Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> bi241@scn.org hath wroth:
>
> >so the broadcom miniPCI driver says it's got 1300mW... but why 1300mW
> >and not 3100mW? well, i have another theory beside thinking garbage
> >values being returned..
>
> The garbage values theory was what the developers at Wi-Fi Hopper
> responded with when I bug reported the problem. I've seen the same
> bogus power report with other boards and drivers.
>
> >1300mW is about 31dBm!!! and i dont see why wifi cards cannot have
> >exactly that much of TX power. the FCC part 15 states that the limit
> >for 2.4GHz non-channel-hopping radios is 1000mW (or 30dBm) provided it
> >is attached to an antenna of 6dBi gain or less.... and for every 3dBi
> >increase in antenna gain, the TX power has to be reduced by 1dBm.
> >nothing further about the variations of radios+antennas
> >configuration...
>
> I don't want to get into interpreting FCC 15.247. The maximum power
> output is 1 watt. Unfortunatly, they don't say where they measure
> this 1 watt. It could be at the transmitter, or at the antenna. Hard
> to tell. The common interpretation is 1 watt maximum at the antenna
> with a 6dBi omni antenna. If you lower the gain of the antenna, you
> cannot increase the power output to compensate. It would have made
> much more sense for the FCC to specific EIRP (Effective isotropic
> reference radiated power).
>
> >but here comes the creative thinking.. from there, one may deductively
> >conclude that if the radio is permanently attached to a 3dbi antenna or
> >less, then its maximum TX power can be legally increased to 31dBi!!!
>
> No. Or at least no according to several testing labs that submit FCC
> Part 15 type certification reports. Nice try.
>
> Incidentally, if you really want high power in a laptop, see:
> <http://www.ubnt.com/products.php4>
>
> >i suspect that notebooks manufactures been doing this with their OEM
> >wifi cards, especially with those miniPCIs, to keep their customers
> >happy.... of course, those cards are not intended for desktop use,
> >obviously, never to be sold as a part of a "highpower wardriving kit",
> >or to be sold seperately at all, even if they are hard coded to a
> >specific channel within the 2.4GHz spectrum
>
> I like conspiracy theories but not this time. Linux utilities report
> the correct power output from the same cards that Windoze reports
> garbage.
>
> >the wireless networking section at Frys, compared to other sections,
> >has the most returned items from pissed off customer who bought
> >brand-name wifi devices that put out 30mW... lol
>
> That's one reason why I don't buy at Fry's.
>
> --
> Jeff Liebermann jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
> 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
> Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
> Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
Actually, what is returned at Fry's is handy to know. If there are lots
of returns, try something else. I know those on this usenet group are
Linksys fans, but most of what is returned to Fry's is Linksys.
If I think there are going to be problems with something, I always go
to Fry's because they will take back anything.