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FCC Allows Mix-and-Match Wi-Fi Antennas

Posted by michael on from the net-gain dept.

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."

5 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. Clearly Illegal? by Neil+Blender · · Score: 1, Interesting

    How is it clearly illegal? I didn't know it was illegal to use your own attenas? Was it illegal to put a coat hanger on a walkee talkee with a broken antenna?

    1. Re:Clearly Illegal? by lukewarmfusion · · Score: 4, Interesting

      IIRC, a couple of geeks got in trouble a while back for exceeding FCC regulations. I suppose it would be pretty easy for someone to "know enough to be dangerous."

      If you're not sure what dangerous could mean, think microwaves, pacemakers, cell phones, aircraft, etc.

  2. Probably because.. by Adam9 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    They realized that such a restriction with small wireless networks would be very difficult to enforce. Or maybe they like the idea of community wireless networks without buying expensive equipment?

    1. Re:Probably because.. by plcurechax · · Score: 2, Interesting

      They realized that such a restriction with small wireless networks would be very difficult to enforce.

      In nearly every country wireless/RF enforcement is complaint driven, so a "small wireless network" that intereferes with another (possibly licensed) wireless/RF activity and those users complain, then the FCC may take action -- investigation and possibly enforcement in servere cases.

      The old days of spot checks by UK Post Office station inspectors and FCC inspectors are long gone. Old hams often have stories of having their station inspected by FCC or PO employees in the old days.

      Intereference does happen, at work we have been dealing with intereference from possibly a license free wireless microphone and our downlink from a satellite. It is a pain to get any enforcement action.

  3. Re:Any thoughts? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    It depends on the type of switch blade actually. There are two types of switch blade.

    The first one is where the blade rests on the side of the handle, and then flips out of the handle through a 180 degree arc at the press of a button/flip of a catch. This type is legal most everywhere in the States.

    The second type of switch blade has the blade of the knife compacted into what is essentially a barrel inside the handle of the knife. Pressing a little button on the grip ejects the blade strait out of the handle, like a bullet leaving a gun. Great for a surprise attack. Put the knife handle up next to someone, press a button, and the blade shoots right into them without anyone seeing it or knowing what hit them. This type of switch blade is illegal, and I haven't seen this type sold anywhere in the states in years either.