Wireless Communications with Bluetooth™

“Bluetooth” is a worldwide standard for the exchange of data between two devices via radio frequencies. Bluetooth radios are relatively low powered to help prevent interference with other devices running at similar radio frequencies. This limits the range of a Bluetooth device to about 10 meters (32 feet). Both the printer and the device it communicates with must follow the Bluetooth standard. Other than conditions specified elsewhere in this manual, only one of the radio options can be installed in the printer at one time and the antenna used for these transmitters must not be co-located or must not operate in conjunction with any other antenna.

Bluetooth Networking Overview

Each Bluetooth enabled QL Plus printer is identified by a unique Bluetooth Device Address (BDA) loaded into its QuickLink module when manufactured. In order to exchange data, two Bluetooth enabled devices must establish a connec- tion.

Bluetooth software is always running in the background, ready to respond to connection requests. One device (known as the master or the client) must request a connection with an- other. The second device (the slave or the server) then accepts or rejects the connection. A Bluetooth enabled QL Plus printer will normally act as a slave creating a miniature network with the terminal sometimes referred to as a “piconet”.

For the most part, communications using the Bluetooth protocol are initiated and processed without any operator inter- vention.

QL 220 Plus and 420 Plus printers can be equipped with both a Bluetooth and an 802.11b radio, allowing communications with both Bluetooth enabled devices and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) (see WLAN discussion following).

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QL Plus Series User Guide