The mobile office

Updated – September 27, 2023

Anyone who spends longer periods of time traveling in a motorhome and works online appreciates the mobile office. Most people will stick with a laptop and visit a copy shop every now and then to print.

However, one is not always available, the copier is currently being serviced, you are waiting for spare parts, the desired paper is not available, the file is not readable - Murphy has a wide range of possible adversities in store. And if you don't want to test out all the variability, you can do so with your own equipment.

Not everything has to run on 12 V DC, DCDC converters also provide voltages outside of the usual automotive standard, such as 24 V or 16 V. If you have enough PV and battery capacity available, you also have the option Inverters, devices that work with 230 V AC voltage, such as LASER printers, are available.

Since space and energy in a motorhome are almost sacred because they are rare goods, the choice of devices focuses on low space and energy requirements.

So the decision was made in favor of the duplex feed scanner Brother ADS-2400 and the RICOH LASER duplex printer SP230DNw, both of which were mounted on the dashboard in front of the passenger seat, as well as the BROTHER Color LASER duplex printer HL 3270CDW, which, however, had to be placed in the rear garage.

A computer was used Mac Mini M1, with four monitors, three of which are for the exterior cameras (left, right rearview mirror and reversing camera), and one in front of the passenger seat, integrated into a flap that covers the scanner and printer while driving.

The BT versions, which are glued to a leather-covered 9 mm screen-printed plate, function as keyboards and mice and can be easily operated while lying on the thighs.

The small one was used for label printing BROTHER P-Touch P750W selected and connected directly to the MacMini via USB. All other components are connected via LAN.

Two CISCO SG 250-08 Switches provide LAN connectivity, which is unfortunately now completely occupied after connecting the HL 3270CDW. Everything else now has to make do with WiFi.

In this way, mobile working is possible. However, scanning must be done while stationary: otherwise the plate covering the printer and scanner would obscure the driver's view.

It can be used universally, including under Mac OS, as a pointer for presentations NORWII N76GBK LASER pointer (green) with integrated lithium-polymer battery, which is charged via USB within 2 hours and is designed for around 2 weeks of operation. It has a programmable button, in addition to the usual forward/backward and volume buttons, as well as the LASER button to activate the green LASER pointer.