e740 Overseas

[wrightca]

I recently bought an e740, and will be moving to Germany soon. I have an existing 802.11b network setup in my apartment now. I'm curious as to the compatiblity of the wireless networking with Germany Frequency Allocations. I'm the the Air Force, and most of their 'prep' documents for people moving overseas just seem to blow smoke up your a$$. I'd like to have a definitive answer if anyone knows anything about this.

Thanks,

Chris

[Small Town Man]

don't worry, everything will work in germany

[wrightca]

I wasn't worried about it working. I was worried about the Polizei showing up at my front door, or the good ole US Government telling me I can't take it over there and I must leave it in non-climate controlled storage for the next three years in South Mississippi.

I have the Toshiba documentation that it's all good to use the WiFi in Germany, but I have the Military Documentation saying no wireless LANs can operate. Now I'm guessing the Military portion is just outdated, considering it's updated by the Army Transportation Command. I would just like a little more information before I go. I do plan on using it when I get over there. I just want to know if I should be careful.

[toshtosh]

the Military Documentation saying no wireless LANs can operate

So to get this straight, you're worried about using WLAN in an american military base in germany? Or just using WLAN in germany in general?

[wrightca]

I won't be living on base. I'm just curious about the general 2.4GHz equipment in an off-base neighborhood.

They have some notes in the intro to Germany documents about cordless phones interfering with a German "Emergency Network", but they don't say which cordless phones (46/49MHz, 900MHz, or 2.4GHz). And they say Wireless LANs aren't allowed to operate in Germany, but they don't elaborate on what type of Wireless LANs.

I know that my Toshiba books say it's just fine to use the 740 with WiFi in several countries, and Germany is one of them.

I just want to know which one is wrong.

[toshtosh]

Building the crazy bandwidth quilt

European countries had little problem with 802.11b, which operates in the 2.4GHz range of radio waves. Like the United States, this swath of airwaves is both free to use and free of any government regulations. Most Nordic countries, Germany, Holland and most recently the United Kingdom, already have many wireless networks in place.

802.11a works in the 5GHz range, which is unregulated in the United States. In Europe, though, for many years, operating in that range was either limited or forbidden in most nations.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization interceded when companies like Germany's Siemens, Philips Electronics and Ericsson began rumbling about making 5GHz wireless LAN equipment. NATO used parts of the spectrum for radar and satellite operated in the same areas.

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Rest is here:
http://news.com.com/2100-1033-940352.html

So 802.11b (which is in the e740) is fine. The military papers you read were probably referring to 802.11a.

[wrightca]

That was what I was hoping, and expecting to hear. Reading some of the other things in the intro to Germany packet, it sounds like someone who has never been there wrote it.

I appreciate your help in this matter.

[toshtosh]

You're welcome.

[thunder]

don't worry, 802.11b is quite often unsed here in Germany. (Munich Airport is even offering free internet access with 802.11b see http://www.air-lan.de )

however for 802.11a you will need an exeptional allowance. (We got one for our lab :-))

Welcome to Germany!

[wrightca]

I think I'm going to track down who is giving the misguiding information and have them straighten the wording out in the brochure.

I know North America and Europe have many differences in technology (NTSC vs PAL, CDMA vs GSM, etc), but I would hate to think something relatively new wouldn't work in both countries. It seems like we are working alot better for interoperability these days not to have that ability.

Thanks again.