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from the apparently-we-don't-own-the-hardware dept.
The Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) rules on Wi-Fi router firmware are having an effect on the market:
Network gear maker TP-Link will no longer allow people to install customized firmware on its Wi-Fi routers in the US – and the FCC is to blame. In a brief statement and FAQ posted this week, TP-Link – which is based in Shenzhen, China – said the FCC's revised rules on radio-based equipment makes user reprogrammable firmware illegal in America, and therefore it cannot sell in the US routers that can be re-flashed by their owners.
"Devices sold in the United States will have firmware and wireless settings that ensure compliance with local laws and regulations related to transmission power," TP-Link said. "As a result of these necessary changes, users are not able to flash the current generation of open-source, third-party firmware."
[...] The FCC earlier backed off a bit on the matter, but maintains it will not allow devices that can be re-flashed to operate outside authorized radio frequency bands. TP-Link, however, said that the FCC rules as they stand will not allow it to offer people the ability to reprogram their router firmware.
"The FCC requires all manufacturers to prevent users from having any direct ability to change RF [radio frequency] parameters (frequency limits, output power, country codes, etc)," TP-Link stated. "In order to keep our products compliant with these implemented regulations, TP-LINK is distributing devices that feature country-specific firmware."
Previously: New FCC Rules Could Ban WiFi Router Firmware Modification
FCC Clarifies Position on WiFi Routers: Okay to Modify OS but Not Radio Firmware
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 13 2016, @04:30PM
This is not about FCC or TP-Link, it is about lazy people who only think inside the box.
1) Get a RPi, wireless adapter and IPFire. Done you have "WiFi Router". Mets FFC requirements and completely "flashable".
2) Get a Jaguar Atom. USB3 wireless adapter and Debian. Again you are done.
3) Get a small foot print desktop or an old K6-2, a couple wireless adapters and Debian, toss is few network cards, you have multiple wireless networks (Entertainment, Kids, Business, Guest, Adults), with full controlled access between them.
TP-Link's "lie" is that they want to make a single all-inclusive board, instead for two... A router that third party flash-able and radio that is not. If they were smart they would make a type of 3) above, allow the user to add extra networking as needed.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 13 2016, @06:22PM
TP-Link's "lie" is that they want to make a single all-inclusive board, instead for two
But TP-Link's "truth" is they need to stay competitive regarding price in the consumer market where "plug it in and it works" is a basic requirement for 99% of its customers. This is why they use an all-inclusive board.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 14 2016, @12:09PM
But you are missing the point. TP-Link already makes all the parts. From nano USB2 to big USB3 wireless adapters. Their wireless routers already has USB and USB3 ports. So it is purely packaging not cost.
RPi + Wireless + IPFire is about $50 retail. Why buy at $250 box. So sure TP-Link is staying completive.
PS: It will cost them less in the long run to make two parts. That way, when the radio is updated, they just have to get that through FCC "sign-off". SO, desktop, laptop and WiFi router, one shot. The router part can be foot into home market: router, NAS, thin client, chrome"book", kangaroo. roku, ...
(Score: 2) by pendorbound on Monday March 14 2016, @02:02PM
They already make pretty much "two parts." Every access point I've ever looked inside had a dedicated chip for the actual radio portions. Frequently (but not always) it's on some kind of daughter card. That part is what gets FCC certified. They can change out the rest of the device without having to re-cert.
TP-Link's interpretation of the FCC's mandate is that because the firmware for that WiFi chip is loaded at boot from the Linux OS running on the main CPU, they have to lock the whole thing down so you can't make the OS load a "wrong" firmware. Seems a little silly considering under Linux, just about any WiFi device can be forced to load alternative firmware with different radio parameters.
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Sunday March 13 2016, @10:27PM
And, when something goes wrong and a non-technical person in the house wants the internet back, how many things need to be re-set, re-booted, logged-in, how many passwords are needed? How much knowledge? How long does iit take?
Are you always home? Can you trouble shoot for your spouse or children from the bus or train (often without mobile coverage, so bo remote logins.. Oh, the box is off anyway?)
Tl;dr one box, back online ina few minutes...
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 14 2016, @12:00PM
Uptime of my equipment is over 180 days on average. I power cycle on software update "to be sure". Last time something went "wrong" it was the cable modem, not any of internal networking. But on the other hand I do make it simple to reset, all on a single UPS, power cycle UPS and all parts are power cycled.
Now if I can get my wife from plugging in her hair drier to UPS. :)
(Score: 2) by pendorbound on Monday March 14 2016, @02:14PM
Assuming the implementer has any skill, uptime should far exceed your average consumer-class router. I use separate access points for the WiFi part (like real, honest to Dog AP's, not routers...), and the main router w/ separate NIC's for the WiFi network gets rebooted less than twice a year, usually because the cable modem connection flaked out, and I'm rebooting everything "just to be sure."
If ever there is a problem and tech support (me) isn't available, everything's tested to come up automatically on startup. There's nothing manual that requires any skill. Just power cycle it, same as you would a consumer-class router. Just runs a lot better and does a bit more not trying to run on the bare minimum amount of CPU & RAM they could get away with shipping.