It's 2021 & The FSF Is Still Endorsing 802.11n WiFi Hardware

[vladpetric]

Maybe we should just call it the "Free Software Church" and be done with it ...

[andyprough]

Maybe we should just call it the "Free Software Church" and be done with it ...

It's been called the Church of Emacs for many many years.

[tildearrow]

The future is now.

I have these badass custom AMD x86_64 systems in my house that I'd love to do whatever I want on. They're something like 8 years old and have actually been replaced by an even better badass custom x86_64 system in the stores. Unfortunately, they both have this locked down BSD OS and can only run DRM laden content. It isn't even guaranteed if you can even run badass custom AMD x86_64 system v1 software on badass custom AMD x86_64 system v2. That's a per game choice and up to the publishers. At least they didn't pull that asshat move with the v1.5 systems.

Believe it or not, badass custom AMD x86_64 system v1 and v2 have been released from not 1 but 2 different companies. The other one runs this locked down Win10 OS and can only run DRM laden content. At least on that one you can run the v1 games on the v2 console.

So we have three generations of AMD x86_64 that are only good for DRM laden content. Yay Future.

In the meanwhile, only a small population care about dumbed down custom portable AArch64 ARM system. The device runs this locked down custom OS with BSD components and likewise, only runs DRM-infested content, but people like it because it is the only platform that can run this content that depicts a plumber on his mission to rescue a princess (and the ending is a huge disappointment designed to brainwash the kids into eliminating the idea of marriage and lifelong relationships), and this other content in where you collect transformed animals and put them at stake.

[jo-erlend]

You make it sound as if they've been lagging behind in recommending new hardware, rather than doing what they're supposed to do and visualizing the fact that we're not moving forwards in every direction and in some cases, moving backwards. Like Intel using secret software to geolocate your CPU in order to determine what features to allow the user to have.

[hotaru]

it's 2021 and all of the BSDs are still limited to 802.11n. that's a much more serious issue than whatever irrelevant nonsense the FSF is doing.

[skeevy420]

In the meanwhile, only a small population care about dumbed down custom portable ARM system. The device runs this locked down custom OS with BSD components and likewise, only runs DRM-infested content, but people like it because it is the only platform that can run this content that depicts a plumber on his mission to rescue a princess (and the ending is a huge disappointment designed to brainwash the kids into eliminating the idea of marriage and lifelong relationships), and this other content in where you collect transformed animals and put them at stake.

OK, Android Roku Mario

[WorBlux]

Are there any chipsets for 802.11ac that can function without blobs/firmware yet? I'm pretty sure that's the reason for sticking with 802.11n for this particular certification.

No, AC is too complex to do without it, and FCC wouldn't like an open firmware. Best hope for RSF is a well-tested chip and you bake the firmware into a ROM.

[WorBlux]

It seems to me that some people think that the WIFI-4 is outdated and therefore useless. WIFI-4 is older (2008), we now have WIFI-5 and WIFI-6, but is it thus outdated?
Where are the countries that have broadband IP traffic with speeds of 0.4-2Gb/s available for most consumers?
Looking globally, having a WIFI-4 router (max 600 Mb/s) is for most people enough since their local speed connections are still rated in single or double digit Mb/s and if they are lucky 200 Mb/s. Okay, some have already 1 Gb/s connections with fiber optics.

It is the same of having - say - an Bugatti Veron 415 Km/h (257.9 mph) and having roads where the speed limit is 120 Km/h (74.6 mph). You pay a lot but can't use it because of the law, or infrastructure or number of concurrent users.

So, please, accept the world as it is today and don't be so condescending.

And LAN connections?

802.11N is fine a for a couple active devices on one router. Put more than that and performance drops more than linearly. And its not the best on a complex environment or with interference.

[tildearrow]

OK, Android Roku Mario

Spoiler: That was Nintendo Switch by the way.

[higuita]

It may be old, but if you want speed AND range, 802.11n is the only way to go ... with ac, a few walls are enough to kill the signal and all that speed wasted if i can't stablish a stable connection. All those new wireless versions are only great if you are in the same room as the router... so useless for most people. Also, most people do not have internet faster than 802.11n, so unless they have some server, it is again useless

Give me a new improved wireless that have higher range and the same speed as 802.11n and most people will be happy

Finally, 5GHz wifi is way more dangerous/difficult to have open firmware than 2.4GHz... 5Ghz have in it's range capability to cause interference with airport weather radar (IIRC) and official support MUST comply with many rules and fallbacks to not cause problems. So having open firmware may even be forbidden, to avoid someone to change it and jam the airport weather radar