[ath9k-devel] Regulatory domain

[Luis R. Rodriguez <lrodriguez@atheros.com>]

On Thu, Mar 17, 2011 at 03:49:30AM -0700, Baldomero Coll wrote:
> Luis, Peter,
> 
> I don't want to break any rule. I'm only interested in working on the 5735000
> KHz - 5835000 band (with its restrictions), but It seems that my wireless
> card doesn't follow the regulatory domain.
> 
> Based on the dmesg [1] in this band i should be allowed to transmit 3000mBm,
> but the wireless card shows this limitations. If I change the reg domain, the
> available frequency bands change accordly, but no changes are shown in the tx
> power restrictions.  Do you know what the reason is?

With Atheros cards a user can update the central regulatory domain of cfg80211
to help compliance, but never to do something more. So for example if your card
was programmed for US, even if you insist you are in JP you won't start using
channel 13, if however your card is from JP and you insist you are in the US
channel 13 can be disabled.

So ultimately with Atheros cards you should not have to muck with anything,
as the regulatory parameters from the card are already processed and user
input is only going to limit your card further. If your card does not allow
you to use a channel then you can't use it due to the restrictions of the
regulatory domain the card was sold for.

  Luis