by Thorn » Wed Sep 04, 2002 9:22 pm
The FCC doesn't want your average joe to be able to go into RatShack, buy a connector, hook up the laptop to his TV arial, and broadcast WiFi over 30 square blocks. That's all. Hence the regulation that the connector not be "readily available."
BTW, rumor has it, according to a wireless info group I belong to, that the FCC has told WiFi manuafacturers to get rid or otherwise change the more common connectors, such as the ORiNOCO's. Seems that they are becoming too "readily available."
Technically, there are probably quite a few people out there who are illegal.
For instance:
-Antennae and cards are required to be certified to work together as a system. Yes, you can't legally swap antennae for a different one unless it is certifed by the card/AP maker.
-Installations of other than the original equipment are supposed to be done by a "professional installer."
-Homemade antennae are a no-no, unless you've got a ham license.
There's more. To increase your paranoia level, check out Part 15 of the FCC regs.
Thorn
Stop the TSA now! Boycott the airlines.