Explaining WLAN Chips' Poor Linux Support

morcheeba writes "Kernel Traffic is reporting (mirror mirror list) that 'Some WLAN Chip Specs Secret To Protect Military Communications.' While this is stretching it a bit -- these radios are generally limited to a narrow frequency range and few modulation types -- software can cause illegal radio operation, especially when the laws vary by country. Is Linux support for 802.11g and Centrino chipsets going to be delayed by manufacturers afraid of FCC harassment? An interesting discussion on the future of Openness in radio chipsets." Interesting comments from Alan Cox in here about just how flexible some of these chips are.

Comments

Re:I thought it was just about money

[ivan256]

If that 95% wants 100% interoperability, failure to support the other 5% can be costly.

Re:Why not simply make it illegal to operate?

[stratjakt]

I can buy a regular transmitter and modify it to transmit on a forbidden frequency.

No you cant. You can buy one and modify it, or build your own (as ham operators do).

You can buy a device to recieve whatever (ie; police scanners at radio shack), since public broadcasts are public property, but not to transmit over them.