Setting Up your Star Micronics mC-Print3 TouchBistro Thermal Receipt Printer for Bluetooth Mode

Chapter 1. Does Your mC-Print3 Support Bluetooth Pairing?

The mC-Print3 comes in two models:

1. MCP31L

2. MCP31LB

Only the MCP31LB supports Bluetooth pairing.

You can determine model type by turning the printer over and looking at the top right of the product label. If it says MCP31LB then this printer can be used in Bluetooth Mode.

Chapter 2. Limitations

Although TouchBistro supports the mC-Print3 printer in Bluetooth Mode, it’s not recommended for venues other than foodtruck configurations that lack a cellular router. If you already have a Wi-Fi router and Ethernet-based printers, we do not recommend adding a Bluetooth printer. The mC-Print3 printer can only be paired with one iPad in Bluetooth mode.

Chapter 3. Ensure Safe Printing Mode is Enabled

TouchBistro will only work with the mC-Print3 in Bluetooth Mode if Safe Printing is enabled in TouchBistro. Depending on your version of TouchBistro, this may be disabled by default.

1. Tap Admin | Admin Settings on the top right.

2. Tap Advanced and ensure Enable Safe Printing is enabled.

Chapter 4. Loading Paper

Ensure you’ve loaded paper before pairing.

1. Pull the panel level forward to open the paper compartment.

12. Load the paper as illustrated. If you’re familiar with the Star TSP100III/II series, the paper gets loaded in the opposite manner. It’s fed from the top, versus from the bottom of the roll.

Chapter 5. Pairing

To pair your mC-Print 3 with your desired iPad via Bluetooth, follow these steps:

1. Ensure the print is powered on. Double check the Bluetooth status light is off. If on, this means the printer is already paired with another iPad. You will need to unpair it with the other iPad.

2. On your iPad, tap Settings.

3. Tap Bluetooth.

4. If Bluetooth is off, slide Bluetooth to the green position.

5. Your iPad will discover Bluetooth devices within range. Wait until it discovers your mC-print3 device. Tap it.

6. Your printer will now be connected and listed in the My Devices section. If you encounter problems with your printer, first ensure the Bluetooth is on and revisit this screen to ensure your printer is connected. Repeat the steps above to reconnect.

7. Ensure the Bluetooth status light on your mC-Print3 is on.

Chapter 6. Set Up Your mC-Print3 Printer in TouchBistro

1. Open TouchBistro.

2. Load the venue’s restaurant.

3. Log in as Admin.

4. Tap Admin | Admin Settings.

5. Tap Printers & Kitchen Displays.

6. Tap Add in the top right-hand corner, and select Add Printer.

7. Wait a few moments for your printer (or printers) to appear in the New Printer screen. Tap your printer in the list.

8. After selecting your printer, tap Next.

9. Tap Printer Name.

10. Either type a name for your new printer in the Name field, or make a selection from the list, for example Receipt.

11. Tap Print Test Page.

12. Tap Save.

Chapter 7. Forgetting the Printer

You can only pair the mC-Print3 printer with one iPad at a time. If you need to pair it with another iPad, you should access the iPad it currently pairs with and forget it. To do this:

1. On your iPad, tap Settings.

2. Tap Bluetooth.

3. Tap the Information icon associated with your paired printer.

4. Tap Forget this Device.

Chapter 8. Range

We do not recommend placing the printer in a place more than 10 feet (3 meters) from your connected iPad. Also note, Bluetooth offers a slower data transmission rate compared to Ethernet. You will find with an mC-Print3 printer in Bluetooth mode will be a bit slower than a LAN printer when printing receipts and tickets.

Chapter 9. Ports

Hard Reset: If you ever have problems with pairing your Bluetooth printer, you can use the Hard Reset button to clear your printer’s memory and restart the Bluetooth pairing steps.

Power: Connect your power cable to this port.

LAN: Connects the printer to your router via a Cat5e Ethernet cable. This port is used if you’re going to use your mC-Print3 printer in LAN mode.

USB Type B: This style of USB port is not used by TouchBistro or iPad devices.

USB Port (iPad, 2.4 Amps): This port is used if you’re going to use your mC-Print3 printer in Lightning mode. It can also be used to supply power and charge an iPad.

USB Port (0.5 Amps): These ports are not used by TouchBistro. They only provide .5 amps and can’t be used to charge an iPad. However, they may provide enough amps to power a Bluetooth payment device like the TB Payments device.

RJ12 Port: The mC-Print3 can be used to open an automatic cash drawer. Plug the RJ12 cable’s “to printer” end into this port.

Chapter 10. Bluetooth Reset

1. To reset Bluetooth pairing, do the following.

2. Ensure your printer is still on. Do not turn off your printer.

3. Insert a pen or pin to depress the Reset button.

4. Keep the Reset button depressed unto the Bluetooth status light turns off.

Chapter 11. Troubleshooting

When a printer isn’t responding, see Printer Status Messages to find out why your printer isn’t functioning properly.

See Also

Setting Up Your Star Micronics mC-Print3 TouchBistro Thermal Receipt Printer for Lightning Mode
Setting Up Your Star Micronics mC-Print3 TouchBistro Thermal Receipt Printer for LAN Mode