will NOOBS support WIFI channel 13 soon ?

[maicod]

Will there be a new NOOBS version soon that supports networks on wifi channel 13 ? I keep having to change my wifi channel each time I want to use the NOOBS installer. I like channel 13 cause its the least used around my area.

[DougieLawson]

The reason it's least used is that it's not supported by ANY American equipment. NOOBS uses a channel in the range 1 to 11 so it's compatible Worldwide.

If you need it changed or configurable open an issue at: https://github.com/raspberrypi/NOOBS/issues they should be able to ask you what country you're in and work it out from a table of allowable channels.

[maicod]

The reason it's least used is that it's not supported by ANY American equipment. NOOBS uses a channel in the range 1 to 11 so it's compatible Worldwide.

If you need it changed or configurable open an issue at: https://github.com/raspberrypi/NOOBS/issues they should be able to ask you what country you're in and work it out from a table of allowable channels.

Thanks for your answer. I understand what you say but my thought was completely the opposite. Why not scan channel 13 for the whole world when in the US and some other countries it wouldn't list any WIFI networks on there anyways. I was already searching for a NOOBS forum so thanks for that link. I will place my question there.

[rpdom]

Why not scan channel 13 for the whole world when in the US and some other countries it wouldn't list any WIFI networks on there anyways.

Because it is illegal to use that channel in the US. Even for scanning.

[robert82h]

Sorry for bringing up this old thread again, but it was my #1 search result so I'd figure I post my solution here. Not scanning channel 13 is a show-stopper for many, and I suppose a lot of people will never realize what the problem is if NOOBS does not list their Wifi network.

You can fix it by switching from the NOOBS screen to the recovery console (Ctrl+Alt+F2), logging in (root : raspberry), edit /settings/wpa_supplicant.conf, add a line "country=DE", and reboot (Ctrl+Alt+Del). Et voilà - after the reboot, the Wifi dialog shows the channel 13 networks!

[davidcoton]

Sorry for bringing up this old thread again, but it was my #1 search result so I'd figure I post my solution here. Not scanning channel 13 is a show-stopper for many, and I suppose a lot of people will never realize what the problem is if NOOBS does not list their Wifi network.

You can fix it by switching from the NOOBS screen to the recovery console (Ctrl+Alt+F2), logging in (root : raspberry), edit /settings/wpa_supplicant.conf, add a line "country=DE", and reboot (Ctrl+Alt+Del). Et voilà - after the reboot, the Wifi dialog shows the channel 13 networks!

You must use the correct country setting for your location, to ensure compliance with local WiFi regulations.

[hippy]

The NOOBS installation / recovery screen provides for specifying language and keyboard layout so it would not be unreasonable to also have a locale setting and adjust WiFi channels scanned in accordance with that.

A suitable warning can be issued and confirmation asked for, but I don't believe the RPF would have any absolute legal obligation to prevent someone using Channel 13 even if illegal to use in some locations.

As noted; if one wants that adding one would have to open an issue with the NOOBS project to request it being added.

[davidcoton]

AIUI the responsibility for correct configuration is with the owner/user (IANAL). However the RPF are unlikely to introduce defaults that are illegal in a major market area.

[robert82h]

The defaults should definitely be the conservative, safe ones, so US would be a reasonable default. IMHO the PIXEL Raspberry Pi Configuration GUI got it right: in the localisation tab, there is a dropdown for "Wifi Country" where you can set the Wifi region. But as hippy said, that is a feature request for the NOOBS project. Filed https://github.com/raspberrypi/noobs/issues/465.