[wplug] New FCC Rules May Prevent Installing OpenWRT on WiFi Routers

[Drew from Zhrodague]

	*Ahem*


> Has this really been a problem, or are you putting out hypothetical
> reasons for locking down firmware? I'm not aware of any issue in this
> regard.

	I think there is more fear-of-abuse, than any actual widespread use. 
Many of the routers we're familiar with can be put into an 
international-mode, which allows channels 12-14 - these are outside of 
our limits here in the US. Flashing any distribution of OpenWRT (like 
dd-wrt) will allow a user to set these other channels. I have heard of 
people discussing this, and I can imagine that some frustrated users may 
opt to use these 'extra' channels to avoid interference. Part of the 
FCC's mandate is to protect various slices of spectrum from abuse, so I 
can see that they want to do more to prevent out-of-band usage.

	However, after skimming the posted FCC documents, it looks a bit 
heavy-handed, and could be a big problem for the more advanced users, 
mesh-networks, hobbyists, and whomever else - hell, I couldn't have done 
robot comms and telemetry without a few wrt54g units from goodwill with 
openwrt loaded - the commercial solution did not actually work at all!

	I have not done a thorough analysis, but my initial take is that it 
will jack-up the cost of routers, and make them unflashable by 
end-users. I haven't been impressed with many factory firmware 
iterations, so I am not looking forward to the upcoming limitations.


> I'm admittedly not an expert, but the max power of the radio should
> be a function of the hardware (I do understand that software can
> limit output, but I'm saying the hardware "is what it is" and no
> software is going to increase what the hardware is capable of). FCC
> should (and does) regulate output by radios/antennae, but should stay
> the hell out of trying to legislate software/firmware.

	I believe the limit is 1 watt, and I have rarely encountered a router 
that will do that much power - most are 30-100mw.


	There will be a presentation regarding these FCC rules at the Battle of 
the Mesh in Slovenia - where Adam Longwill from PittMesh will be 
attending, and I think also presenting. I'll be paying close attention 
to the details of that presentation.

	http://battlemesh.org/BattleMeshV8



-- 

Drew from Zhrodague
post-apocalyptic ad-hoc industrialist
drew at zhrodague.net