# Israel bans import of Apple iPad. Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 15, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-bans-import-of-apple-ipad-why/536247 "2010-04-15T19:59:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-bans-import-of-apple-ipad-why/536247/1 "2010-04-15T19:59:13Z")
[AP story here](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_ISRAEL_IPAD_BAN?SITE=PAPIT&SECTION=NATIONAL&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT). Is this some underhanded thing because of their tense relations? It seems absurd; Windows was never banned even throughout the ongoing lawsuits. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-bans-import-of-apple-ipad-why/536247/2 "2010-04-15T20:13:08Z")
Is there a reason you’re not willing to take the article at face value? Israel has more stringent wireless signal strength requirements than the US, and the iPad hasn’t been approved for release there yet. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-bans-import-of-apple-ipad-why/536247/3 "2010-04-15T20:21:14Z")
The curiosity is understandable. a) Few countries ban the _usage_ of this or that new piece of technology, to the point where travelers have to surrender them at the airport. b) Israel could be excused for being overcautious about any wireless device that might be usable for detonation or other terroristic purposes. But they have mentioned no such concerns. Their “more stringent” signal strength requirements mean (_inter alia_) that their limit is lower. The iPad puts out too much signal. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-bans-import-of-apple-ipad-why/536247/4 "2010-04-15T20:25:22Z")
But why just the iPad and not all of the kabillion other laptops and netbooks with WiFi? Is Israel singling out the iPad for some weird reason, or did Apple make a colossal goof when they selected the WiFi radio system? ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-bans-import-of-apple-ipad-why/536247/5 "2010-04-15T20:43:56Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > But why just the iPad and not all of the kabillion other laptops and netbooks with WiFi? Exactly. Seems pretty bizarre to me; I can’t imagine an iPad having a stronger wireless signal than a Macbook Pro. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-bans-import-of-apple-ipad-why/536247/6 "2010-04-16T00:13:39Z")
One online discussion I read pointed to this link > **[List of WLAN channels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels#5.C2.A0GHz_.28802.11a.2Fh.2Fj.2Fn.29)** > > Wireless LAN (WLAN) channels are frequently accessed using IEEE 802.11 protocols, and equipment that does so is sold mostly under the trademark Wi-Fi. Other equipment also accesses the same channels, such as Bluetooth. The radio frequency (RF) spectrum is vital for wireless communications infrastructure. > The 802.11 standard provides several distinct radio frequency bands for use in Wi-Fi communications: 860/900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 3.6 GHz, 4.9 GHz, 5 GHz, 5.9 GHz, 6 GHz, 45 GHz and 60 GHz. Each range... where you see that for 802.11a WLAN channels the 5500 MHz and up frequencies are OK in the USA and Europe, but not in Israel. I have no idea if this is relevant to the ban or not.