**** BEGIN LOGGING AT Thu Oct 06 02:59:58 2016
Oct 06 05:44:48 <PaulFertser> DocScrutinizer05: e.g. ath9k_htc is a USB wlan that runs free software firmware.
Oct 06 05:57:29 <pabs3> thanks to Atheros for releasing it: https://github.com/qca/open-ath9k-htc-firmware
Oct 06 05:57:30 <DocScrutinizer05> well, USB WLAN has its very own issues in embedded
Oct 06 05:58:27 <DocScrutinizer05> and those chipsets will soon be illegal anyway
Oct 06 05:58:50 <DocScrutinizer05> at least in US (they already are un EU)
Oct 06 06:01:01 <DocScrutinizer05> unless I missed some quite recent changes in that subject
Oct 06 06:03:06 <DocScrutinizer05> EU commission has already outlawed WLAN (and other RF) that allow users to mess with TX parameters (buzzword RADAR interference, though that's a red herring), FCC is about to follow
Oct 06 06:05:15 <DocScrutinizer05> despite all the very sound arguments the FOSS evangelists brought to those regulatory entities attention, regarding bugfixing etc
Oct 06 06:08:38 <DocScrutinizer05> my guess would be they want to stop wide availability of tools to run network traffic snoopers like airodump etc, and even more the active attacks by exploiting injection mode
Oct 06 06:10:53 <DocScrutinizer05> so when they get that pulled off, soon you'll have to pay 100s of bucks for specialized network analyzer tools based on blob-free WLAN chipsets that allow minitor mode and packet injection
Oct 06 06:23:00 <DocScrutinizer05> https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/08/06/2015-18402/equipment-authorization-and-electronic-labeling-for-wireless-devices#  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX%3A32014L0053&from=EN
Oct 06 06:25:36 <DocScrutinizer05> https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Funkregulierung-Angriff-auf-alternative-Software-2803189.html
Oct 06 06:27:16 <DocScrutinizer05> >>Artikel 3, Abschnitt i, schreibt ausdrücklich vor, dass die Funkanlage sicherstellen muss, "dass nur solche Software geladen werden kann, für die die Konformität ihrer Kombination mit der Funkanlage nachgewiesen wurde". <<
Oct 06 06:28:38 <DocScrutinizer05> IOW the hardware MUST reject any software updates or modifications that could result in a TX behavior that's not certification/legislation conforming
Oct 06 06:29:23 <DocScrutinizer05> blobfree WLAN EOL
Oct 06 06:30:25 <DocScrutinizer05> actually s/TX//
Oct 06 06:32:06 <DocScrutinizer05> well, they could use signed firmware images, so you have open source yet you can't modify stuff
Oct 06 06:33:24 <DocScrutinizer05> but it's simpler here (and probably this single time even better) to just rely on 'security by obscurity'
Oct 06 06:33:37 <DocScrutinizer05> for the manufacturers
Oct 06 06:35:10 <DocScrutinizer05> ooh, in USA that legislation is already in effect too, though only for 5GHz WLAN
Oct 06 06:35:49 <DocScrutinizer05> >>Für klassische 5-GHz-WLAN-Module gelten die nordamerikanischen Einschränkungen bereits seit drei Monaten. Sie sind Vorbild für die geplanten allgemeinen Restriktionen. Neue Modelle von WLAN-Geräten dürften vorerst nur mit DRM (Digital Restrictions Management) auf den Markt kommen, sodass die Eigentümer keine Verbesserungen vornehmen können. In neun Monaten tritt zusätzlich ein Vertriebsverbot für früher genehmigte 
Oct 06 06:35:51 <DocScrutinizer05> Modelle in Kraft.<<
Oct 06 06:37:50 <DocScrutinizer05> https://www.heise.de/downloads/18/1/5/7/9/4/3/6/GetAttachment.pdf
Oct 06 06:38:25 <DocScrutinizer05> An applicant must describe the overall security measures and systems that ensure that:
Oct 06 06:38:26 <DocScrutinizer05> 1. only properly authenticated software is loaded and operating the device; and
Oct 06 06:38:27 <DocScrutinizer05> 2. the device is not easily modified to operate with RF parameters outside of the authorization.
Oct 06 06:49:22 <DocScrutinizer05> oooh now I see a reason for the seemingly mad new trend that smartphones don't offer 5GHz WLAN anymore
Oct 06 06:51:01 <DocScrutinizer05> hmm, maybe that's no widespread trend, only some random devices that simply don't think 802.11a is relevant for them
Oct 06 06:51:24 <DocScrutinizer05> GS7 comes with 11a
Oct 06 06:51:57 <DocScrutinizer05> cat S60 seems doesn't
Oct 06 06:54:52 <DocScrutinizer05> S60 however uses https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon/processors/617 and that offers 11a
Oct 06 07:00:00 <DocScrutinizer05> maybe S60 has problems with antenna integration
Oct 06 11:12:36 <rah> pabs3: aye, I saw telepathy-ring; didn''t know that existed
Oct 06 11:14:03 <pabs3> Jolla/Mer has taken over development btw: https://git.merproject.org/mer-core/telepathy-ring
Oct 06 11:15:59 <rah> pabs3: didn't know about a previous PureOS or Ivi Inc. either, thanks
Oct 06 11:21:18 <rah> pabs3: yeah I followed the chain of "this project has now moved to ..." links :-)
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