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FCC Rule Cuts Bandwidth For 72-Mile 802.11b

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the slowing-down-the-bits-and-bites dept.

sonamchauhan writes "This Computerworld article reported a 72-mile 802.11b wireless link (discussed in this Slashdot story). Now a Computerworld followup story is reporting the link power has been reduced by 75% to comply with FCC regulations for the 2.4-GHz band -- reducing the link's throughput from 1 Mbps to 300 Kbps. The owner is reported saying that: "any violation of the power limits was unintentional and resulted from the fact that the personnel working [on it] primarily have expertise in computers and not radio technology.""

2 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. Still not too shabby by coolgeek · · Score: 4, Insightful

    300Kbps free transmission for 72 miles is fine in my book.

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  2. Herein Lies the Problem by zentec · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The owner is reported saying that: "any violation of the power limits was unintentional and resulted from the fact that the personnel working [on it] primarily have expertise in computers and not radio technology." That says it all. A bunch of computer people playing with RF; no knowledge of Part 15 rules, no concept of RF. Really, if the FCC is going to assign new frequencies for wireless networking, we owe it to ourselves to become acquainted with the technology and the rules thereof. The last thing that anyone needs is to turn 802.11 into another RF wasteland like CB radio.