Zebra CR8178 Standard Charging and Communication Cradle for DS8178 FIPS Black CR8178-SC100F4WW

Key Features

• Standard charging and communication cradle that both charges a DS8178 and links it to the host.
• Upright desk form factor, holding the scanner nose-down between scans in a compact footprint.
• FIPS-certified Bluetooth link for deployments with a formal cryptographic requirement.
• Extends usable wireless range to up to 330 feet line of sight in Class 1 operation.
• Draws power from the host cable in a standard installation, with no separate supply required.
• Midnight Black housing pairs with the Twilight Black DS8178 scanner variants.
• Cradle measures 2.8 in H x 3.3 in W x 8.3 in D, sitting neatly behind a till or on a bench.
• Host communication cable is not included and is ordered separately to suit the interface.
• Compatible only with the DS8178; it does not serve other Zebra cordless scanner families.

Key Specifications

• Type: Standard charging and communication cradle
• Compatible Scanner: Zebra DS8178 cordless area imager only
• Colour: Midnight Black
• Security: FIPS-certified Bluetooth link
• Function: Charges the scanner battery and carries the Bluetooth data link to the host
• Wireless Range: Class 1 up to 330 ft (100 m); Class 2 up to 33 ft (10 m)
• Power: Normally powered from the host cable; Zebra power supplies sold separately
• Host Cable: Not included; requires a host communication cable such as CBA-U21-S07ZBR
• Dimensions: 2.8 in H x 3.3 in W x 8.3 in D (7.1 x 8.4 x 21.1 cm)
• In the Box: Cradle only; no scanner, no host cable and no power supply

Cradle Function

The Zebra CR8178 (CR8178-SC100F4WW) is the standard charging and communication cradle for the DS8178 cordless scanner. It charges the scanner's PowerPrecision+ battery between uses and carries the Bluetooth data link between scanner and host, which is why it needs a host cable of its own. The standard cradle is the upright desk form, holding the scanner nose-down in a compact footprint of 2.8 by 3.3 by 8.3 inches. It is the counterpart to Zebra's presentation cradle, which angles the scanner outward for hands-free swipe scanning; this one is the parking and charging station for a scanner that is picked up for each read.

FIPS Certification

This cradle carries a FIPS-certified Bluetooth link, which matters in government, defence, healthcare and financial deployments where the cryptographic implementation on a wireless link has to meet a formal standard rather than simply being described as encrypted. Zebra publishes non-FIPS equivalents of the same cradle under different part numbers, so if a site has a FIPS requirement it has to be met at the part-number level, not chosen in configuration afterwards. Where no such requirement exists the FIPS cradle still works normally, so it is safe to standardise on it across a mixed estate.

What Is Not Included

CR8178-SC100F4WW is the cradle on its own. There is no scanner in the box, no host communication cable and no power supply. Distributor listings carry an explicit warning that this part requires cables, and that is worth taking seriously: a host cable such as the CBA-U21-S07ZBR shielded USB cable has to be ordered alongside it. In a standard installation that same cable powers the cradle from the host port, so a separate Zebra power supply is only needed where the host cannot provide enough current for charging alongside data.

When to Order It

This part is right in three situations: adding a charging and communication base to a DS8178 bought as a scanner-only part number, replacing a cradle that has failed while the scanner stays in service, or adding a second charging point so one scanner can be parked at either end of a long bench. It is not the right part if the scanner was bought as one of the DS8178 kits, because those kits already contain this exact cradle. Check what is on site before adding it to an order for an existing installation.

Compatibility Notes

The CR8178-SC100F4WW works only with the Zebra DS8178. It is not interchangeable with the CR2278 cradle used by the DS2278, and it is not the healthcare variant: Zebra publishes CR8178-SCM00FBWW as the Healthcare White standard cradle and CR8178-PCM00FBWW as the healthcare presentation cradle with magnet. The general-purpose presentation equivalent of this part is CR8178-PC100F4WW. Match the cradle style and the colour to the scanner and the workflow rather than assuming one cradle serves the family.

Build and Placement

Finished in Midnight Black to match the Twilight Black DS8178 scanner variants, the CR8178 is designed to live on a counter, bench or trolley shelf and be knocked, wiped down and worked around all day. Its upright footprint of 2.8 by 3.3 by 8.3 inches is deeper than it is wide, which suits it to the space behind a till or against the back edge of a packing bench. Pairing is done by scanning the barcode printed on the cradle, so there is no configuration to do on the host beyond whatever the interface cable requires.

Ordering Notes

Part number CR8178-SC100F4WW is the standard, FIPS, Midnight Black charging and communication cradle for the DS8178. Zebra separates scanner, cradle and cable into distinct part numbers and also bundles them under kit codes. If a complete working station is needed from nothing, a kit part number is usually the simpler and cheaper route. If an existing installation is being extended or repaired, this cradle-only part is the one to order. Confirm which case applies before placing the order.

For retail, healthcare, government and industrial operations that need a charging and communication cradle to complete or repair a DS8178 station, the Zebra CR8178-SC100F4WW is a proven choice backed by Zebra's warranty and management tools. Contact us to learn more or secure this solution for your business today.