From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S261561AbVDSTFQ (ORCPT ); Tue, 19 Apr 2005 15:05:16 -0400 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S261240AbVDSTFQ (ORCPT ); Tue, 19 Apr 2005 15:05:16 -0400 Received: from cimice4.lam.cz ([212.71.168.94]:15232 "EHLO beton.cybernet.src") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S261561AbVDSTFG (ORCPT ); Tue, 19 Apr 2005 15:05:06 -0400 Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2005 19:07:40 +0000 From: Karel Kulhavy To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Subject: Re: Open hardware wireless cards Message-ID: <20050419190740.GA8517@beton.cybernet.src> References: <20050105192447.GJ5159@ruslug.rutgers.edu> <20050105200526.GL5159@ruslug.rutgers.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <20050105200526.GL5159@ruslug.rutgers.edu> User-Agent: Mutt/1.4.2.1i X-Orientation: Gay Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org On Wed, Jan 05, 2005 at 03:05:26PM -0500, Luis R. Rodriguez wrote: > On Wed, Jan 05, 2005 at 02:24:47PM -0500, Luis R. Rodriguez wrote: > <-- snip --> > > > As far as support for the new chipsets goes -- sorry -- we won't be able > > to support it as I don't think even Conexant has a final well tested > > linux source base ready for 2.6. And even if we are given a source base > > there is nothing we can do to get around the need for the closed-source > > softmac libs that it relies on. As much as I'd like to support it, I > > don't want to get a headache to support something I cannot modify so I > > won't be willing to support a half-opened driver as the atheros driver. > > I'd also like to add... > > For those of you frustrated about our current wireless driver situation > in open platforms -- > > I think we probably will have this trouble with most modern hardware for a while > (graphics cards, wireless driver, etc). A lot of has to do with patent > infringement issues, "intellectual property" protection, and other > business-oriented excuses. > > What I think we probably will have to do is just work torwards seeing if > we can come up with our own open wireless hardware. I know there was > a recent thread on lkml about an open video card -- anyone know where > that ended up? I got open hardware optical wireless, though it's not a card, just add-on to existing Ethernet: http://ronja.twibright.com Nevertheless it show how to use the free-software toolchain. Also see GNU Radio. http://www.gnu.org/software/gnuradio/doc/exploring-gnuradio.html CL<