Wardriving for wireless LANs 2

[Markus Kuhn]

Graham Murray wrote on 2002-06-01 22:04 UTC:
> "Owen Lewis" <oml@sysrx.uk.com> writes:
> 
> > Do bear in mind that this is an ISM band - which makes the 'licencing' of
> > equipment and operators a quaint thought. That said, and as others have
> > remarked, use of the band is not entirely unregulated.

Keep in mind that RLANs are communication systems and not ISM equipment.
As such, the devices do certainly need type approval, even in the ISM
band. Not being ISM equipment, RLANs might still be covered in part by
the Wireless Telegraphy Act, even if you don't need a WTA transmitting
license, independent of which frequency band they use.

> Though as there is an ITU plenary this year, is there any possibility
> of the use of this band (or some other) by wireless LAN etc being
> formalised internationally?

The 2.4-2.5 GHz band was specifically added by ITU to the ISM class a
long time ago for physical reasons: It is a good absorbtion frequency of
water molecules. Anyone else in that band will therefore have to cope
with the millions of microwave ovens that broadcast on it. RLAN
manufacturers are unlikely to be able to force the kitchen appliance
industry to a different band.

The Europe-wide type approval requirements for RLANs in the microwave
oven band are already defined in ETS 300 328 and limit for instance
power to 0.1 W. This standard is also applied in the UK.

http://www.radio.gov.uk/publication/ra_info/ra294.htm

> > Those interested in the 2.4 GHz licence/no licence and who/what/why will
> > find a good little FAQ in in the 'What's New' spages of the RCA site.

http://www.radio.gov.uk/topics/mobiledata/rlans-licence-exempt/q-a.htm

"Owen Lewis" wrote on 2002-06-01 21:58 UTC:
> The 'fear' the police in particular have for both the confidentiality and
> the survivability of their communications is largely misplaced. To the
> extent that the fear is real, they should address themselves to a sufficient
> remedy.

It was my understanding that the police, MI5, etc. in the UK are already
in the progress of introducing digital encrypted TETRA radios.

http://www.tetramou.com/
http://www.police.gov.je/tetra.html
http://www.vnunet.com/News/1114663
http://www.cvni.net/radio/nsnl/nsnl32news.html

Markus

-- 
Markus G. Kuhn, Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK
Email: mkuhn at acm.org,  WWW: <http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/>