Question

Photo of Ludvig Andersson

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Zebra ZQ510 not working for Check-In via iPad w/bluetooth

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We use a few ZQ510 printers with iPads to print check-in labels. 

We can connect via Bluetooth in the iPad settings, but some printers do not appear within the Rock RMS Checkin application settings (5-finger press). We have 6 printers, and 3 work, but 3 do not. The printers have the same firmware, and the iPads have the same iOS. 

We do not want to use the network option on the ZQ510. 

Has anyone experienced this before or know why certain printers do not work with check-in?

  • Photo of Ludvig Andersson

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    Hey Lee, yes, we determined that some of our ZQ510s have the Bluetooth 3.0 module, while some have the 4.0 module.

    It is my understanding that Rock Check-In only supports Bluetooth Low Energy(4.0) and not Bluetooth Classic(3.0). 

    So it seems that we will not be able to use these printers at all..

  • Photo of Lee Peterson

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    That's a bummer. Yes, it's true - Rock only supports Bluetooth LE. Let us know if we can help with anything else!

  • Photo of Lee Peterson

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    The printers need Bluetooth set to "discoverable"...guessing that's it. Although that might not explain why you can see them in iPad settings.

  • Photo of Ludvig Andersson

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    The bluetooth is set to "discoverable" so I don't believe that is the problem.

  • Photo of Lee Peterson

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    My only other suggestion would be to reset the printer(s) to factory settings, and if that doesn't work try uninstalling and reinstalling the check-in app. I don't think this is a common problem.

  • Photo of Ludvig Andersson

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    We've tried just about everything including a complete wipe and reset to the printer. Still doesn't seem to work. Thanks

  • Photo of COTK IT

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    We've reset the printer to factory, removed the RMS app and reinstalled. Removed printer from iOS Bluetooth settings and re-added. iPads are up to date with latest version. For context, we have about 20 iPads and only 5 can see the printer. Most iPads are similar specs, and the printers are all ZQ510 wifi/bluetooth models. One of the most confounding issues...

    Is there no specific RMS config needed to talk to the printer? Including back end check-in configs.

    • Jim Michael

      Jim Michael

      If the "20 ipads" and printers are in proximity of each other, it's unlikely you'll ever get this to work reliably. Bluetooth uses the VERY crowded 2.4GHz spectrum (so does your old wifi and lots of other stuff) and it generally does NOT work well when you try to run a bunch of BT things at the same time, if they can "see" each other (radio-spectrium-wise). There's just not enough BT channels to go around. This is a common experience where a bunch of office workers in cubicles have BT mouse/keyboards and they all compete/conflict with each other.


      To answer your question... no, there is no special config for BT in the Rock check-in configuration. You should NOT, however, pair the ipad to the printer via BT. Rock communicates directly with the printer via its app, and having the ipad ALSO "paired" to the same printer could cause problems... maybe that's exactly what you're doing/seeing?

    • Photo of COTK IT

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      Thank you for your quick response. It's not a proximity issue...We don't use all 20 in the same location. No more than 2 at most...Our previous check-in system worked flawlessly on all. Also, we have tried your theory not to be connected to the iPad settings Bluetooth and even cleared all Bluetooth cache. We have been really scratching our heads for several days now!

    • Photo of Lee Peterson

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      Out of curiosity, can you print a test label from the Zebra app on all the printers? Note that the Zebra app does NOT need to be installed on the iPads.

      Will some iPads see all printers, and/or will one printer work with all iPads? Trying to figure out if it's an iPad thing, or a printer thing.

    • Photo of Ludvig Andersson

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      We can print test labels with no problem using the Zebra app.

      If a printer works, then all iPads can see it.

      This seems to be a printer issue, but we can't find any common denominator between the printers that work and those that don't. 

    • Photo of Lee Peterson

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      Any luck with this? We'd love to hear your resolution to this, Ludvig.