SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

trusktr · 2010-05-27 21:38:40

Should i do what ca-certificates advises (via pacman output) to "Uncomment the right regulatory domain in /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom"?

What happens if I don't? Am I breaking the law? lol

Last edited by trusktr (2010-06-04 18:05:03)

tomk · 2010-05-27 22:49:47

That message comes from crda's post-install script, not ca-certificates. Using the correct domain gives you access to all available channels in your area.

trusktr · 2010-05-27 22:57:36

All i have is a normal USB wifi dongle and i'm on it right right now. What exactly is a channel anyways?

Right now i see local networks around my house. lol

Cheifchimp · 2010-05-27 23:38:08

All i have is a normal USB wifi dongle and i'm on it right right now. What exactly is a channel anyways?

The wifi band (2.4GHz) is split into multiple channels (between 10 & 14 that I've noticed) depending on your country, usually defaults to US.

The regulatory domain defines the number of channels, frequency of each channel, transmit power and other things.

In Australia not confining yourself to these is illegal, esp exceeding transmit power.

trusktr · 2010-05-28 01:32:20

Lol, so how would you get "caught"?

tomk · 2010-05-28 05:49:04

The wifi police are constantly on patrol - you'll spot them easily, as they have optimized cantennas on the top of their cars.

rransom · 2010-05-29 23:55:16

trusktr wrote:

Lol, so how would you get "caught"?

The Arch user next door notices his electronic equipment picking up more interference than normal, and files a 'bug report' with the local authorities.

moljac024 · 2010-05-30 11:41:05

And then you go to jail. 3 to 5 years.

bones · 2010-05-30 12:12:09

And share a cell with a guy who wants to be a REALLY! good friend

Cheifchimp · 2010-05-30 23:24:10

trusktr wrote:

Lol, so how would you get "caught"?

You'd have to try very hard, most likely would be the 'pedo-finder general' wardriving in your neighbourhood.

yes, the police here do go wardriving to look for pedphiles.

trusktr · 2010-05-31 17:33:36

lol, all you guys are funny!

So, should I uncomment the correct country code in my wireless-regdom?
And should I add that to my daemons?

rransom · 2010-06-01 00:52:19

trusktr wrote:

So, should I uncomment the correct country code in my wireless-regdom?
And should I add that to my daemons?

Yes.

All kidding aside, transmitting at a higher power level than the local regulations permit is not only illegal, it is both unproductive and rude -- unproductive because unless you have cranked up the access point's transmit power as well (and you probably can't), you won't be able to use WiFi at a longer range, and rude because you are jamming other users down the street who are using WiFi channels whose frequency bands overlap with yours.

trusktr · 2010-06-01 16:26:35

Alright, will do!

trusktr · 2010-06-04 06:29:10

I just checked my wireless extension with the command "iwconfig" (wireless_tools package) and it shows "IEEE 802.11bg" being used. Does that mean that my device already follows regulations without me having to uncomment my country code in wireless-regdom?

tomk · 2010-06-04 14:48:04

That indicates that you have a 802.11bg-capable device. You can use iwlist to determine whether you have access to all the channels in your area, and edit wireless-regdom if necessary.

Or you could just do it anyway - it's not going to make things worse.

trusktr · 2010-06-04 18:01:17

Cool, thanks tomk. I had no idea! I was clueless about channels until this thread.

My iwlist shows this:

[root@rocketship ~]# iwlist wlan0 channel
wlan0     11 channels in total; available frequencies :
          Channel 01 : 2.412 GHz
          Channel 02 : 2.417 GHz
          Channel 03 : 2.422 GHz
          Channel 04 : 2.427 GHz
          Channel 05 : 2.432 GHz
          Channel 06 : 2.437 GHz
          Channel 07 : 2.442 GHz
          Channel 08 : 2.447 GHz
          Channel 09 : 2.452 GHz
          Channel 10 : 2.457 GHz
          Channel 11 : 2.462 GHz
          Current Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)

I read an interesting article here that says in the US you can use channels 1-11 in the 2.4GHz range, so I'm set to go!

The article also said that the standard channel that most wireless products ship with in the US is 6, and mine is set at 6! To avoid interference due to the fact that most people use their wireless products on channel 6 (because they aren't so computer savvy like I was until right now), the article recomends that you use channel 1 or 11 since they don't overlap with channel 6 at all... Have a read, it's interesting!

Last edited by trusktr (2010-06-04 18:01:54)

Arch Linux

#1 2010-05-27 21:38:40

SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

#2 2010-05-27 22:49:47

Re: SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

#3 2010-05-27 22:57:36

Re: SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

#4 2010-05-27 23:38:08

Re: SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

#5 2010-05-28 01:32:20

Re: SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

#6 2010-05-28 05:49:04

Re: SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

#7 2010-05-29 23:55:16

Re: SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

#8 2010-05-30 11:41:05

Re: SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

#9 2010-05-30 12:12:09

Re: SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

#10 2010-05-30 23:24:10

Re: SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

#11 2010-05-31 17:33:36

Re: SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

#12 2010-06-01 00:52:19

Re: SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

#13 2010-06-01 16:26:35

Re: SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

#14 2010-06-04 06:29:10

Re: SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

#15 2010-06-04 14:48:04

Re: SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

#16 2010-06-04 18:01:17

Re: SLVD I didn't edit /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom; am I breaking the law?

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