This is what I found as generic instructions for the iwl3945 driver:
<quote> If you are not in the US, more Wifi channels are available (EU: 13 instead of 11). If you cannot see your Wifi, but you know it is there, check if it is on Channel 12 or 13.
To fix, create /etc/modprobe.d/iwl3945-fix and add the following line: "options cfg80211 ieee80211_regdom=EU". Reload to the driver for the change to become active: "modprobe -r iwl3945", then "modprobe iwl3945". </quote>
However, these instructions are not Fedora-specific and I am not sure how old. So is this the *proper* way to configure this thing in Fedora 12?
And btw, IIRC during the installation, anaconda asks me for geographical location (to setup local time or whatever...). If I am somewhere outside US, could this thing be configured automatically?
I understand that this is not allowed in US, but is the situation as hopeless as the software patents problem, or can something be done about it?
Finally, I am curious --- if I live in Europe, have wireless channels 12 and 13 active by default on my laptop, and then decide to travel to USA for a week, am I breaking some law? I mean *unintentionally*, since I might not be aware of the details of my computer setup? I guess one could ask similar question wrt strong encryption algorithms and other stuff illegal in US-only...
So what is the story here? :-)
Best, :-) Marko
Finally, I am curious --- if I live in Europe, have wireless channels 12 and 13 active by default on my laptop, and then decide to travel to USA for a week, am I breaking some law? I mean *unintentionally*, since I might not be aware of the details of my computer setup? I guess one could ask similar question wrt strong encryption algorithms and other stuff illegal in US-only...
So what is the story here? :-)
The story for the usual case is that the access point beacon includes regulatory information so usually your wireless will turn the power down in the EU, drop frequencies in the US and you'll not notice. That is someone thought about the problem.
In a pure ad-hoc environment then yes you might use wrong channels going EU->US and you might be over the power limit the other way. In theory you can have your equipment confiscated plus fines in the UK but I know of no case it ever occurred ;) I think they have bigger fish to fry - pirate radio stations, CBers with 1KW amps etc...
There are certain people who can legally fiddle with their regulatory data and transmit other power levels, notably radio amateurs subject to some restrictions and usage rules.
Alan