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This is especially sad because the NYC Mesh project ( https://nycmesh.net/ ) to create a mesh network in NYC uses TP-Link routers pretty heavily.
Can somebody explain what this means? I'm still confused. Firmware lockdown, does it mean I can't install dd-wrt or something? Any other consequenses?
Correct, no custom firmware, and it appears no downgrading your firmware to an older version without this restriction. It's a trap-door upgrade.
This is especially sad because the NYC Mesh project ( https://nycmesh.net/ ) to create a mesh network in NYC uses TP-Link routers pretty heavily.
https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Save_WiFi The FCC publishes a 90-page document on an extremely technical subject and required any comments to be submitted within 7 weeks. It would take the average aficionado several weeks just to find out about it. The real issue here is that government agencies like the FCC are willfully excluding all but the best organized (read: best funded) groups from participating. And just like w…
This is especially sad because the NYC Mesh project ( https://nycmesh.net/ ) to create a mesh network in NYC uses TP-Link routers pretty heavily.
Won't all of those existing TP-Link routers continue to work and be unlocked to flash whatever you like on them ?
Further, aren't there sufficient TP-Link parts in the supply chain from the last 4-5 years that you'll continue to be able to source them ?
Genuinely curious...
This is especially sad because the NYC Mesh project ( https://nycmesh.net/ ) to create a mesh network in NYC uses TP-Link routers pretty heavily.
Won't all of those existing TP-Link routers continue to work and be unlocked to flash whatever you like on them ?
Further, aren't there sufficient TP-Link parts in the supply chain from the last 4-5 years that you'll continue to be able to source them ?
Genuinely curious...
Is this limited to devices sold in the US? They are going to impose it on every other place that sells them? Afiu tp-link has no obligations to manage two devices trees for a niche community. Stubborn minority effect at play here. [1] http://fooledbyrandomness.com/minority.pdf
https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/blog/2015/11/12/clearing-air... TP-Link may well be locking down firmware, but it is NOT because the FCC is forcing them to.
As your link says, they intend to prohibit selling hardware which can be modified to violate FCC regs. Since 3rd party firmware allows such violations, devices get locked down.
How else are you going to explain the existence of separate US firmware which refuses to upgrade to international firmwares?
And this is why, in a nutshell, linux should switch to GPL3. Right now there is no issue for TP-link to "preenmptively" block their hardware. If there was, they would think twice about it.
Unfortunately, given the number of developers that would have to agree, the fact that early contributions weren't attributed and the can of worms that defining what a derivative work is opens, makes relicensing very unlikely.
I thought the FCC walked back on this?