650 - help setting up BT printer

[kgoeller]

I'm a relatively new 650 owner (2 months) on Verizon. I have just purchased the Canon PIXMA iP90 printer and the BT adapter for the printer. I also have a ThinkOutside BT keyboard (which I love, now that I've figured out the best ways to use it).

I do fine art shows, and have a Paypal virtual terminal account. My goal is to be able to use a web browser on the Treo to complete credit card transactions at the show, then print the receipt for the transation (which is generated by PayPal and displayed in the web browser) on my Canon to give to the customer.

I've got a few questions, obviously.

1. The Canon's instructions are not really clear in terms of how you set up the printer drivers for use on the Treo. I'm assuming I connect the printer to my computer, load the drivers and then somehow hotsync a set of drivers to the Treo... has anyone done that who can let me know if that's correct?

2. What web browsers do you use? (I've been using Blazer, but I don't see a print option for it - is that because there's no printer yet installed?)

3. Are there any issues with simultaneously connecting to the BT keyboard and printer? Ideas for overcoming them?

Has anyone else done this successfully? Any advice you'd be willing to share?

Many thanks!

[kgoeller]

Through "brute force" and guess work, I've managed to get this ALMOST working. In case it helps someone else, this is what I've done so far.

1. I installed the Canon printer as directed on my desktop PC (all the way through the instructions)
2. I installed the BT adapter into the printer.
3. I used the Canon iP90 setup utility's Bluetooth settings to uniquely name the printer, authorize access to it, and set up basic security. (remember the 4-digit PIN you set up here).
4. I used the IR/Bluetooth connection Print Settings within the Setup utility to specify the default settings for the photo and document printing types.
5. From my Treo, I went into the Bluetooth settings --> Setup Devices --> Trusted Devices --> Add devices and searched for all Nearby Devices.
6. After it found my printer, I selected it from the list and clicked OK. I had to enter the 4-digit PIN, then click OK. The printer is now on my trusted devices list.

At this point, however, I could only print from a few very restricted places, where the SEND option (i kept looking for "print") allowed me to select Bluetooth as a destination:

1. Calendar views (day, week, month - NOT event details)
2. Contacts
3. Memos
4. Tasks

I kept seeing references to "third-party printing applications" but not finding much else, then stumbled on PrintEZ, and downloaded a free trial. That's expanded printing capability to include Word and Excel docs (although not, apparently, through Docs to go?), Pictures, Clipboard and Web Pages. HOWEVER, there are some severe limitations here, too...

1. I'm not finding a way to send the printing to the BLUETOOTH printer. It's trying to send to a printer attached to my desktop computer, which is "running the print server" (obviously not quite what I'm trying to accomplish here)
2. When selecting a web page to print, it's asking to select a clipboard URL or a bookmark - neither of which is a "live" website (showing the completion of a transaction, for example).

I've also posted a thread about the odd behavior of the Welcome - PayPal site, which is not allowing me to view it in a web browser. So those two obstacles are biggies.

I'm not quite ready to give up, but this is not as simple as it seemed it would be.

ANY and all suggestions are very welcome here. I leave for my show on Thursday morning and have to get a solution before then.

MANY THANKS, FOLKS!

Karen

[plunker]

I don't think you can communicate with two blue tooth devices at the same time. Have you checked the palm site for bluetooth FAQ??

[kgoeller]

According to the Palm documentation, you can communicate with up to 7 devices "concurrently"... meaning that 7 can be connected by communications can't be going on with all 7 at the exact same time. So, for example, if I'm printing I can't simultaneously be typing. But that's not a problem.

So far, finding a printing app that will do what I need it to do HAS been a problem. Sigh.

[steve shafer]

According to the Palm documentation, you can communicate with up to 7 devices "concurrently"... meaning that 7 can be connected by communications can't be going on with all 7 at the exact same time. So, for example, if I'm printing I can't simultaneously be typing. But that's not a problem.

So far, finding a printing app that will do what I need it to do HAS been a problem. Sigh.

Good luck on it. I haven't given up hope but I would like to print from my documents in Docs to go as well as any web pages I need. I came accross the same print application and haven't had to time to continue you my research. I'm kind of suprised more people haven't tried printing with their treo as it's nice to view documents such as excel or word in it's entirety vs. a the small screen on my treo.

If i find something, I will let you know. Good luck