Printers & Printing

• Bluetooth Printer Mode
• Choosing & Connecting Printers
• Star Micronics Printer Configuration
• Zebra Printer Configuration
• SM-T300 Printer Configuration

Bluetooth Printer Mode

The Changing Bluetooth Mode procedure explains how to adjust the internal hardware connection settings on Star Micronics mobile printers. Its primary purpose is to ensure the printer broadcasts a standard Bluetooth signal compatible with your devices. This article is intended for OPS-COM administrators and field enforcement personnel setting up their printing hardware.

Setup and Configuration

This configuration is performed directly on the physical mobile printer using its hardware buttons. It does not require any configuration within the OPS-COM administrative portal.

Admin Side: Administrators should ensure the physical field printers are fully charged before attempting hardware configuration changes.

User Side (Enforcement Staff): Ensure the printer is powered off and disconnected from any previously paired devices before beginning this setup process.

Using this Feature

Enforcement personnel must interact with the physical Power and Feed buttons on the printer to access and modify its internal broadcast mode.

Changing the Printer's Bluetooth Mode

1. Hold the Power button down for 3 seconds until the printer beeps to turn it on.

2. Hold down both the Power button and Feed button simultaneously for approximately 5 seconds until the printer enters settings mode and the LED screen flashes. Release the buttons.

3. Press the Power button to change the current mode from Bluetooth (iAP) to standard Bluetooth Mode or Bluetooth (the exact wording depends on your specific printer model).

4. Hold down the Power button and Feed button simultaneously for another 5 seconds to exit and save your changes. The printer will immediately print a detailed paper list showing your new settings.

5. Verify that the correct standard Bluetooth mode is now displayed on the printer's LED indicator screen.

Hardware Button Navigation While in the Printer Settings mode, pressing the Power button changes the specific setting option you are currently looking at, while pressing the Feed button skips forward to the next available setting category.

Confirming Settings

Once the printer hardware is properly configured to broadcast a standard Bluetooth signal, return to your device to complete the pairing process.

1. Issue a test violation within the OPS-COM Enforce application to ensure the tablet and printer are communicating successfully.

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Best Practices and Considerations

• Avoid the iAP suffix for Android devices: Always ensure your printer is set to standard Bluetooth or Bluetooth Mode when pairing with Android tablets. The Bluetooth (iAP) mode is designed exclusively for Apple/iOS devices. Even if your Android tablet appears to successfully pair with the printer while it is in iAP mode, the enforcement application will not be able to print tickets.

• Always test the connection: Always perform a live print test after altering hardware modes. Confirming the physical ticket prints correctly saves time in the field and ensures officers are not stranded with non-functioning hardware during a patrol.

Choosing & Connecting Printers

The Choosing and Configuring Printers process allows enforcement officers to connect and properly format their mobile Bluetooth printers within the Enforce application. Its primary purpose is to ensure the application communicates with the correct hardware drivers, allowing for clear and accurate physical ticket printing in the field. This article is intended for OPS-COM administrators and field enforcement personnel configuring their handheld devices.

Setup and Configuration

Before configuring the printer within the OPS-COM application, the physical printer must be powered on and actively paired to the handheld device via the device's Bluetooth settings.

Admin Side: Administrators should ensure the organization's chosen Bluetooth printers (such as Star Micronics or Zebra models) are fully charged, loaded with paper, and paired to the assigned handheld device.

User Side (Enforcement Staff): Enforcement officers must configure the application settings to recognize the paired printer and driver before issuing their first physical citation.

Using this Feature

Officers must explicitly select both the appropriate software driver and the specific hardware device within the application's system settings.

Accessing System Settings

1. Tap System Settings from the main menu of the OPS-COM application.

2. Scroll through the menu to locate the specific printer settings options.

Selecting the Driver and Printer

1. Tap Bluetooth print driver to select the proper driver for the hardware you are using.

2. Tap Bluetooth Printer to open a list of paired Bluetooth devices.

3. Tap the name of the specific printer you are actively using to finalize the connection.

Default Printer Driver By default, the printer driver is set to Star Micronics. If you are using a Zebra printer, tap to select Zebra. Selecting the driver will automatically close the pop-up and return you to the main settings menu.

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Best Practices and Considerations

• Match your drivers to your hardware: It is critical that the selected driver matches your physical printer type. If these two settings do not match, the printer will either fail to work entirely or it will begin to print out unreadable code and odd characters instead of a properly formatted violation.

• Verify functionality before patrolling: Always issue a test violation after configuration. Printing a test ticket ensures the printer is connected, formatting correctly, and working exactly as expected before you step out into the field to begin enforcement.

Star Micronics Printer Configuration

The Star Micronics Printer Configuration process allows administrators and field staff to securely connect mobile printers to Android or iOS devices for use with the OPSCOM Enforce - iOS & Android application. Its primary purpose is to enable enforcement officers to accurately print tickets directly from their handheld devices, significantly streamlining the violation issuance process in the field. This article is intended for OPS-COM administrators and enforcement personnel.

Setup and Configuration

Before using the printer with the enforcement application, the hardware must be successfully paired with the handheld device and set to the correct underlying emulation mode.

The Star Micronics T300i or higher is strongly recommended for field operations, as older models may not be fully supported by modern mobile operating systems.

Changing Printer Emulation

Emulation dictates exactly how the printer communicates with the handheld's operating system. The printer must be set to the specific mode required by your device type (Android or iOS).

1. Open the paper cover of the printer.

2. Tap and Hold the POWER and FEED buttons simultaneously.

3. Release the buttons once the red error lamp flashes 5 times and the screen indicates Setup Mode.

4. Close the paper cover.

5. Review the physical status slip that automatically prints. For Android devices, the slip must display "Emulation = ESC/POS". For iOS devices, the slip must display "Emulation = StarPRNT".

6. Repeat these steps from the beginning if the status slip does not show the correct emulation for your specific device.

Bluetooth Pairing

1. Power on the Star Micronics printer.

2. Navigate to Settings then Bluetooth on the handheld device.

3. Ensure the Bluetooth toggle is enabled.

4. Select the Star Micronics printer from the list of available nearby devices.

5. Enter the PIN to successfully pair the device.

Using this Feature

Once the hardware is paired and configured at the operating system level, it must be linked within the application settings to actively enable ticketing functionality.

Connecting in the Enforce App

1. Open the OPS-COM Enforce app and log in.

2. Tap the Menu icon at the top left of the screen.

3. Tap App Settings.

4. Scroll down to the Printer Settings section.

5. Tap the Printer Driver drop-down menu and choose Star Micronics.

6. Tap Saved Bluetooth Printer to initiate a scan for your previously paired hardware.

7. Tap the printer name (typically SM-T300) or the specific serial number from the scanned list.

8. Tap the Emulation drop-down menu and select the mode matching your device. Select StarPRNT for iOS devices, or select EscPosMobile for Android devices.

9. Tap the Menu button and tap Home to return to the main operational screen.

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Best Practices and Considerations

• Verify hardware compatibility: Ensure you are using a Star Micronics T300i or higher, as older models may not be supported by the Enforce app or receive firmware updates.

• Prioritize battery management: Ensure the printer is fully charged before the start of a shift to prevent unexpected connection drops or hardware failures during live ticket issuance.

• Conduct pre-shift paper checks: Always verify paper levels before leaving the office, as the external printer will not alert the Enforce app when it is out of physical thermal media.

• Resolve connectivity issues quickly: If the printer stops responding in the field, toggle Bluetooth off and on in the device settings and verify that the printer has not automatically entered a power-saving sleep mode. If issues persist, contact OPSCOM Support.

Zebra Printer Configuration

The Zebra Printer Configuration process allows administrators to set up and connect Zebra mobile printers to Android or iOS devices for use with the OPS-COM Enforce app. Its primary purpose is to streamline parking operations by enabling the direct printing of violation tickets from handheld units. This article is intended for OPS-COM administrators and field enforcement personnel.

Setup and Configuration

Configuring a Zebra printer requires a one-time setup involving the official Zebra utility and the Enforce application to ensure consistent communication between the hardware and software.

Printer Discovery and Utility Setup

1. Power on the Zebra printer.

2. Uninstall and re-install the OPS-COM Enforce app on your handheld device to ensure a clean configuration environment.

3. Download and install the Zebra Printer Setup Utility from the app store.

4. Open the Zebra Printer Setup Utility.

5. Tap Discover Printers.

6. Tap and Hold the Feed button on the physical printer until the Bluetooth symbol appears on the printer display, then release.

7. Tap the printer once it appears in the Discovered list.

8. Wait for the utility to retrieve settings; the printer is ready when the status displays Ready at the top of the screen.

Connectivity and Media Settings

1. Tap Connectivity Settings, then tap Bluetooth.

2. Confirm that the Bluetooth and Discoverable switches are enabled.

3. Verify the Friendly Name (defaults to the serial number) and tap Next.

4. Tap Next on the second screen to keep default settings, then tap Apply.

5. Tap Media Settings and tap Media Settings again on the following page.

6. Follow the prompts to set the correct paper size for your rolls and tap Apply.

7. Tap Print a Test Label from the main Media Settings page to verify the hardware configuration.

Using this Feature

After the printer is configured in the Zebra utility, it must be linked directly to the Enforce app to be used for ticketing in the field.

Connecting in the Enforce App

1. Open the OPS-COM Enforce app and log in.

2. Tap the Menu icon at the top left and tap App Settings.

3. Scroll to the Printer Settings section.

4. Tap the Printer Driver drop-down menu and choose Zebra.

5. Tap Saved Bluetooth Printer to scan for the device.

6. Tap your printer name or serial number when it appears in the list.

7. Tap Save when prompted with Save Printer?.

8. Tap the Menu icon and tap Home to begin using the application.

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Best Practices and Considerations

• Clean Installation: It is highly recommended to uninstall and re-install the Enforce app before setting up a new Zebra printer to prevent legacy configuration conflicts.

• Bluetooth Visibility: If the printer does not appear during discovery, ensure you Tap and Hold the Feed button until the Bluetooth icon is visibly displayed on the printer's LCD.

• Naming Conventions: Consider changing the Friendly Name in the Zebra utility to a unit number (e.g., "Enforcement Unit 01") to make it easier for officers to identify their specific printer in the app.

• Media Calibration: If the printer skips labels or alignment is off, return to Media Settings in the Zebra utility to re-run the calibration process.

• Misprint Issue: If the printer outputs code (such as ^XA, ^FO, etc.) instead of the rendered label, it means the printer is receiving raw ZPL (Zebra Programming Language) data and treating it as text. Toggling the setting for "Line Mode" or setting another language (like EPL or XML) instead of ZPL should quickly fix this issue.

[!WARNING] Ensure the printer remains powered on and within close proximity to the handheld device during the "Applying Settings" phase to avoid corrupting the printer firmware.

SM-T300 Printer Configuration

The SM-T300 Printer is a mobile Bluetooth hardware printer used to issue physical citations from the OPS-COM Enforce application. Its primary purpose is to print physical tickets in the field, and this guide outlines how to configure its core hardware connection and power-saving settings. This article is intended for OPS-COM administrators and field enforcement personnel.

Setup and Configuration

Before the SM-T300 printer can successfully pair with your Android handheld and print tickets, you must ensure its internal hardware settings are configured to broadcast a standard Bluetooth signal and manage power efficiently. All setup is performed directly on the physical printer using its hardware buttons.

Admin Side: Administrators should ensure that the printer hardware is fully charged and loaded with thermal paper before distributing it to field staff for configuration.

User Side (Enforcement Staff): Enforcement officers must follow the hardware button sequences below to properly configure the internal settings of the physical printer before attempting to pair it with their handheld device.

Using this Feature

Enforcement personnel must interact with the physical buttons on the printer's front panel to navigate its internal menus and adjust the operational modes.

Configuring Bluetooth Mode

To pair the printer with a handheld device, the printer must be set to the standard Bluetooth mode, rather than UART or Bluetooth (iAP).

1. Hold down the Feed button and Power button simultaneously for approximately 6 seconds until the printer enters setup mode.

2. Press the Power button to cycle through the available connection modes.

3. Stop cycling when the screen displays Bluetooth.

4. Hold down the Feed button and Power button simultaneously for approximately 6 seconds to confirm and save your connection setting.

Configuring Power Down Settings

To preserve battery life during patrols, you can configure the printer's timeout setting. It can be set to "no power down" or configured to power down automatically after 1 to 5 minutes of inactivity.

1. Turn the physical printer on.

2. Press and hold the Power button, then immediately press and hold the Feed button at the same time for approximately 5 seconds until the screen becomes backlit and enters Settings mode.

3. Press the Feed button to step through the settings menu until the screen displays PWDN X min off (where X represents the current timeout duration).

4. Press the Power button to cycle through the available timeout options.

5. Press the Power button and Feed button simultaneously once you have selected your desired wait time.

Configuration Confirmation Once you save your power down settings by pressing both buttons simultaneously, the SM-T300 will automatically print out a short paper summary of your current settings and return to standard standby mode.

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Best Practices and Considerations

• Optimize your battery life: Always configure a power down timeout of 3 to 5 minutes to ensure the printer battery lasts through an entire enforcement shift. Leaving the printer constantly powered on when not actively ticketing will drain the battery prematurely.

• Verify connection modes: If your Android tablet cannot discover the printer during the initial pairing process, verify that the printer is in standard Bluetooth mode. If it is accidentally set to Bluetooth (iAP), which is generally reserved for iOS devices, standard Android tablets will struggle to connect.

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Supporting References

For more advanced configuration or troubleshooting, administrators can refer to the official Star Micronics resources and SDK documentation below:

• Star Micronics StarIO SDK Application

• SM-T300 Hardware Manual PDF

• StarPRNT Android SDK Documentation PDF

• Mobile Printer Manual PDF

• StarIO POS Printer Android SDK Documentation PDF