Sticky Label Printer?

[greatnorthern]

I just purchased the sticky label printer & labels at $500+ for my coffee shop. I missed the detail that it would have to be plugged in to a router..... our router is at the back of our building, no where near our register where we would need it. I misunderstood that the ethernet cable would not plug in to the Cat5 of the $800+ register. Am I correct? Are we really using 1995 technology for this..... please tell me I didn't just buy a $500 paper weight...... help

[Candlestore]

@greatnorthern ;

Since I am not sure which Sticky Label Printer you bought, I will cover the basics.

Most Network Cat5 printers can not just plug into a Computer Network plug and need to plug into a Router or Switch to get a Network IP address.   This is not a limit of Square but of the way a computer is setup.  If I buy a Network printer for my home office I can not simply run a network cable from printer to a computer.  Both net work adapters will be looking for one of them to assign a IP address, neither is assigned to send out said IP address.

Now to solve your problem if you are using WiFi in you building to connect to your Register, which I am guessing you have since your Network port on your Register is available you could buy a cheap Repeater or WiFi Extender.   These items will catch the WifI signal, have a Network plug to plug your $500 Label printer into and be located almost anywhere a Wifi signal can be Repeated or Extended from.  You would not need to run a network cable from your Router in the back to your front register this would be done through wifi.  I do not even know of any WiFi label printers, mine are all USB or Network connected.  

 As you can see the price ranges from $20 to $1500.....Not sure how you outlets are configured but small ones like the $20 Amazon one may block 2 outlets, compared to the $64 one at best buy that takes up counter or a shelf area.  The thing is make sure it has a Network port on it, and maybe more than one if you plan to add more network devices in the future.  I use a Netgear Extenders which have 4 network ports on them.  I use one for my receipt printer and have two others in my storage barns hooked to my security IP cameras and have had no issues.  

By using the Repeater or Extender your Router in the back office location will still give the IP address to both your Register and your Sticky Printer and will be on the same network.

[Grannysdrivein]

Do you know if the WIFI (WLAN) option of this printer would work?  Meaning, i would not need to add the extender and just connect the printer to the network thru WIFI?

I want to get a sticky printer but not sure which one I will have to get.

[Candlestore]

@Grannysdrivein ;

Since you did not mention Which printer you are trying for a Sticky Label Printer with WiFi I can not answer that question.

There are so many variables on what will and will not allow devices to work with another.  If your Wifi Label printer is on Squares Hardware Device list then I would say YES it will work, if it is not on there list your on your own as I only recommend what is on their list or what I have tried and got to work.  If you have the Sticky Wifi printer you can try it and let everyone know if it works.

I tried a USB scanner, it worked with my Tablet but would not Work with Squares Software.  The scanner was connected through the USB hub of a Square Stand.   Would Scan items using Apple Software but Square said it was unsupported and I was never able to get it to work with a Square Stand.  I did get it to work with my computer and Square Virtual Terminal.

The only Square Approved printer I have is the Bluetooth/USB/Network Receipt Printer.  This printer can connect to multiple devices through the Network Cable (NO WiFi) on this printer.  So I use a repeater to connect it to Two Stands, 2 Android Tablets and my Cell phone.  

I use Zebra USB or Network Printers for my Sticky labels but I do not connect them to Square and use another Computer for printing my labels all through USB ports on that computer.  2 can only connect to USB and 3 can connect to either USB or Network cables, none are Wifi compatible.  I am not even sure if I could use my Networkable Zebras with Square as a receipt printer, never tried them in this way.