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    Direct Receipt Printing

    SOON!

    Print professional receipts instantly with your Star Micronics Bluetooth printer, right from the taximeter app.

    Available from iOS app version 4.9 and Android app version 1.1. For the previous app versions see how you can print your receipts via saving them as an image and then printing via printers' brand apps.

    What is Direct Printing?

    Direct printing allows you to print physical receipts for your passengers immediately after completing a trip. No need for separate receipt books or manual writing—just tap the print button and hand your passenger a professional receipt.

    Key Benefits:

    • Instant - Print receipts in seconds
    • Professional - Clean, formatted receipts with your company details
    • Easy - One-tap printing from the receipt screen
    • Reliable - Automatic reconnection when printer is nearby
    • Multi-language - Receipts print in your app’s current language

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    Supported Printers

    This feature works with Star Micronics mobile Bluetooth receipt printers:

    • Star Micronics SM-S230i (Recommended)
    • Star Micronics SM-230i
    • Star Micronics SM-L200

    Printer Specifications:

    • Paper width: 58mm (prints on 48mm width)
    • Connection: Bluetooth
    • Battery powered: Rechargeable, portable
    • Print speed: Fast (2-3 seconds per receipt)

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    Where to Buy: These printers are available from office supply retailers, Amazon, or directly from Star Micronics distributors. Search for “Star Micronics SM-S230i” or “Star portable receipt printer.”

    First-Time Setup

    Setting up your printer takes just a few minutes. You only need to do this once.

    Step 1: Prepare Your Printer

    1. Charge the printer - Ensure it’s fully charged before first use
    2. Insert paper roll - Load a 58mm thermal paper roll
    3. Turn on the printer - Press and hold the power button
    4. Enable Bluetooth - On Android you’ll see only green lights and no blue bluetooth light until you open the receipt screen - this is expected. On iOS, printer always shows blue bluetooth light when it is connected to iPhone/iPad.

    print_SM-S230i-diagram

    Note: The printer’s default Bluetooth pairing PIN is 1234 (you usually won’t need this as the app handles pairing automatically).

    Step 2: Open the Receipt Screen

    After completing a trip, open the receipt screen as you normally would.

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    Look for the printer icon in the top-right area of the screen. If you haven’t set up a printer yet, this button will be blue.

    Step 3: Tap the Print Button

    Tap the blue print button to begin setup.

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    A setup screen will appear showing:

    • Title: “Receipt Printer”
    • Supported models: Listed below the title
    • Status: “Not configured”
    • Discover Printers button: Tap this to find your printer

    Step 4: Discover Your Printer

    1. Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone
      • If Bluetooth is off, you’ll be prompted to enable it
      • No additional permissions are required (handled automatically by the Star SDK)
    2. Ensure printer is already connected to the phone via bluetooth - in the phone system settings
    3. Tap “Discover Printers”
      • The app will search for nearby Star printers
      • Make sure your printer is powered on and within range (about 10 meters)

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    1. Wait for discovery (usually 3-5 seconds)
      • Found printers will appear in a list
      • You’ll see the printer model name and identifier (e.g., “SM-S230i (BT:PRNT Star)")
    1. Select your printer by tapping on it
      • Android: a radio button will appear next to your selection
      • iOS: tap on a button with a printer name in the dialog

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    Troubleshooting Discovery:

    • “No printers found” - Check that:
      • Printer is powered on
      • Printer is within 10 meters of your phone
      • Bluetooth is enabled on both devices
      • Printer isn’t already paired with another device
    • Try turning the printer off and on again, then retry discovery

    Step 5: Test Your Printer

    After pairing, it’s a good idea to test the connection:

    1. Tap “Test Print” button

    2. Wait a moment while the test prints

    3. Check the result

      • Your printer will output a test receipt showing printer information

    4. Close the setup screen

      • Tap the back/close button or swipe down to dismiss
      • You’ll return to your receipt screen

    Your printer is now ready to use!

    Printing a Receipt

    Once your printer is set up, printing receipts is simple.

    Standard Print Flow

    1. Complete your trip as usual
    2. Open the receipt screen
    3. Look at the print button in the top toolbar

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    1. Tap the green print button

      • The button will turn gray with a spinner while printing
      • Printing typically takes 2-3 seconds

    2. Hand the receipt to your passenger

      • A success message will appear: “Receipt printed successfully”
      • The print button returns to green

    Background Printing

    Your printer connection stays active even when:

    • The app is in the background
    • The phone screen is locked
    • You’re using other apps

    This means you can print reliably without worrying about the app state.

    Auto-Reconnect

    If you move out of range and return, the app automatically reconnects to your printer:

    • Leave range - Print button turns red (offline)
    • Return to range - Print button turns green again (ready)
    • No action needed - Reconnection is automatic

    Understanding Printer Status

    The print button color tells you the printer status at a glance:

    🔵 Blue - Not Configured No printer set up → Tap to set up your printer

    ⚪ Gray - Connecting/Printing Checking connection or printing in progress → Wait a moment…

    🟢 Green - Ready Printer connected and ready → Tap to print!

    🔴 Red - Offline/Error Can’t reach printer → Check printer is on and in range

    🟠 Orange - Warning No paper, cover open, or similar issue → Check printer and resolve issue

    Common Status Scenarios:

    Scenario 1: First Use

    • Print button is blue
    • Action: Tap to set up printer

    Scenario 2: Normal Operation

    • Print button is green
    • Printer is ready
    • Action: Print anytime

    Scenario 3: Printer Off or Out of Range

    • Print button is red
    • Action: Turn on printer or move closer

    Scenario 4: Paper Out

    • Print button is orange
    • Action: Insert new paper roll

    Scenario 5: Cover Open

    • Print button is orange
    • Action: Close printer cover

    Managing Your Printer

    Access printer settings anytime from the app’s Advanced Settings.

    Open Printer Settings

    1. Open the app menu (hamburger icon or settings)
    2. Tap “Settings” > “Advanced”
    3. Scroll to “Printer Settings” section

    Available Actions

    Discover Printers

    • Add a new printer or change to a different printer
    • Same process as first-time setup

    Test Print

    • Verify your printer is working
    • Useful for troubleshooting connection issues
    • Prints a test page with printer info

    Forget Printer

    • Remove the currently configured printer
    • Use this if you want to switch printers or stop using printing
    • Caution: This immediately removes the printer without confirmation

    Troubleshooting

    Problem: No printer is set up

    Solution:

    1. Tap the blue print button
    2. Follow the first-time setup steps above

    Problem: Can’t connect to printer

    Solutions:

    • Check printer power - Make sure printer is turned on (LED should be lit)
    • Check Bluetooth - Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone (no additional permissions needed)
    • Check range - Move closer to printer (within 10 meters)
    • Restart printer - Turn printer off, wait 5 seconds, turn back on
    • Check battery - Printer may be low on battery, try charging

    Problem: Printer issue needs attention

    Solutions:

    Paper Out:

    1. Open printer cover
    2. Insert new 58mm thermal paper roll
    3. Close cover
    4. Button should turn green

    Cover Open:

    1. Close the printer cover firmly until it clicks
    2. Button should turn green

    Printer Overheating:

    • Wait a few minutes for printer to cool down
    • Avoid printing many receipts in rapid succession

    Problem: Print job failed with error message

    Solutions:

    • Check printer status - Resolve any orange warnings first
    • Test print - Go to Settings → Printer Settings → Test Print
    • Re-pair printer - Forget and rediscover printer
    • Restart app - Close and reopen the taximeter app

    Receipt Text is Cut Off or Garbled

    Problem: Receipt doesn’t print correctly

    Solutions:

    • Check paper - Use thermal paper designed for 58mm printers
    • Check paper orientation - Paper should feed from bottom of roll
    • Clean print head - Use printer cleaning card or isopropyl alcohol wipe
    • Update app - Make sure you have the latest version

    Can’t Discover Printer

    Problem: “No printers found” during discovery

    Solutions:

    1. Verify printer is on - Check LED is lit
    2. Check Bluetooth range - Keep phone within 3 meters during discovery
    3. Unpair from other devices - Printer can only connect to one device at a time
    4. Reset printer Bluetooth - Turn printer off for 10 seconds, then back on
    5. Check phone Bluetooth - Turn phone Bluetooth off and on

    Slow Printing

    Problem: Receipt takes too long to print

    Solutions:

    • Low battery - Charge the printer
    • Paper issue - Check paper is loaded correctly
    • Interference - Move away from other Bluetooth devices
    • Normal print time is 2-3 seconds; if much slower, restart printer

    Multiple Print Jobs

    Problem: Same receipt prints multiple times

    Solutions:

    • Don’t tap multiple times - Button is disabled during printing to prevent this
    • If it happens - Wait for all print jobs to complete, check printer buffer
    • Prevention - Wait for green confirmation before tapping print again

    Technical Specifications

    Printer Requirements

    Supported Models:

    • Star Micronics SM-S230i
    • Star Micronics SM-230i
    • Star Micronics SM-L200

    Connection:

    • Bluetooth Classic (not BLE)
    • Range: Up to 10 meters (33 feet) typical
    • Pairing: Pair with the phone via system bluetooth settings. After that printer pairs automatically with the phone.

    Paper:

    • Width: 58mm thermal paper rolls
    • Print width: 48mm (384 dots)
    • Paper type: Thermal (no ink required)

    Power:

    • Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
    • Charge time: Approximately 2-3 hours
    • Battery life: Varies by usage (typically 200-300 receipts per charge)

    Print Quality:

    • Resolution: 203 DPI
    • Print speed: 75mm/second
    • Character width: 32 characters per line

    App Requirements

    Platform:

    • Android 10.0 or higher
    • iOS 15.0 or higher

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Q: Do I need to use a specific printer? A: Yes, this feature only works with Star Micronics SM-S230i, SM-230i, or SM-L200 printers. Other brands and models are not supported.

    Q: Can I use a regular Bluetooth printer? A: No, the app is designed specifically for Star Micronics receipt printers.

    Q: How much does the printer cost? A: Prices vary by region and retailer, typically $200-350 USD. Check with office supply stores or Star Micronics distributors.

    Q: Does printing cost money per receipt? A: No. After purchasing the printer, the only cost is thermal paper rolls, which are inexpensive (typically $10-20 for 50 rolls).

    Q: What if I have multiple phones/drivers? A: The printer can only be paired with one phone at a time. To switch, forget the printer on one phone, then pair with the other.

    Q: Does printing work offline? A: Yes, printing works without internet connection. You only need Bluetooth between phone and printer.

    Q: How do I add paper to the printer? A: Open the printer cover, insert a 58mm thermal paper roll (paper should feed from the bottom), and close the cover firmly.

    Q: How long does the printer battery last? A: Battery life depends on usage. Typically 200-300 receipts per charge, or several days with moderate use.

    Q: Can I print while driving? A: The printer can print while in motion, but for safety, we recommend printing only when parked or at a safe stop.

    Q: What if my printer breaks? A: Contact Star Micronics support or your printer retailer for warranty service. The app will continue to work normally; you just won’t be able to print until the printer is repaired or replaced.

    Need More Help?

    In-App Support:

    • Tap the info button (ℹ️) in the printer setup screen for documentation

    Printer Support:

    App Support:

    • Contact your app administrator or support team
    • Check for app updates regularly for improvements and fixes

    Last Updated: October 2025 Supported Printers: Star Micronics SM-S230i, SM-230i, SM-L200