We have been looking into using Bluetooth to connect Android-based scanners to Zebra printers for mobile label printing from a cart. The Android phone can connect to the printer via Bluetooth and has Ignition Perspective 8.1 installed. Everything is setup and ready to print labels, but we expected to be able to print to the printer via IP, not Bluetooth.
Is it possible to send a ZPL message to the Zebra printer via the Perspective app on the phone?
Is there another way of doing this that we’re not thinking of?
Can Ignition write to nearby devices with Bluetooth, or is the Bluetooth component in Perspective more for taking in data/scanning for nearby devices?
Assuming the Ignition Gateway can see the Zebra printer on the network, I would explore having a script on the gateway that sends commands to the printer via TCP/IP and called from the Perspective app. Bluetooth would require a Zebra app on the Android device I think, but I’m not 100% on that. That would require app dependency.
Our IT department doesn’t want to put the printer on the network if it means it would be wireless. Bluetooth is our workaround. The printer doesn’t have an IP and isn’t wired, but is connected via Bluetooth to the Android.
What about a separate & isolated network for the printer communications? I would spend the time pushing for that instead of trying to find a technical work around.
