FCC Allows Mix-and-Match Wi-Fi Antennas

Glenn Fleishman writes "We just filed a story at Wi-Fi Networking News about how the FCC recently and quietly approved rules that will allow the legal use of the Pringles can and other antennas. Currently, it's clearly illegal--even though it's incredibly easy--to swap out a manufacturers' antennas from a Wi-Fi access point with an antenna of your choosing. It's legal to sell antennas; not legal to deploy them. Call it the switchblade kit rule: legal to sell, but don't assemble. The FCC's new rule provides a middle ground: a manufacturer can certify their hardware with the highest gain legal antennas of each type (yagi, omni, etc.) and then end-users can swap in antennas of equal or lesser signal characteristics. It's an important move because it removes the potential for community wireless and individual users to be prosecuted for illegal antennas once new certifications are in place."

Comments

illegal antennas are still illegal

[poot_rootbeer]

it removes the potential for community wireless and individual users to be prosecuted for illegal antennas once new certifications are in place

No it doesn't. How'd you come to that conclusion?

If a user has an antenna that exceeds the specs that have been certified for that antenna type with that device, it's still illegal to use and the user can still be prosecuted.

And if the manufacturers don't get their devices certified with anything other than their weak default antenna, you still won't be legally allowed to use anything stronger than their default. This will vary by manufacturer -- Linksys might want to sell powerful upgrade antennas to its users, so it will get its equipment certified with a really powerful antenna. Apple, on the other hand, probably has no plans to sell replacement antennas for its Airport devices and will only get certification for its standard antenna.

Re:A minor note

[maximilln]

Tony Chong, of Cheech'n'Chong, ran a glassblowing shop which made artwork glass tubes. The shop was taken down by the DEA and Chong was charged in court. I didn't keep track of the outcome.

At the end of the day legality is determined by how badly they want to get you.