Linux Sourcecode To Minitar Access Point

mcbridematt writes "Minitar sells a rebadged Edimax Linux based-802.11b Access Point in Australia (no FCC ID yet) for a relatively cheap price (under AUS $100 in places). These access points are based around the Realtek 8181 wireless-system-on-chip design, have 8MB flash rom, and run a 2.4 series Linux kernel. After requests from the community to get the kernel sources, which resulted in a incomplete sourcecode release, we finally have (allegedly) complete and GPL compliant Linux kernel sources for this fine Access Point. Special thanks to chuna, serialmonkey and screwball at Minitar for making this happen, especially after they ran into arguments with their OEM and Realtek over this." From the attached forum discussion, you can see there's disagreement about whether the source code release is as complete as it should be.

Comments

I'm curious.-Binary bottle.

[Anonymous Coward]

"Yes, I know that there already is a binary driver for the 8180, but it is very flaky, and rather picky about the kernels and distributions it agrees to work with... (as binary drivers usually are, alas!)"

And yet this is the future people want Linux to have.

Re:Picking your [principles]

[fuzzy12345]

Normally I wouldn't bother replying to an AC, but since you got modded up...

You might not think of the firmware as of zero value, but that's the price of it, friend. It's "free" software. So unless you've got some oddball economic theory involving a hidden subsidy, we'll just go with the generally accepted price==value. Unless you think there's some secret high value code in what, externally, is (yawn) just another access point?

Also, you didn't rebut my .sig! Spreading the .sig was the sole point of the post.