[MLB-WIRELESS] ACA discussion paper

[sanbar]

Hey Jim,

On Thu, 2003-10-09 at 10:50, jlinton at iprimus.com.au wrote:
> Wireless Experimenters 
> 
> Hi all,
>        A final reminder that the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) is
> proposing a new Entry Level licence for amateur radio, and it includes the
> 2.4 and 5.8 bands. 
> 
> A number in the wireless community did in the past express interest in this
> proposal. The ACA has issued a discussion which includes the Entry Level
> licence, and it is encouraging submissions. 
> 
> As a wireless experimenter you could express your views and/or support for
> the WIA Entry Level proposal. 

Don't like it. The only common interest between amateur radio and
development of wlan is the use of radio frequencies. The real knowledge
in wlan technology is not behind producing the medium to carry data -
after all, we are using very low powered, off-the-shelf equipment and
basic RF theory - but in the network's design. The RF side is of little
significance other than  prividing a substtute to the wired medium while
keeping within guidelines. The other difficulty will be determining who
exactly requires this licence to operate the equipment (if you don't own
or assemble the equipment, do you need the entry-level licence?), and
whether the licence is needed before, during, or after someone decides
to commit to building a link.Once the link is established, the RF theory
falls into the background.
I think calling for wlan operators to be licenced is not really all that
appropriate or relevant. Yes, there will be people who attempt to
operate equipment outside of ACA guidelines, but groups such as
Melbourne Wireless go to great lengths to educate member wlan operators
about basic RF theory and the physical limitations of what they can do
with the equipment they use. Licencing these people will not change
those who decide to set up pirate wlan links.
Granted, the RF stuff is significant, but IMHO it would be of more
relevance to wlan operators to do a RHCE/MCSE than entry-level RF
theory. Getting an RF link up is the easiest part of building the wlan
network. Making it work is a biatch.
I'm open to criticism.
- Barry

-- 
barry park
http://wireless.bur.st|community wireless project
http://warragul.wireless.org.au|another community wireless project
-=all your http_get are belong to us=-


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