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Israel Blocks iPad Imports, Citing Wi-Fi Transmission Regulations
unixcrab writes with this excerpt from The Mac Observer: "Apple's iPad is proving to be popular everywhere — except Israel. The country's Communication Ministry is refusing to let people bring the multimedia tablet into the country because it hasn't tested and approved the Wi-Fi technology used in the device, according to Haaretz. Ministry officials commented, 'The iPad device sold exclusively today in the United States operates at broadcast power levels [over its Wi-Fi modem] compatible with American standards. As the Israeli regulations in the area of Wi-Fi are similar to European standards, which are different from American standards, which permit broadcasting at lower power, therefore the broadcast levels of the device prevent approving its use in Israel.' The government seems serious about its iPad import ban. Customs officials have already confiscated ten iPads and told their owners to ship them overseas."
For those who are unaware, you can click on the Prefs button at the bottom of this page, and change your settings to not display signatures in comments. I know that the parent was just trolling, but I think this is a handy piece of information that some people don't know.
5Ghz is where a lot of military radar like stuff operates. In particular Israel has specific 802.11a restrictions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels
5.5Gz up is a not supposed to be used in Israel, but is open for use in US, Japan and Europe.
Here is a good, but not current, discussion of the various issues around wifi.
http://wifinetnews.com/archives/2007/01/5_ghz_or_bust.html
There's just one series of 802.11 (WiFi) standards.
However, different countries have different power limits and different sets of allowed channels. For example, in the 802.11b/g band, most of Europe allows channels 1 through 13 at 100mW max, while the USA only allow channels 1 through 11, but with higher power limits (1W, IIRC).
Because of those regulatory differences, WiFi hardware is sold with slightly different firmware in different countries, and it may be illegal for you to use foreign WiFi hardware.
At least they are letting the owners ship them back out instead of keeping or destroying them.
I don't really understand how this infomercial qualifies as Slashdot material, but still it needs some corrections:
1. The iPads were not confiscated - they were only prevented from entering Israel. They are still the property of whoever bought them, and he's welcome to take them back to the US and return/sell them on.
2. This regulation only applies to people trying to *sell* iPads in Israel - one piece for personal use is perfectly OK. I know many people who imported various wireless devices (walkie talkies, wifi routers, even Nexus Ones) to Israel, and as long as it's for personal use nobody challenged them at customs. Most electronics (except for musical instruments) is customs-exempt in Israel anyway.
The iPad scene in Israel: even though the thing doesn't have Hebrew text entry yet, there's still a very clear interest in it. There are companies who offer to buy it in the US and send it to you. Typical price including shipping is 2500NIS ($660):
http://www.mustop.co.il/special-deals-israel/ipad
The first Isreali soldier that kills a passive non-violent Arab protester, the entire world will come to their aid (probably in spirit only, but that is very powerful).
Israelis have killed many "passive non-violent Arab protesters". You don't even have to be Arab, just a protester. Rachel Corrie was an American protester who was killed when a Caterpillar bulldozer ran over her. Fact is is Zionists will do almost anything to create a Jewish state for Jews only.
Falcon
Should there be a Law?
The article you cited gives ample evidence.
Mechanical asphyxiation with fractures and hemorrhaging sounds a lot more like having a wall fall over on you than it does like having a 50-ton bulldozer run over you. If you get run over by a 50-ton dozer, you don’t die of mechanical asphyxiation (being too constricted to breathe). You die of being flattened.
In any case, standing in the way of a 50-ton bulldozer is stupid.
Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
It does not say how those wounds were caused, so it does not deny a bulldozer went over her.
I can tell you how they were not caused. They were not caused by a 50-ton bulldozer driving over her. That would have resulted in a much different autopsy result.
No, what is stupid is not being willing to stand up for what you believe. At least she did that.
No, what is stupid is going into a demolition zone and standing in front of 100,000 lb. bulldozers whose drivers might not even see you.
What is stupid is taking a tragic accident that was caused entirely by this girl’s stupidity and then claiming not only that the bulldozer ran over her, which it clearly did not, but that the driver did it on purpose.
Claiming the bulldozer ran over her is merely disingenuous, as the official report was that a wall fell onto her, the bulldozer was there to knock down said wall, and her wounds are typical of what would be expected of someone upon whom a wall had fallen – NOT what you would expect of someone who had been driven over by a bulldozer.
But claiming that this accident proves that Israelis kill “passive non-violent protesters”, as if they are doing it on purpose, is more than disingenuous. It is outrageous.
Standing up for what you believe is commendable.
Becoming a martyr is stupid.
Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
Things get interesting internationally because the 2.4GHz ISM band is defined differently in each country (but loosely based around the three ITU regions). There is a good reference list on Wikipedia. For example, most of the world can use channels 1-13, but North American users are limited to channels 1-11 at full power (12 & 13 can be used at reduced power -- but that's too complicated for most people so the channels are restricted). Spain used to be limited to channels 10 & 11 and France to 10-13, but this has been changed as the two countries harmonise with the rest of Europe.
The nice database at Linux Wireless lists frequencies and power levels. Israel is listed as having a 2.4GHz band of 2402.000 - 2482.000 MHz with a max power of 100mW. The US band is 2402.000 - 2472.000 (narrower) with a maximum power of 500mW (much higher). If the iPad is actually running 0.5W at 2.4GHz I can see why the Israeli authorities will be a bit cranky. Australia & the UK have the 100mW limits, but people in NZ with iPads (such as @lisatickledpink) will be fine since the power limit is 1000mW (woo hoo!)
If Apple had been sensible and limited the power output to 100mW across the board then there would be no trouble with WiFi across borders, and perhaps that is what most laptop manufacturers have done (to avoid the wifi cards being ripped out at Customs)?