3rd party WiFi cards

[cdevers]

The wi-fi slot on my NX70v seems to just be a standard CompactFlash slot. Electronics stores always seem to have CF wireless network cards for half the price Sony's wireless card is generally offered for, but I'm not clear if these generic cards are compatible with the Clie.

Likewise, since it seems to be a generic CF slot, can the Clie take generic CF memory? Those, again, often seem to be cheaper than the MS sticks -- and I've read about interesting things on the horizon, like a dual 1gb ram / wireless CF card.

It would be nice to be able to use cheaper commodity accessories rather than having to be locked into Sony's more expensive components. Is this just a pipe dream?

+++++

Summary from discussion below: no, apparently it's not possible. How annoying. As interesting as wi-fi access would be, there's no way I can be bothered to spend what Sony is asking for their card at this point.

[ClieMarty]

from what I know the CF slot might be limited to WiFi-Cards, WiFi-Slot as you stated. There is no driver for supporting CF Memory so far whereas some people try to develop one.

Regarding generic CF cards. This is something I also would like to know. Pricing of Sonys own WiFi-Card is ridiculous.

[RetAF]

So buy one and try it out!

[birick]

Do a search of the threads...lots of discussion on this subject.

Bottom line---all that will work right now is the Sony WiFi and a few analog modems using a japanese driver which was converted to English by some of the good folks who frequent this site.

You are correct that it is a standard CF slot, but without drivers...

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by ClieMarty
from what I know the CF slot might be limited to WiFi-Cards, WiFi-Slot as you stated. There is no driver for supporting CF Memory so far whereas some people try to develop one.

Regarding generic CF cards. This is something I also would like to know. Pricing of Sonys own WiFi-Card is ridiculous.

Have you priced the WiFi card for a Visor? It's only $299.00, twice that of the Sony and also twice as big :).

[ClieMarty]

No, I did not. But using a Visor for WiFi at all would be even more ridiculous ;-) Let's see: some $250 for the device plus more than the same for WiFi and what comes next. Three times the amount for a 1GB Mem Stick Pro? ;-)

[zscholz]

I bought a non Sony branded CF wireless card, and looked for hours for drivers...only to find that from sony's own web page, the Sony branded wireless card is the only one they support...hacked drivers could be out there for other brands, but I had no luck finding any...

[xDownForNowx]

the wifi is an intel device. try using another vendor that uses the intel card.

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by zscholz
I bought a non Sony branded CF wireless card, and looked for hours for drivers...only to find that from sony's own web page, the Sony branded wireless card is the only one they support...hacked drivers could be out there for other brands, but I had no luck finding any...

That's because there is none, sorry. For now it's Sony or nothing for CF WiFi. I believe Sony has kept all it's API's a secret.

[UI018397]

What brand is your CF wireless card ?
Does it use the Symbol Spectrum 24 chip?
Intel uses it. I wonder if the Sony driver
can actually drive any Spectrum24 chip
once the card identification stage
(usually called when the card is inserted)
is by-passed / hacked.

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by UI018397
What brand is your CF wireless card ?
Does it use the Symbol Spectrum 24 chip?
Intel uses it. I wonder if the Sony driver
can actually drive any Spectrum24 chip
once the card identification stage
(usually called when the card is inserted)
is by-passed / hacked.

No! Many have tried, unless your able to hack it. Mine is an Intel for Sony, I have no clue what chip is in it.