1 $Id: //depot/sw/linuxsrc/src/802_11/madwifi/hal/main/README#5 $
4 Atheros Hardware Access Layer (HAL)
5 ===================================
7 * Copyright (c) 2002-2006 Sam Leffler.
8 * Copyright (c) 2002-2006 Atheros Communications, Inc.
11 Read the file COPYRIGHT for the complete copyright.
13 This code manages much of the chip-specific operation of the Atheros
14 driver. The HAL is provided in a binary-only form in order to
15 comply with local regulatory agency rules. In the United States
16 the FCC requires that a radio transmitter only be operated at power
17 levels and on frequency channels for which it is approved. The FCC
18 requires that a software-defined radio cannot be configured by a
19 user to operate outside the approved power levels and frequency
20 channels. This makes it difficult to open-source code that enforces
21 limits on the power levels, frequency channels and other parameters
22 of the radio transmitter. See
24 http://ftp.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Orders/2001/fcc01264.pdf
26 for the specific FCC regulation. Because the module is provided
27 in a binary-only form it is marked "Proprietary" on Linux; this
28 means when you load it you will see messages that your system is
31 If you wish to use this driver on a platform for which an ath_hal
32 module is not already provided please contact the author. Note that
33 this is only necessary for new _architectures_; the HAL is not tied to
34 any specific version of your operating system.
39 There are many generations of Atheros 802.11 wireless devices that
40 are typically referred to by their programming model:
42 5210 supports 11a only
43 5211 supports both 11a and 11b
44 5212 supports 11a, 11b, and 11g
46 These parts have been incorporated in a variety of retail products
47 including cardbus cards and mini-pci cards. In addition many laptop
48 vendors use Atheros mini-pci cards for their builtin wireless
51 The Atheors PCI vendor id is 0x168c. The file ah_devid.h lists most
52 known PCI device id's but is not exhaustive. Some vendors program
53 their own vendor and/or device id's to aid in BIOS-locking mini-pci