de0u

de0u and as for privacy standpoint, I think that such regional check implies data processing and collection in a covert manner

        deeg05 that means that my hardware is limited by some stupid software restriction!

        Keep in mind that this "stupid software restriction" is something that was added by upstream AOSP, not GrapheneOS. What you seem to be asking is for the GrapheneOS developers to stop working on the projects they're working on now, and instead spend time focusing on removing a "stupid software restriction" for one person who wants it removed.

        deeg05 why shouldn't it be up for user to adhere to local regulations?

        Why is up to GrapheneOS to enable its users to not adhere to local regulations?

        deeg05 and as for privacy standpoint, I think that such regional check implies data processing and collection in a covert manner

        Not sure how this relates to privacy. The OS behaving a certain way to follow local regulations isn't a privacy issue because the data isn't being shared with anyone. It's all done on-device. Just because you don't like the result doesn't make it a privacy issue.

                Offtopic: i recently used tethering with LTE mode and Wifi 6 hotspot was created ( pixel 8 )

                22 days later

                DeletedUser126 I don't speak for the GrapheneOS project, but I doubt that exact change will be merged. It provides users with no warning that they might be violating their local radio regulations. By contrast, the GrapheneOS call-recording implementation at least prompts users to be aware of local laws.

                Note that transmitting on locally-banned frequencies might be a good way to attract unwanted official attention.

                    de0u Unfortunately there are no other options. Google has disabled 5 and 6Ghz distribution in all countries where there are no official sales. Even reminding them that in Linux kernel there are no such restrictions in many countries and distribution of 5 and 6Ghz is allowed does not help, they would have done at least like in Linux kernel, there are also these restrictions by country for WiFi modules, but no, Google made its own list, on the Google support forum one complaint is more than three years old, no one is trying to fix it. If you don't live in the USA or Europe, you don't need these features, nobody cares what laws you have in your country.

                      8 months later

                      Hello. I enabled wifi hotspot on P9 Pro, but in the "Speed and compatibility" menu it is not possible to choose 5 GHz or 6 GHz. It says - not available in your country or region. Only 2.5 GHz available.
                      Do you know how it detects country/region? I did not set country anywhere as far as I remember.
                      I cannot enable airplane mode now. But maybe somebody had experience enabling airplane mode and pull out sim card would remove restriction or not?

                      • de0u replied to this.

                        I'm wondering, how is the region determined in a device that is in airplane mode with location service off. Wouldn't this point to some unauthorized by user communication happening?

                        Certus I enabled wifi hotspot on P9 Pro, but in the "Speed and compatibility" menu it is not possible to choose 5 GHz or 6 GHz. It says - not available in your country or region. Only 2.5 GHz available.

                        Is that accurate?

                        Operating out of band often "works OK", but it is easily detectable and people do get fined for doing it. People who are using GrapheneOS for privacy reasons might not want to (literally) radiate a signal that they are rule-breakers (if those Wi-Fi channels are indeed off-limits).

                        Certus Do you know how it detects country/region?

                        No, but many Wi-Fi access points transmit a country code, so there are many information sources the system might be consulting.

                            a month later

                            Right now i am on a pixel 8 pro, and I am having this same issue but it's unrelated to local regulations in my country.

                            • Every other device my family and friends own which is sold/approved locally can do at least 2.4/5ghz hotspot
                            • My home router provided by my internet provider also have both 2.4 and 5ghz bands
                            • My previous pixel phone (Pixel 6) had no issues with 2.4 and 5ghz hotspots

                            Yet on my current pixel 8 pro, on both stock rom as well as on graphene os:

                            • 2.4ghz isn't greyed out but it gets toggled back as soon as i toggle it to enable it
                            • 5ghz is greyed out
                            • 6ghz isn't greyed out and i'm able to enable it, but no device can connect to it, my 2 laptops and a desktop computer all with wifi 6e chips can see it, but are unable to connect to it no matter the settings i use.