802.11ac Extreme model is different for different countries?

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802.11ac Extreme model is different for different countries?

Hello!

I live in Russia and I'm looking to buy 802.11ac Airport Extreme, but I remember that some time ago I've read somewhere that 802.11ac AE may work slower than it can because of some regional restrictions.

I've started searching information and found confirmation. US Apple' site states 1300 Mbps peak bandwidth (https://www.apple.com/compare-wifi-models/) for Extreme, while Russian https://www.apple.com/ru/compare-wifi-models/ site says "up to 600 Mbit/s" with footnote: "80 MHz channel width and beamforming technology are not available in Russia and some other countries".

The question: the way router works depends on software settings or it's hardware restricted?

Should I order ME918LL/A from eBay or it's no different and I'll be able to get full 802.11ac performance by setting US region on ME918RU/A?

Posted on Aug 3, 2015 9:58 AM

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Answer 1

Tesserax

Level 10

148,453 points

Aug 3, 2015 10:16 AM in response to olololosha

The question: the way router works depends on software settings or it's hardware restricted?

It would be hardware or firmware restricted.

Should I order ME918LL/A from eBay or it's no different and I'll be able to get full 802.11ac performance by setting US region on ME918RU/A?

What you can order vs. what you can operate legally in a country would be dependent on that country's laws.

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Answer 2

olololosha Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 3, 2015 12:18 PM in response to Tesserax

It would be hardware or firmware restricted.

I need help figuring out this. Thank you in advance.

What you can order vs. what you can operate legally in a country would be dependent on that country's laws.

We have different views 🙂 Routers are legal to order; we can operate everything we can order, nobody cares and nobody checks this. My current ASUS router operates in 80 MHz channel width and with beamforming and it's insane that such stuff is illegal. But that ASUS is working badly now, and I want to replace it. And surely I want to get full 802.11ac performance Airport Extreme can provide.

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Answer 3

Tesserax

Level 10

148,453 points

Aug 3, 2015 6:32 PM in response to olololosha

It would be hardware or firmware restricted.

I need help figuring out this. Thank you in advance.

It's my understanding that Apple manufactures their AirPort base station to support different regions in the world. They would include firmware that limits both the available radio channels and antenna radiating power levels. My guess is where the channel / power specifications are similar those countries were placed in a region ... and "burnt into" the firmware. I haven't seen anything from Apple which definitively defines the makeup of each of these regions.

I do know, for example, that the AirPorts destined for the US market do not include Russia in the selectable list of countries provided in the AirPort Utility. That may not be true for base stations designed for the Russian market. That is, I don't know if US is a selectable country option in these base stations.

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Answer 4

Aug 4, 2015 1:53 AM in response to Tesserax

The firmware is identical for all countries. but there is a set of restrictions maintained in the firmware for wireless in each country..

The TC sold in my region include

Modems sold for US market have a list..

Includes most of North and Central Americas.

To OP, Post the list that your unit includes.. Apple will not allow you to break local regulations. So unlike other brands they do not readily allow changes to country code.

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Answer 5

Aug 4, 2015 3:41 AM in response to LaPastenague

I have tried to change to RUSSIA and it wasn't successful.. so whatever happens in this part of the world perhaps I am wrong and there are small changes made.

But I can change for instance to ETSI.

Unfortunately to make each change requires several steps so this is a bit slow .. more coming.

FCC

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Answer 6

Aug 4, 2015 3:58 AM in response to LaPastenague

ROW ?? I am not sure West Asia??

Interesting as Thailand is also on the APAC list.

The 5ghz range is one chiefly affected.. all countries in the list are limited to that same range as the most restrictive country in that grouping.

So ETSI only includes 36-48

And ROW is only 149-161

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