Sony's Network Camera CF WiFi card hits the FCC

Here's an interesting find. Upon initial inspection, the SNCA-CFW5 CompactFlash wireless card (uncovered after the jump) doesn't seem all that special, but after perusing the owner's manual a bit, it's evident that this here 802.11b/g card has some very specific intentions. Apparently designed to operate exclusively in "Sony Network Cameras" (presumably of the surveillance variety), this unit has found its way into the FCC and looks to be green lit for operation on the 2.4GHz band. Moreover, the SNCA-AN1 external antenna can be added on to extend the range even further. Unsurprisingly, there's no hints of whether or not this here device will eventually be tweaked for use in other wares, but it's only a matter of time before someone shoves this thing in a laptop or digicam and tests lady luck.

[Rev. Otto @ Jun 29th 2007 8:39AM]

Am I missing something? 802.11 CF cards have been around for quite a while.

[ScOObyDoo @ Jun 29th 2007 8:41AM]

I'm not sure why a wifi CF card would be interesting? They've been out for years, and unless the Sony card has something the others don't, I don't see anyone wasting their time on hacking it.

[strider_mt2k @ Jun 29th 2007 8:58AM]

Too true.
More Sony Nicheware, soon to be Abandonware.

[KC @ Jun 29th 2007 12:45PM]

It may not be apparent, but these could be made to be more weather tolerant, for those outdoor network cameras.

[Jesse @ Jun 29th 2007 9:04AM]

Interesting - I wonder if it'd work in the CLIE NX series (I'm still holding on to). The one Sony came out with years ago is only 802.11b.

[strider_mt2k @ Jun 29th 2007 9:18AM]

Good luck with those PalmOS drivers.

Sony was tigh-fisted with them back when they CARED about those products, you are SOL X10 now.

Did I mention abandonware?
I was a Clie TH55 owner.

[spam_from_engadget @ Jun 29th 2007 10:19AM]

What I want is a card that plugs into my camera, and the camera thinks it's a regular flash memory card. But it also includes wireless, and either (a) it exports the contents of its internal memory over the wireless, so you can see if from a PC, or (b) it imports a filesystem over WiFi from my PC into which the photos are stored. I prefer (a) a bit because it means I can be outside wifi range and the camera doesn't crash.

[kombizz @ Jun 29th 2007 10:52AM]

Oh dear
another one !

[jonathan gruber @ Jun 29th 2007 2:06PM]

What is the difference beteween this and the product that Eye-Fi is coming out with

http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/01/eye-fi-embeds-wifi-into-your-sd-flash/

[Rhett @ Jun 30th 2007 1:01PM]

I use their current card in my SNC-RX550 camera. Hopefully this card will add support for WPA (which their current one does not.)