Question

Photo of Brandon Gamache

0

Check-in Print Server Recommendations

3

What are your recommendations for printer servers for check-in? We would like to switch to mainly using iPads for check-in. The current printers we have are the Zebra LP2488-Z and GK420d.

Edit:

Here is a little more detail in regards to Jeremy's answer.

The printers we have do not have ethernet ports, so I was thinking of getting those print servers you connect via usb to the printer and the server device connects to the network via ethernet or wireless. 

Since our server is off-site, this is the only option I could think of before we look at purchasing new printers with ethernet or wireless capabilities. I have looked at the Zebra printer server but those devices are a little pricy.

I have looked at Hawking HMPS1U, good price ($30-$40) but only works with Windows OS. They have another one I may try that does wireless or wired internet connection but that I believe has AirPrint capability but it is around the $80 range. 

So I'm not looking into an actual server or program that would run on a server, but the print server devices you connect via usb to the printer and then to the network.

  • Photo of Bronson Witting

    1

    Hey Brandon,

    Jim's solution might be a bit cheeper (and maybe more flexible in your situation) but to provide another angle: We are looking at doing the same thing (switching from Windows thin clients to iPads, and we have around 25 GX420d's that don't have built in ethernet) and we've found that the easiest thing by far for setup and management is the Zebra ZebraNet Print Server.  It works seamlessly with the printers and ZebraNet Bridge, is super easy to set up, has a built-in web server, and supports the cutter functions (we were having trouble with that over a USB print server).  It basically makes a non-ethernet printer work exactly like one with ethernet.  Even though they are more pricy than USB print servers, the testing has been so headache-free that I think we're going to go this route.

    Let me know if you want more info!

    • Brandon Gamache

      Brandon Gamache

      Thanks. I did briefly look into them. Those are a little more pricy but if they work well for you with no troubles we will definitely keep that on our list of possibles. We also have around 25 GK420Ds and LP2488-Zs.

    • Photo of Jim Michael

      1

      We have done extensive testing over the years on how to make (not-networkable) Zebra printers wireless (we needed this as our check-in kiosks are mobile, and are used for far more than "child check-in." Anyway, the Apple Airport Express units do this better than anything else we've found. We haven't really gotten to this point in testing them with Rock, yet, but with our current ChMS we tried about 6 different models of USB wireless print servers, and ALL except the Airport had significant performance issues (delays between multiple labels, so-so wifi connectivity, etc). The Airports are dual band and rock solid (pun intended) for us going on three years now.

       

      • Brandon Gamache

        Brandon Gamache

        Are you using the MB321LL/A models or MC414LL/A models? It can extend or work off of our current wifi network, correct? Or does it require a wired connection to it? I'll start looking into those. They are a little pricy but definitely worth a look. We do adult and child check-in so we have multiple stations throughout our current building and we are building a new children's building and will be adding more stations (and probably moving a few) in the new building.

        • Jim Michael

          Jim Michael

          I don't have access to look at the model right now, but the ones we have are the prior-generation dual band Airport Express (the one that looks like a Macbook power supply vs. the newer one that looks like an Apple TV, and not to be confused with an Airport EXTREME). The unit is not wired at all (other than power), which is the point... it connects to your wifi and then to the printer via USB. The IP address of the "printer" (from the client or server's perspective) is the IP address of the Airport... it just turns any USB printer into a networked printer.

        • Photo of Jeremy Turgeon

          0

          Hey Brandon,

          If I understand correctly, you're asking about printing from iPad checkin stations to the label printer.  In that case the Zebra printer would be the "server" as long as it's plugged into the network and not over USB.  You wouldn't need to setup a printer server unless you want the Rock server to send the print job instead.

          This is outlined in the Printer section of the "Checking-out Check-in" documentation located here: http://www.rockrms.com/Rock/BookContent/10/10#printers

          Hope that helps!

          • Brandon Gamache

            Brandon Gamache

            The printers we have do not have ethernet ports, so I was thinking of getting those print servers you connect via usb to the printer and the server device connects to the network via ethernet or wireless.


            Since our server is off-site, this is the only option I could think of before we look at purchasing new printers with ethernet or wireless capabilities. I have looked at the Zebra printer server but those devices are a little pricy.


            I have looked at Hawking HMPS1U, good price ($30-$40) but only works with Windows OS. They have another one I may try that does wireless or wired internet connection but that I believe has AirPrint capability but it is around the $80 range.


            So I'm not looking into an actual server or program that would run on a server, but the print server devices you connect via usb to the printer and then to the network.