Thanks for the responses.

I found this: regulatory domain limiting channels/frequencies - Windows 10 Help Forums


I think someone has solved this for Linux, but my Linux competence is very limited. Can someone translate this into a Windows 10 fix?

Rob
K7QJ



On Sunday, February 21, 2021, 11:43:42 AM PST, Steve Stroh <steve.stroh@gmail.com> wrote:


I’ll confirm what Kenny said about locking Wi-Fi gear sold in the US to Wi-Fi frequencies allowed in the US.

For a long time you could easily change Wi-Fi countries easily to allow more choices, which was, of course, easily abused. The FCC cracked down on that ease of changing countries. It’s still doable (for example, flash firmware in some APs to OpenWRT or AREDN), just not easy for non technical consumers.

On Sun, Feb 21, 2021 at 11:23 Kenny Richards <richark@gmail.com> wrote:
Rob,

I don't know this for sure, but I suspect that Windows queries the wifi card to find out what it supports for channels, I have seen some powershell queries for getting at this list. Most wifi hardware is limited at the firmware level for channel support (required by law) and I'm guessing since your laptop was sold for the US market, the wifi card is similarly restricted to the US channels. You'll have to research whether there is an aftermarket way of changing it. This is why when purchasing client access equipment for HamWAN, you need to purchase the worldwide version, which doesn't have the US restrictions enforced. (and why you need to provide you amateur radio license when doing it)

Also as a general reminder, Amateur radio operators are allowed to use additional channels in the US, but the allowed uses are more restricted.

Thanks
Kenny

On Sat, Feb 20, 2021 at 7:33 PM Rob Martin via PSDR <psdr@hamwan.org> wrote:

This might be considered slightly off-topic, at least until you have read it.

My computer is an older Lenovo Thinkpad X201 laptop, and is running Windows 10 Pro. I suspect my issue applies to any OS.

With an Amateur Radio licence we can use WiFi channels outside the range available to Part 15 users.

Q1. Where in the pc is the range of available 5GHz WiFi channels set?  The highest channel that works in my machine is number 165, centred at 5825MHz, 20MHz wide. It will NOT work on the next channel up (number 169, 5845MHz centre, 20MHz wide)

Q2. How do applications read this information?  A program I use called InSSIDer that displays WiFi activity shows channel 165 as the highest available. How does it know?

Q3. Is there a tool with which I can read this information?

Q4. Is there a way I can edit this information to extend the range to higher channels?

Thanks.

Rob
K7QJ
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Steve Stroh (personal / general): stevestroh@gmail.com