Legal aspects of WiFi in Europe

Hi all,

the maximal EIRP (equivalent isotropically radiated power) of IEEE
802.11b/g devices that can be used without licensing in Europe is limited to
100mW. This is an ETSI's regulation, although AFAIK it can vary in each
european country. However, in my country (Poland) it's also limited to
100mW. Now the problem is that attaching almost any external antenna with a
gain like 8 dB or more to an IEEE802.11b/g device makes the EIRP exceed
100mW. This means breaking the law, doesn't it?
So far the regulations. The reality in my country - most people (small
WISP's, etc.) absolutely don't care about it. In my city there are many
802.11b links made with 20-27dB dish antennas and I'm sure there will be
more and more. From time to time the guys from polish "Office of
Telecommunications and Post Regulation" control and fine someone exceeding
the limits, but I have the impression they simply can't keep up the speed of
developing WiFi networks.
I wonder now, what's the situation like in other european countries? In
Spain, there are only 2 channels available (by regulations), but I know the
devices you can buy have all 13 channels available. How about Germany - it
seems for me, that the law there should be more respected? Any 6km links
with 24db antennas?
My conclusion to all of this is that the ETSI's regulations are somehow
.... inadequate? I wish they were like the FCC's.

Paul

> gain like 8 dB or more to an IEEE802.11b/g device makes the EIRP exceed
> 100mW. This means breaking the law, doesn't it?

No, turn down the power of the AP.

> My conclusion to all of this is that the ETSI's regulations are somehow
> ... inadequate? I wish they were like the FCC's.

You might think that! I guess that there's possibly an element of
having better things to do with their time than run round trying to
enforce 100mW EIRP on the growing WLAN's that could pop up anywhere.

Bit like trying to enforce the speed limit on the roads. A friend of
mine (ex traffic cop) said last week that when in an unmarked car here
in the UK, they'd never bother stopping anyone below 100mph as there's
too many above the limit already. Besides, contrary to all the adverts,
it's not speed that kills, it's the sudden impact deceleration trauma
that causes the problems!

David.

On Mon, 14 Jul 2003, Pawe³ wrote:
> the maximal EIRP (equivalent isotropically radiated power) of IEEE
> 802.11b/g devices that can be used without licensing in Europe is limitedto
> 100mW. This is an ETSI's regulation, although AFAIK it can vary in each
> european country. However, in my country (Poland) it's also limited to
> 100mW. Now the problem is that attaching almost any external antenna witha
> gain like 8 dB or more to an IEEE802.11b/g device makes the EIRP exceed
> 100mW. This means breaking the law, doesn't it?

Don't forget feed-line loss for the cable between the antenna and the WLAN card.

> So far the regulations. The reality in my country - most people (small
> WISP's, etc.) absolutely don't care about it. In my city there are many
> 802.11b links made with 20-27dB dish antennas and I'm sure there will be
> more and more. From time to time the guys from polish "Office of
> Telecommunications and Post Regulation" control and fine someone exceeding
> the limits, but I have the impression they simply can't keep up the speedof
> developing WiFi networks.
> I wonder now, what's the situation like in other european countries? In
> Spain, there are only 2 channels available (by regulations), but I know the
> devices you can buy have all 13 channels available. How about Germany - it
> seems for me, that the law there should be more respected? Any 6km links
> with 24db antennas?
> My conclusion to all of this is that the ETSI's regulations are somehow
> ... inadequate? I wish they were like the FCC's.