Difference between revisions of "FCC Regulations on WiFi"
(New page: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has which regulate power for Wi-Fi networks. From the viewpoint of the FCC regulations, the power of a Wi-Fi broadcast is measured in units of e...) |
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* antenna gain counts | * antenna gain counts | ||
* cable signal loss counts | * cable signal loss counts | ||
| − | * | + | * One Watt (1000mw) is the FCC limit on WiFi devices |
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| + | You cannot get a more powerful wireless device without an FCC license than 1 watt for 802.11x protocols. | ||
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| + | The FCC Regs say: | ||
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| + | (b) The maximum peak output power of the intentional radiator | ||
| + | shall not exceed the following: | ||
| + | (1) For frequency hopping systems in the 2400-2483.5 MHz band | ||
| + | employing at least 75 hopping channels, and all frequency hopping | ||
| + | systems in the 5725-5850 MHz band: 1 Watt. For all other frequency | ||
| + | hopping systems in the 2400-2483.5 band: 0.125 Watt. | ||
| + | |||
| + | (4) Except as shown in paragraphs (b)(3) (i), (ii) and (iii) of this | ||
| + | section, if transmitting antennas of directional gain greater than 6 dBi | ||
| + | are used the peak output power from the intentional radiator shall be | ||
| + | reduced below the stated values in paragraphs (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this | ||
| + | section, as appropriate, by the amount in dB that the directional gain | ||
| + | of the antenna exceeds 6 dBi. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Which may indicate with a high gain antenna, up to 4 watts is permitted. Furthermore, there seems to be an exemption for point to point communications. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Sec. 15.247 Operation within the bands 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz, and 5725-5850 MHz. | ||
| + | |||
| + | (i) Systems operating in the 2400-2483.5 MHz band that are used | ||
| + | exclusively for fixed, point-to-point operations may employ transmitting | ||
| + | antennas with directional gain greater than 6 dBi provided the maximum | ||
| + | peak output power of the intentional radiator is reduced by 1 dB for | ||
| + | every 3 dB that the directional gain of the antenna exceeds 6 dBi. | ||
| + | |||
| + | This is known as the "3 to 1 Exemption." This appears to allow someone to exceed 4 watts if the transmission is focused for a high gain directional signal if you use a low gain antenna that's direction might have a 45 degree beamwidth. | ||
Revision as of 19:00, 10 March 2008
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has which regulate power for Wi-Fi networks. From the viewpoint of the FCC regulations, the power of a Wi-Fi broadcast is measured in units of equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP). EIRP represents the total effective transmitting power of the radio in a Wi-Fi card or access point, including adding gains from an antenna and subtracting losses from an antenna cable. When using an omnidirectional antenna (see "Different Kinds of Antennas" earlier in this chapter for more information about types of antennas) with fewer than 6 decibels (dB) gain, the FCC requires EIRP to be under one watt.
- antenna gain counts
- cable signal loss counts
- One Watt (1000mw) is the FCC limit on WiFi devices
You cannot get a more powerful wireless device without an FCC license than 1 watt for 802.11x protocols.
The FCC Regs say:
(b) The maximum peak output power of the intentional radiator shall not exceed the following: (1) For frequency hopping systems in the 2400-2483.5 MHz band employing at least 75 hopping channels, and all frequency hopping systems in the 5725-5850 MHz band: 1 Watt. For all other frequency hopping systems in the 2400-2483.5 band: 0.125 Watt. (4) Except as shown in paragraphs (b)(3) (i), (ii) and (iii) of this section, if transmitting antennas of directional gain greater than 6 dBi are used the peak output power from the intentional radiator shall be reduced below the stated values in paragraphs (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section, as appropriate, by the amount in dB that the directional gain of the antenna exceeds 6 dBi.
Which may indicate with a high gain antenna, up to 4 watts is permitted. Furthermore, there seems to be an exemption for point to point communications.
Sec. 15.247 Operation within the bands 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz, and 5725-5850 MHz. (i) Systems operating in the 2400-2483.5 MHz band that are used exclusively for fixed, point-to-point operations may employ transmitting antennas with directional gain greater than 6 dBi provided the maximum peak output power of the intentional radiator is reduced by 1 dB for every 3 dB that the directional gain of the antenna exceeds 6 dBi.
This is known as the "3 to 1 Exemption." This appears to allow someone to exceed 4 watts if the transmission is focused for a high gain directional signal if you use a low gain antenna that's direction might have a 45 degree beamwidth.
