Zebra Rw 220 User Manual - Wireless Communications

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RW Series User Guide

Wireless Communications

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 interfer-

ence with other devices running at similar radio frequencies.  

This limits the range of a Bluetooth device to about 10 meters 

(about 32 feet).

Both the printer and the device it communicates with must 

follow the Bluetooth standard. 

Bluetooth Networking Overview

Each Bluetooth enabled RW series printer has a unique 

Bluetooth Device Address (BDA) loaded into its radio module 

when manufactured. 

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 RW series 

printer will normally act as a slave creating a miniature net-

work with the terminal sometimes referred to as a “piconet.”

For the most part, communications using Bluetooth are initi-

ated and processed without any operator intervention.

 RW 420 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 discussion below).

Wireless Local Area Network Overview

RW series printers can be equipped with several radio op-

tions which use the industry standard 802.11 WLAN protocol. 

•  RW series printers with a Compact Flash (CF) ra-

The RW series is configured with the USB Open HCI inter-

face driver allowing it to communicate with Windows

®

 based 

devices.  USB drivers are included in the Zebra Universal 

Driver which can be downloaded from 

www.zebra.com

.

 Other 

terminals or communications devices may require the instal-

lation of special drivers to use the USB connection.  Consult 

your Zebra reseller or the factory for further details. 

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