Link

The AR-924 is documented as a carrier pager model, while the modified explosive item has the direct conflict-use evidence.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
Explosive pager/radio device, Booby-trapped pager and two-way radio, MunitionsExplosive pager/radio deviceCovert explosive conversion

Amnesty International said destroyed pagers were consistent with AR-924 Gold Apollo Rugged pagers and that a modified batch likely contained remotely controlled explosive devices.

Sources: Lebanon: Establish international investigation into deadly attacks using exploding portable devices

Reported Carrier Role

Public evidence ties the AR-924 model to a modified batch of pagers rather than to normal commercial pager operation as a weapon.

Linked deviceAR-924 roleEvidence
Explosive pager/radio device, Booby-trapped pager and two-way radio, MunitionsExplosive pager/radio deviceCarrier pager modelAmnesty International said the destroyed pagers were consistent with AR-924 Gold Apollo Rugged pagers and that hidden explosive devices were inside thousands of pagers that detonated on 17 September 2024.
Timeline

AR-924 Gold Apollo Rugged pager Key Events

  1. Gold Apollo branding licensed

    Crypto Museum reports that the Gold Apollo brand was licensed for the AR-924 supply path before BAC Consulting marketed the model from 2022 to 2024.

    Sources: AR-924 - Crypto Museum

  2. Modified pagers detonate

    Amnesty International assessed destroyed devices from the first wave of explosions as consistent with AR-924 Gold Apollo Rugged pagers modified with hidden explosive charges.

    Sources: Lebanon: Establish international investigation into deadly attacks using exploding portable devices

  3. Gold Apollo points to BAC

    Associated Press reported Gold Apollo's statement that BAC Consulting was authorized to sell under the brand while BAC was responsible for product design and manufacturing.

    Sources: AP Hungarian company linked to exploding pagers

  4. Taiwan probe identifies outside supply path

    Reuters reporting carried by VOA said Taiwan prosecutors closed their probe after attributing AR-924 manufacturing, trade, and shipping to Frontier Group Entity outside Taiwan.

    Sources: Taiwan closes exploding pagers case

Media

AR-924 Gold Apollo Rugged pager Videos

AR-924 Gold Apollo Rugged pager Images

AR-924 Gold Apollo Rugged pager, Pager model, Support Equipment - view 1
Source: Swissphone s.QUAD X35 Pager aus der s.QUAD Serie.jpg
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Sources

AR-924 - Crypto MuseumPublisher: Crypto Museum | Note: Supports AR-924 specifications, Gold Apollo branding, the reported 2022-2024 BAC Consulting marketing period, and the unresolved manufacturing-location caveat. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Gold Apollo discontinued product pagePublisher: Gold Apollo | Note: Supports manufacturer and background context for Gold Apollo's paging product family. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Lebanon: Establish international investigation into deadly attacks using exploding portable devicesPublisher: Amnesty International | Note: Supports the September 2024 pager-detonation reporting that described the destroyed pagers as consistent with AR-924 Gold Apollo Rugged pagers. | Accessed: 2026-06-29AP Hungarian company linked to exploding pagersPublisher: Associated Press | Note: Supports Gold Apollo's statement that BAC Consulting was authorized to use the brand while product design and manufacturing were BAC's responsibility, plus Hungary's intermediary caveat. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Taiwan closes exploding pagers casePublisher: Voice of America / Reuters | Note: Supports Taiwan prosecutor reporting that the AR-924 model was manufactured, traded, and shipped by Frontier Group Entity outside Taiwan, with Gold Apollo trademark authorization and no domestic Taiwan accomplice evidence. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Swissphone RES.Q Hybrid with GSM and GPS module.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance page for a freely licensed pager photo used as a representative pager image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Swissphone s.QUAD X35 Pager aus der s.QUAD Serie.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance page for a freely licensed pager photo used in the gallery as a representative pager image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27