This repository contain the PKGBUILD and associated files for linux-ath-user-regd, an Arch Linux kernel with patched Atheros drivers that ignore regulatory domain settings in the wireless cards' EEPROM. The purpose of the patches is to enable consumer Atheros wireless cards to be used in master mode (i.e. AP mode) on 5GHz.
Many Atheros cards are set to the "World" regulatory domain in EEPROM, putting many restraints on what they are allowed to do. In particualar, all channels in the 5GHz band have the "No-IR" flag set, meaning the card will not work in master mode on these channels. While a different regulatory domain can be imposed in software (for example by iw reg set US), the original restrictions will not be lifted, and both set of restrictions apply at the same time.
Some links on the regulatory domain setting: drivers:ath regulatory:processing_rules
2 patches are cherry picked from OpenWRT's kernel patches. The first one patch out reading regdomain from EEPROM, and the second disable "Country IE" processing. These should allow ath5k and ath9k devices to work in master mode on 5GHz channels. ath10k probably won't work: see known bugs/limitations here
(There is probably a way to apply the patches using DKMS, thus avoiding compiling the entire kernel, but I haven't figured out how.)
On Arch Linux, just build the packages with makepkg and install them using pacman -U.
The file linux.diff contains the differences between the vanilla ABS kernel build files and the files in this repository. It may be helpful if you are patching a different kernel (linux-lts anyone?) or a different version of kernel.
The patch files could be useful for other Linux distributions as well.
Remember to set regulatory domain in software (hostapd, iw reg set, etc.) in order to comply with local regulations!