US Macbook Wifi compatability with Europe

[MattJessop]

I'm not sure if this question has been asked before, but alas, searching has not eased my pains, so I'm going to ask away.

I plan to buy a Macbook when I'm over in the US in July. However, I just realised that the US Wifi channels are not exactly the same as the European ones (not to mention some US channels are illegal in Europe and Vice-Versa)
Is this actually a problem with the Macbooks? As far as I was aware, it's all software based with OS X, so as long as my localisation is set to the UK, it should use European Wi-Fi channels.

Can anybody confirm this for me? It would be a bummer to find out that it's unchangeable and for me to get back here and find that Wifi doesn't work (I refuse to use wires these days XD)

Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[dex22]

You can use the airport card with a UK localisation.

However, be warned that customs have become expert at recognising that you're importing the laptop. If you bring in a MBP with a US keyboard, and you're English, they'll happily charge import duty on it.

As an ex-pat Brit, I speak from experience. 🙁

 

[MattJessop]

Yeah, I'm well aware of the risks of customs. I know people who have managed to get through it (maybe it's just Manchester Airport being really lax about it) - but I'm willing to pay the tax if needs be. (it's still cheaper than it is over here WITH the VAT added on.)

Of course, this is mainly because I have a friend with an educational discount living over there who I am visiting. So of course if I wasn't already going, the flight costs would more than cancel out the cost of the macbook 🙂

Thanks for your reply. I've done some checking on the Apple website, and Airport Extreme supports Channels 1-13, which is right in the UK channels 🙂

Of course, Channels 12 and 13 are illegal in the US, so I'll make sure not to use them there. Not that it'd really matter too much I hope, heh)