Bluetooth Printer
Management
User Guide
P1097482-02EN
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Terms of Use
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Publication Date
September 24, 2021
3
Contents
About This Document ........................................................................................................................... 6
Who Should Use This Document..................................................................................... 6
How This Document Is Organized ................................................................................... 6
Android Device Setup ........................................................................................................................... 7
Overview .......................................................................................................................... 7
System Requirements..................................................................................................... 9
Minimum Requirements............................................................................................ 9
Before you start ...................................................................................................... 10
Android Device Installation............................................................................................ 12
Connection Manager Setup.................................................................................... 12
Bluetooth Connector Setup .................................................................................... 15
Connect a Printer to your Android Device .............................................................. 18
Connect to Your MDM ............................................................................................ 23
Create a QR Code ........................................................................................................ 27
App Use .............................................................................................................................................. 28
Connection Manager Screens and Functions................................................................ 28
Connection Manager Main Screen ......................................................................... 28
Connection Manager Settings ................................................................................ 29
Connection Manager Log ....................................................................................... 30
Connection Manager About.................................................................................... 31
Bluetooth Connector Screens and Functions................................................................ 32
Bluetooth Connector Main Screen.......................................................................... 32
Bluetooth Connector Settings................................................................................. 33
Bluetooth Connector Log........................................................................................ 34
Bluetooth Connector About .................................................................................... 35
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Contents
Troubleshooting .................................................................................................................................. 36
Installation Issues........................................................................................................... 36
Initial Installation ..................................................................................................... 36
Printer Discovery............................................................................................................ 37
Application Permissions ......................................................................................... 37
Manually Set Permissions ...................................................................................... 38
Check Bluetooth is Enabled on the Printer............................................................. 38
Connection Issues......................................................................................................... 39
Server Connection Issues ...................................................................................... 39
Printer Connection Issues ...................................................................................... 39
Miscellaneous ............................................................................................................... 40
Why do I see printer commands on my label? ....................................................... 40
Contact Zebra Support................................................................................................... 40
Key Considerations............................................................................................................................. 41
Bluetooth Connection Overview..................................................................................... 41
Printing Channel ..................................................................................................... 41
Status Channel ....................................................................................................... 42
General Information ....................................................................................................... 42
Other Considerations ..................................................................................................... 42
Firmware Downloads.............................................................................................. 42
Using Bluetooth Connections ................................................................................. 43
Functional differences when using Printer Profile Manager Enterprise ........................ 44
Managing Printers over Bluetooth vs. Network Connections......................................... 44
Appendix............................................................................................................................................. 45
QLn Printer Support ....................................................................................................... 45
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About This Document
This section provides you with contact information, document structure and organization, and additional
reference documents.
Who Should Use This Document
This User Guide is intended for use by IT personnel or company associates who need to perform routine
maintenance, upgrade, or troubleshoot problems with mobile printers via Bluetooth.
How This Document Is Organized
The User Guide is set up as follows:
Section Description
Android Device Setup This section provides an introduction, and setup
procedures for your Android device.
App Use This section details other screens and functions
for Bluetooth Connector and Connection
Manager apps.
Troubleshooting This section will assist you with troubleshooting
issues.
Key Considerations This section provides things to consider and
important dependencies.
Appendix This section provides a list of unsupported
printers.
6
Android Device Setup
This section provides an introduction, and setup procedures for your Android device.
Overview
Bluetooth Printer Management provides real-time visibility into the operations and settings on all your
Link-OS printers that are connected via Bluetooth to your Android devices. Bluetooth Printer Management
consists of the Bluetooth Connector and Connection Manager applications. Together, these applications
on your Android device create a gateway between the Bluetooth connected printer and either Zebra’s
Printer Profile Manager Enterprise or SOTI MobiControl*, providing real-time visibility and management.
As a result, you can update, monitor, and troubleshoot all from a remote central location.
* Zebra’s SOTI MobiControl Connector is required for use with SOTI MobiControl.
Figure 1 provides a view of the Bluetooth Printer Management system.
Figure 1 System Diagram
7
Android Device Setup
Figure 2 shows the Home screen. In this example, it indicates a successful end-to-end connection from the
Mobile Device Management (MDM) application through the Android device to the Bluetooth connected
printer.
Figure 2 Home Screen
1
2
3
4
5
1
Overflow icon
2
Status and Discover Printers
tabs
3
Connected icon
6
4
Friendly name of the printer
5
MAC Address of the printer
6
Weblink Connection bar
8
System Requirements
The following sections will assist you in setting up your Android device.
Minimum Requirements
You will need to have one from each of the categories below.
Software and Servers
• On-premise instance of Printer Profile Manager Enterprise v2.0.6353 or later
• On-premise or cloud instance of SOTI MobiControl v13.3.0.3064 or later and Zebra’s SOTI MobiControl
Connector v1.06 or later
• The Bluetooth Connector app requires the use of the Basic Printer Connection (SHA-1 certificate)
option in Printer Profile Manager Enterprise 3.x versions.
Android Devices
Devices supported include:
Android Device Setup
• MC40 & MC40 HC
• TC51 & TC55
• TC70 & TC75
• TC8000
• ET50
• ET55
• MC9200
• Nexus 4
• Nexus 5X
• Nexus 6P
• Nexus 7
• Google Pixel C
• Samsung Galaxy S6
Connectivity
• WiFi or cellular data connection to the MDM server
Android OS Versions
• 4.4
• 5.1
• 6.0
• 6.01
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• 7.0
• 7.1
Link-OS Printers
Your Zebra printers must be running firmware version x.19.13Z or higher and must be one of the following
models:
• QLn series (See Appendix on page 45 for important information on specific models supported.)
• ZD400 series
• ZD500 series
• ZQ300 series
• ZQ500 series
• ZR600 series
Before you start
You will need the following additional information to get started.
Android Device Setup
1. Company specific network information, if required
• Your company’s Proxy Server URL
• Any authentication credentials for Internet or network access
2. Zebra Bluetooth printer
• Zebra recommends using the simple tap and pair method to connect the printer. In cases where that
may not be possible, the printer’s friendly name and MAC address should be known, so it can be
manually entered or identified in the list of discovered printers.
3. The Weblink server URL for either Printer Profile Manager Enterprise or SOTI MobiControl Connector.
Your IT administrator will need to provide this information.
• How to Obtain the Printer Profile Manager Enterprise Weblink server URL
The Weblink URL can be obtained from the Configuration section in Printer Profile Manager
Enterprise.
The Weblink URL is the URL shown in the Whole URL field. See Figure 3 on page 11.
• How to obtain the SOTI MobiControl Connector Weblink server URL.
Consult your IT administrator to get the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) of the Printer
Administration Server (PAS) where the SOTI MobiControl Connector is installed.
The Weblink URL will be:
where FQDN is the Fully Qualified Domain Name of the Printer Administration Server (PAS) on
which the SOTI MobiControl Connector is installed.
https://FQDN/zebra/weblink/
10
Android Device Setup
Figure 3 Printer Profile Manager Enterprise Weblink URL
11
Android Device Installation
Download and install the Bluetooth Connector and Connection Manager apps on your Android device. The
apps can be downloaded from the link below:
• Google Play Store
To deploy both applications from SOTI MobiControl, download the APK’s from Zebra’s web site.
• zebra.com/bluetoothprintermanagement
Connection Manager Setup
To setup Connection Manager, perform the following steps:
1. Turn on Bluetooth for your Android device.
(Refer to your Android device documentation for instructions on configuring settings.)
2. Once you have installed the Connection Manager app, open it on your Android device.
Figure 4 Android Device Apps
Android Device Setup
12
Android Device Setup
See Figure 5. At the time of the first use only, you must enable Bluetooth Discovery and Connections.
3.
Figure 5 Bluetooth Permissions Required Screen
4. Tap OKAY to enable permissions and close the dialog box.
For permission issues, see Application Permissions on page 37.
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Android Device Setup
5.
See Figure 6. You may also change other General Settings at this time.
a. Tap the Overflow icon , and tap Settings.
b. Tap Printer Status Polling Interval, and enter the new interval. (Default is 60 seconds, and the
minimum value is 15 seconds.)
The lower the value the quicker the alerts appear in the MDM console. However, this means increased
activity over the Bluetooth connection.
Tap
OK to save your change or Cancel to exit.
c. Tap Anonymous Error and Use Reporting to uncheck the box and disable sending error reports.
(Checked by default.)
Tap
Dismiss to close the dialog box.
NOTE: You must restart the app for your error reporting change to take effect.
Figure 6 Connection Manager Settings Menu
14
Bluetooth Connector Setup
To setup Bluetooth Connector, perform the following steps:
1. Turn on Bluetooth for your Android device.
(Refer to your Android device documentation for instructions on configuring settings.)
2. See Figure 7. Open Bluetooth Connector app on your Android device.
For permission issues, see Application Permissions on page 37.
Figure 7 Android Device Apps
Android Device Setup
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