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How to Setup a Citizen Wi-Fi Kitchen Printer using a temporary Hotspot

Wireless setup without connecting the printer to wired LAN first.

Purpose: Use a temporary mobile hotspot to reach the Citizen LAN Board, then configure the printer for the permanent Wi-Fi network. This method is useful when the printer is not conveniently located near a wired network connection.

Applies to: Citizen CT-E651 equipped with the Citizen Ethernet/Wireless LAN interface board and wireless module.

You will need: The printer, an Android smartphone capable of creating an open (unsecured) mobile hotspot, and a second device such as an iPad, tablet, laptop, or another phone to open the Citizen LAN Board configuration page.

Note: iPhone Personal Hotspot cannot be configured with Open/None security, so an Android device is recommended for the temporary hotspot used in this procedure.

1. Print the Current Network Information

  • Power on the printer. Make sure paper is loaded and the printer is ready.
  • Locate the round black interface-board button. It is on the rear network interface board near the Ethernet port and status LEDs.
  • Briefly press and release the round black button. Do not hold it down. A short press prints the I/F Board Information sheet.
  • Review the printout. Confirm that the printer has a Wireless LAN module and note the current SSID, security setting, and network status.

Typical factory/default wireless values seen in this process: SSID = CITIZENSYSTEMS, Network Type = Infrastructure, Security = None, DHCP = Enable.
2. Create a Temporary Hotspot Named CITIZENSYSTEMS

On the smartphone that will provide the temporary hotspot:

Important: Before changing the hotspot, take a screenshot of the phone's original hotspot name, password, band, and security settings so they can be restored at the end.

  • Open the phone's Mobile Hotspot settings. On Samsung Galaxy phones this is typically Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering > Mobile Hotspot.
  • Change the hotspot Network name to exactly: CITIZENSYSTEMS
  • Set Security to Open/None. Do not use a password for this temporary hotspot because the printer is currently configured for Security = None.
  • Use 2.4 GHz if the phone requires a band selection. This is a safe compatibility choice for the temporary setup network.
  • Turn the hotspot on. Leave it running while the printer connects.
3. Confirm the Printer Connected to the Temporary Hotspot
  • Wait 30-60 seconds. The printer should automatically find and connect to the temporary CITIZENSYSTEMS hotspot.
  • Briefly press and release the round interface-board button again. Print a new I/F Board Information sheet.
  • Check Current Network Status. The printer should now show a DHCP-assigned IP address instead of Not Connected.
  • Check Wireless LAN Status. SSID should show CITIZENSYSTEMS and Security should still show NONE.

Example: A mobile hotspot may assign an address such as 10.x.x.x. The exact address will vary. Use the IP address shown on your printout.

 

4. Open the Citizen LAN Board Configuration Page

  • Connect a second device to the temporary CITIZENSYSTEMS hotspot. Use an iPad, tablet, laptop, or desktop.
  • Open a web browser. Safari or Chrome can be used.
  • Enter the printer's current DHCP IP address in the address bar. For example: http://10.x.x.x
  • Select CONFIG. You will be prompted to log in to the LAN Board. Enter "admin" for both the username and password, then click Login.

  • Confirm the Citizen LAN Board page opens. You should see tabs or menu options such as System Status, Network Status, Wireless LAN, and configuration pages.
5. Configure the Permanent Wi-Fi Network
  • Open Wireless LAN configuration. Navigate to the Wireless LAN settings in the Citizen LAN Board.
  • Set Network Type to Infrastructure. This allows the printer to connect to the facility's normal Wi-Fi network.
  • Enter the permanent Wi-Fi SSID. Type the network name exactly as it appears.
  • Select the correct security type. For most business/home networks this is WPA2-PSK AES or a compatible WPA/WPA2 setting.
  • Enter the Wi-Fi password/key. Verify spelling and capitalization.
  • Leave DHCP enabled unless your network administrator requires a static IP. DHCP is the easiest initial setup method.

  • Submit the Wireless LAN settings. The printer will disconnect from the temporary hotspot and attempt to join the permanent Wi-Fi network.

  • Once submitted, navigate to the Maintenance tab and select Save & Reboot.

  • Select YES to Save & Reboot LAN board.

6. Verify Connection to the Permanent Wi-Fi
  • Wait for the printer to reconnect. Allow approximately 30-60 seconds after saving and rebooting the Wireless LAN settings.
  • Turn off the temporary CITIZENSYSTEMS hotspot. The printer should no longer need it.
  • Briefly press and release the printer's round interface-board button. Print another I/F Board Information sheet.
  • Verify the permanent SSID. Wireless LAN Status should show the facility's Wi-Fi network name.
  • Verify the new DHCP IP address. Current Network Status should show an IP address assigned by the permanent network.

  • Browser check. Connect your setup device to the same permanent Wi-Fi network and browse to the new printer IP address to confirm the Citizen LAN Board is reachable.
 

7. Restore the Phone Hotspot to Its Original Settings

  • Open the smartphone's Mobile Hotspot settings.
  • Restore the original network name. Use the screenshot you took before beginning setup.
  • Restore the original password.
  • Restore the original band and security settings.
  • Tap Save. The phone hotspot is now back to its original configuration.

Note: Restoring the phone hotspot will not affect the printer after the printer has successfully joined the permanent Wi-Fi network.

8. Configure Request Print

On your setup device connected to the printer's permanent Wi-Fi network, open a web browser. Enter the printer's new IP address in the address bar and press Enter. The Citizen LAN Board configuration page should open, as shown below:

 

  • Select CONFIG. You will be prompted to log in to the LAN Board. Enter "admin" for both the username and password, then click Login.
  • Select the Request Print tab.
  • Enable Request Print.
    • Update URL: https://admin.teesnap.com/teesnap-rest-service/print-jobs-citizen
    • Update Interval: 5
  • Log in to the Teesnap Admin Portal and configure the printer so you can obtain the username and password required by the Citizen LAN Board. Go to Inventory > Printers, then select Add in the upper-right corner.
  • Enter a name for the printer and the MAC address shown on the I/F Board Information printout or listed as the ID in the Citizen portal. Click Save. Then select the Pencil/Edit icon to view the system-generated username and password.

    Note: For Citizen printer, enter the MAC address in Teesnap Admin using dashes (-) instead of colons (:).
  • Copy the system-generated username and password and paste them into the Basic Authorization Settings section of the Citizen LAN Board. Make sure Basic Authorization is enabled.
  • Submit Request Print Settings.
  • Once submitted, navigate to the Maintenance tab and select Save & Reboot.

  • Select YES to Save & Reboot LAN board.

  • In the Wireless LAN Status tab, you will be able to verify that the printer is successfully connected to the Permanent Wi-Fi network.

  • Perform a test print to ensure the wireless connection is functioning properly.

Troubleshooting

Issue

What to Check

Printer still shows Not Connected

Confirm the temporary hotspot is named exactly CITIZENSYSTEMS and that the temporary hotspot security is Open/None. Restart the hotspot and wait another 30-60 seconds.

Citizen LAN Board will not open

Make sure the setup device is connected to the same temporary hotspot as the printer. Use the current DHCP IP address from the latest I/F Board Information printout, not the printer's old/default IP.

Printer does not join the permanent Wi-Fi

Recheck the SSID, password, and security type. Confirm the permanent Wi-Fi allows standard client devices to communicate and does not require a browser-based captive portal.

Printer receives a different IP later

For a production printer, consider creating a DHCP reservation in the router/firewall so the printer keeps the same IP address.

Need to print network information

Use a brief press-and-release of the round interface-board button. Avoid holding the button because longer presses may perform other interface functions.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Teesnap Support by emailing us at support@teesnap.com or calling 844-458-1032