FCC Bans Open Source router firmware
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@MattSpeller said:
We're all concerned about wifi routers, running stuff like tomato and DDWRT
I know... can you think of any that are not consumer and/or entry level as I've been saying?
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And I did mention that one must exist, but they are so rare I don't know of one. Juniper or someone must have an odd model for special cases that is good, but rare. Maybe PaloAlto does.
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@scottalanmiller Nope, glad we got that cleared up lol
Misunderstandings on the internet are awesome
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Meraki has one or two, but I'd certainly not put them at Ubiquiti.
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I think the relevant issue here for the FCC is the Radio.
As a Amateur Radio Operator, it's about those devices that have a transmitter in them. Things such as the EdgeRouter LITE does not have any RF radio in it.
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@gjacobse said:
I think the relevant issue here for the FCC is the Radio.
As a Amateur Radio Operator, it's about those devices that have a transmitter in them. Things such as the EdgeRouter LITE does not have any RF radio in it.
Exactly. Which is much narrower in scope than "router" BUT includes a ton of devices no one thought of, which might cause problems. Android devices, for example.
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@scottalanmiller said:
Meraki has one or two, but I'd certainly not put them at Ubiquiti.
Uh I'm confused again - are you implying that there are 5Ghz radio devices that will not be effected by this or that no one would want to put custom firmware on them anyway? If it's the latter, totally agree.
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Not really IT related, but GMRS / FRS / MURS radios have fixed antennas. Many newer Wireless enabled devices have fixed antennas.
These must not be altered in any way. However, there are some old hardware that has the ability to replace the antenna with a higher gain antenna, or 25 feet of cable and then the antenna.
In this case, you are not modifying the device,.. However if you were to crack the case, and solder wire to the board, THEN you are in violation of FCC rules.
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@MattSpeller said:
Uh I'm confused again - are you implying that there are 5Ghz radio devices that will not be effected by this or that no one would want to put custom firmware on them anyway? If it's the latter, totally agree.
No, he is saying those devices are less than Ubiquiti devices and thus qualify as "very low end devices" to him.
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OK I think we're all on the same page now
Brining up the quality / intended use thing got me pretty confused
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@JaredBusch, what all in one devices are you quoting, yet not recommending? Unless the client gives you a requirement to provide such a quote, aren't you doing yourself a disservice by even allowing the customer to think that they could use such a low end device in a business?
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I'm thinking more of what if I want to install DD-WRT or Tomato on my home router (Linksys)... Would I then be breaking the law by using an open source firmware? That also begs the question as to whether or not 5gHz is a licensed band or not. According to the FCC, the 5gHz band is currently unlicensed... (https://www.fcc.gov/document/5-ghz-unlicensed-spectrum-unii)
If it is unlicensed, then why is the FCC trying to regulate it?
Also, If you build a chip with hardware specs that prevent it from going outside of the 5gHz bands for WiFi, it doesn't matter what you tell the software to do. If the hardware isn't capable, then it simplly physically cannot operate outside those frequencies...
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@dafyre the FCC can still regulate unlicensed bands. For example, you can't decide to stand up a 5gHz jammer at your house just because it's unlicensed.
I'm guessing the reason the FFC is doing is has nothing to do with people trying to use 5 gHz systems for other frequencies, it's probably because someone somewhere told someone who knows nothing about how these systems work that doing this will stop hackers in some way. Though I'm sure the real reason is because businesses want an anti-competitive advantage.
@scottalanmiller what reason (I didn't see one in the article) are they giving for wanting to put this restriction in place? Why only on the 5 gHz and not 2.4 as well?
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@Dashrender said:
Unless the client gives you a requirement to provide such a quote, aren't you doing yourself a disservice by even allowing the customer to think that they could use such a low end device in a business?
Because I am honest. These devices ARE an option. They are most certainly not a good one in my opinion, but they ARE an option. The people are hiring us for my opinion, but not for my bias. I strive very hard to always present all workable solutions.
@Dashrender said:
@JaredBusch, what all in one devices are you quoting, yet not recommending?
Things like the NetGear ProSAFE VPN Firewall family or the Cisco Small Business RV series.
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Yeah, I used to do that too, but after a few years here at ML and before that at SW, I've changed my tune.
I only present options I personally believe in and want to support. If when presenting these options they ask, are there other options? I tell them yes, but those options aren't ones I'd recommend. If they insist I'll show them those options, otherwise they don't come up and a better choice is selected.
I don't consider this dishonest. They hired me for my opinion for a solution, and I provide exactly that.
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@MattSpeller said:
@scottalanmiller said:
Meraki has one or two, but I'd certainly not put them at Ubiquiti.
Uh I'm confused again - are you implying that there are 5Ghz radio devices that will not be effected by this or that no one would want to put custom firmware on them anyway? If it's the latter, totally agree.
I was saying that Meraki, while expensive, I don't consider on par with Ubiquiti and more of an entry class device, at least as a quality qualification. Maybe above entry like Netgear, but still low end (falling below the quality of $95 devices.)
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@scottalanmiller said:
@MattSpeller said:
@scottalanmiller said:
Meraki has one or two, but I'd certainly not put them at Ubiquiti.
Uh I'm confused again - are you implying that there are 5Ghz radio devices that will not be effected by this or that no one would want to put custom firmware on them anyway? If it's the latter, totally agree.
I was saying that Meraki, while expensive, I don't consider on par with Ubiquiti and more of an entry class device, at least as a quality qualification. Maybe above entry like Netgear, but still low end (falling below the quality of $95 devices.)
Does personal use give you this feeling/consideration?
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@JaredBusch said:
@MattSpeller said:
Uh I'm confused again - are you implying that there are 5Ghz radio devices that will not be effected by this or that no one would want to put custom firmware on them anyway? If it's the latter, totally agree.
No, he is saying those devices are less than Ubiquiti devices and thus qualify as "very low end devices" to him.
Correct. If a device is below the quality of a $95 device and not a home / consumer product in the routing space, I consider that entry level. $95 is so cheap and you get so much for it and is what many people use for home, I would call anything below that as falling below the home line. There are use cases for the all in ones, or used to be, these days it's a rare business that shouldn't be springing $155 for separate router and APs that are quite good quality. For those rare cases where that's too expensive.... that's fine, but someone has to be the "entry level" or "low end" users. I'm not saying low end and entry level are bad, they have their place of course. Just setting the $95 Ubiquiti as a bar that failing to reach would, to me, make someone unable to be considered anything but low end.
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@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@MattSpeller said:
@scottalanmiller said:
Meraki has one or two, but I'd certainly not put them at Ubiquiti.
Uh I'm confused again - are you implying that there are 5Ghz radio devices that will not be effected by this or that no one would want to put custom firmware on them anyway? If it's the latter, totally agree.
I was saying that Meraki, while expensive, I don't consider on par with Ubiquiti and more of an entry class device, at least as a quality qualification. Maybe above entry like Netgear, but still low end (falling below the quality of $95 devices.)
Does personal use give you this feeling/consideration?
Everything about it. Features, performance, support. It's just doesn't offer anything that competing products don't do better, for less. The interface is nice, but brings issues too. We've supported them and when little else was competing they were fine. But they've severely fallen behind the market now.
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@gjacobse said:
Not really IT related, but GMRS / FRS / MURS radios have fixed antennas. Many newer Wireless enabled devices have fixed antennas.
These must not be altered in any way. However, there are some old hardware that has the ability to replace the antenna with a higher gain antenna, or 25 feet of cable and then the antenna.
In this case, you are not modifying the device,.. However if you were to crack the case, and solder wire to the board, THEN you are in violation of FCC rules.
Yes, it is really just that the 5GHz spectrum has been added to that list of devices, basically. It was less regulated previously, that some of its spectral counterparts.
