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Small-Scale Question Sunday for March 22, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Can anyone speculate why the FCC has banned foreign-made routers?

No one is banning routers. They are refusing to certify radios. If there isn't wifi on the router it is totally ok.

Reason - most foreign made routers are unupdatable locked down crap full of zero days. And probably backdoors here and there. So are most US made (if such beasts exist). Anyway I expect to have wifi-less router and 3 usb dongles sold as a kit.

Also - tp-link and the likes can't die soon enough.

US usage seems to be inconsistent.