MESSAGE
| DATE | 2004-06-04 |
| FROM | Billy
|
| SUBJECT | Re: [hangout] Free Driers from Wifi cards?
|
On Fri, Jun 04, 2004 at 04:10:54AM -0400, Ruben I Safir wrote:
>
> <> not know, and will not answer. The HAL is distributed as only binary
> in order to comply with FCC (and most local regulation authority)
> laws, the specific reasoning is something to do with 802.11a support,
> and RADAR systems. Incidentally, Atheros based cards do not have
> firmware, and the HAL (and it's kernel module ath_hal) provide
> firmware like functionality. If you want to hack on madwifi code, hack
> on ath_pci and wlan, which are both fully open source, and where most
> of the actual functionality lives.
> Please don't waste people's time whining about the HAL being closed,
> or asking people for access to the source.>>
>
> I read the above from a driver website for one of my (not working) wifi cards.
URL? I know this is the madwifi.sourceforge.net driver, because I use
it. If you want to reverse engineer it, move to Norway and go for it!
There are real (IMO silly) FCC regulations regarding software radios.
Most cards have a firmware built-in which limits the power output
frequencies and power. You won't ever get access to THAT firmware,
either. Because Atheros is completely run by the host machine, you are
SEEing the firmware secrecy which is usually hidden from you.
FCC-lingo:
| A software defined radio is a radio that includes a transmitter
| in which the operating parameters of the transmitter, including
| the frequency range, modulation type or maximum radiated or
| conducted output power can be altered by making a change in
| software without making any hardware changes.
That's what the Atheros card is.
Unmodifiable firmware also counts as 'software', btw. It just has
a built-in restriction on user-modification of the software.
The following order was adopted 9/13/2001, while we were ...um... busy.
Authorization and Use of Software Defined Radios (Sep 13,2001)
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Orders/2001/fcc01264.pdf
-----
> > 32. We find that a means is necessary to ensure that software changes
> > cannot be made to a radio that will cause it to operate with
> > parameters outside of those that were approved in order to prevent
> > interference to authorized radio services.
...
> > We continue to believe that the best approach is to rely on a
> > general requirement that manufacturers take adequate steps to
> > prevent unauthorized changes to the software that drives their
> > equipment. This will allow manufacturers flexibility to develop
> > innovative software defined transmitting equipment while at the same
> > time providing for oversight of the adequacy of such steps through
> > the equipment authorization process.
...
> > Accordingly, we are adopting the proposal in the Notice that
> > manufacturers must take steps to prevent unauthorized software changes
> > to a software defined radio. The precise methods of ensuring the
> > integrity of the software in a radio will be left to the manufacturer,
> > and the manufacturer must document the methods in the application for
> > equipment authorization. However, it is possible that we may have
> > to specify more detailed security requirements at a later date as
> > software defined radio technology develops. Our intent is to focus
> > on results that security efforts should achieve rather than the
> > means that must be used.
...
> > We will consider further input from industry and other government
> > agencies in determining whether more detailed security requirements
> > are necessary. We encourage all interested parties to submit relevant
> > information within one year of adoption of this order.
-----
> I'm coming to the conclussion that WIFI for Free Software is HOPELESS.
Bah... prism, orinoco, and cisco are okay. There are plenty.
> Youu simply can't buy any cards from a vendor that works.
Horsefeathers!
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