homeassistant

16594 readers

85 users here now

Home Assistant is open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first.
Powered by a worldwide community of tinkerers and DIY enthusiasts.

Home Assistant can be self-installed on ProxMox, Raspberry Pi, or even purchased pre-installed: Home Assistant: Installation

Discussion of Home-Assistant adjacent topics is absolutely fine, within reason.
If you're not sure, DM @GreatAlbatross@feddit.uk

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

GreatAlbatross@feddit.uk

greatalbatross@lemmy.world

HA-friendly printer that won't take us to the cleaners? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 day ago by early_riser@lemmy.world to c/homeassistant@lemmy.world

8 comments fedilink hide all child comments

At my insistence we bought a Canon laser all in one printer in 2022. It's turning out to be more trouble than it's worth, and it can't do some stuff that some family members need, like printing on thick card stock.

I do, however, like the fact that the Canon reports toner levels to HA. Is there a normie inkjet printer that also has this functionality and won't fleece us with BS ink subscriptions and lock us into using their ink?

I'd also like it to be JUST a printer, not an all-in-one. I'm looking at a dedicated scanner, which doesn't need an HA integration.

top 8 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] RheumatoidArthritis@mander.xyz 11 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

The standard Brother brick laser printer also reports toner level to HA (I never actually made use of that information)

[–] 18107@aussie.zone 14 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

I bought a Brother laser printer (all in one). HomeAssistant immediately detected it and asked if I wanted to install the integration. All diagnostics were available immediately, and aside from some Wi-Fi issues (not the printer's fault), everything worked perfectly.

Unlike my old Cannon printer, I can print flawlessly from Linux and from my phone with no additional setup. I haven't tried aftermarket toner, but I see no reason that it wouldn't work.

My Brother printer has a local webpage for advanced settings. I used the webpage to add a shortcut to the printer screen so that family members can scan to the NAS with one button.

A Brother mono laser printer is probably the best value you'll get. I certainly didn't need an all in one color laser printer, but it's nice to have.

[–] early_riser@lemmy.world 2 points 15 hours ago

Just quickly searching "Brother Printer" on Amazon and every listing has "Includes Refresh Subscription Trial" in the title.

[–] JustEnoughDucks@feddit.nl 5 points 21 hours ago

There have been some big changes at brother in the past couple of years. I am holding out hope that they don't enshittify and go the way of the others with firmware updates.

[–] sic_semper_tyrannis@lemmy.today 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Keep your eyes on this

https://www.crowdsupply.com/open-tools/open-printer

[–] early_riser@lemmy.world 3 points 16 hours ago

While this is interesting it wouldn't work for my needs, mostly because I'm not the one using the printer most of the time. I need something that can print on heavy card stock.

[–] realitista@lemmus.org 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

If you are just talking about monitoring ink levels, a lot of printers are supported I think. I use an Epson 3260 ink tank and it's been the best ink jet I've owned. Ink is fairly cheap, reports ink levels to HA, and clogs less than other ink tank printers I've owned, the wireless printing works well with iOS too.

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Brother