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Calibre Wireless Device Guide

This guide explains how to use the Calibre Wireless Device feature to send books directly from Calibre to your Papyrix Reader over WiFi.

Overview

Calibre Wireless Device allows you to:

  • Send books directly from Calibre desktop to your reader
  • View the books already on your device from Calibre
  • Delete books from your device remotely
  • Sync your library without cables or web browsers

This is the fastest and most convenient way to transfer books if you already use Calibre for ebook management.

Prerequisites

  • Calibre installed on your computer (download here)
  • Your Papyrix Reader device
  • Both devices connected to the same WiFi network

Step 1: Enable Wireless Device in Papyrix

  1. From the Home screen, press the Left button to access Sync
  2. Select Calibre Wireless
  3. Connect to your WiFi network when prompted
  4. Once connected, the screen displays:
    • IP Address and Port (e.g., 192.168.1.42:9090)
    • Device Name (e.g., "Papyrix Reader")
    • Status: "Waiting for Calibre..."

Leave the device on this screen while connecting from Calibre.

Step 2: Connect from Calibre Desktop

Starting the Connection

  1. Open Calibre on your computer
  2. Click the Connect/Share button in the toolbar
  3. Select Start wireless device connection

Automatic Discovery

Calibre will automatically scan for wireless devices on your network. Your Papyrix Reader should appear in the device list within a few seconds.

If automatic discovery doesn't work, you can manually enter the IP address:

  1. In Calibre, go to Connect/Share > Start wireless device connection
  2. Click Manual connect
  3. Enter the IP address shown on your Papyrix (e.g., 192.168.1.42)
  4. Enter the port number (default: 9090)

Connection Confirmation

When connected:

  • Your Papyrix screen changes to "Connected to Calibre"
  • Calibre shows your device in the left sidebar

Step 3: Sending Books

Single Book

  1. Right-click any book in your Calibre library
  2. Select Send to device > Send to main memory
  3. The book transfers wirelessly

Multiple Books

  1. Select multiple books (Ctrl+click or Shift+click)
  2. Right-click and select Send to device > Send to main memory
  3. All selected books transfer in sequence

Progress Display

While transferring:

  • Papyrix shows "Receiving book..." with the title
  • A progress bar indicates transfer status
  • Transfer speed depends on your WiFi connection

Books are saved to the /Books/ folder on your SD card.

Step 4: Managing Your Device Library

Viewing Books on Device

Once connected, Calibre's left sidebar shows:

  • Device section with your Papyrix Reader
  • Click on Main memory to see books on your device

Deleting Books

From Calibre:

  1. Click on your device in the sidebar
  2. Select the book(s) to delete
  3. Right-click and select Remove books from device

The book is deleted from your Papyrix's SD card.

Configuration

Device Settings File

Settings are stored in /config/calibre.ini on your SD card:

[Settings]
device_name = Papyrix Reader
password =

Available Settings

  • device_name - How your device appears in Calibre (default: Papyrix Reader)
  • password - Optional password for authentication (default: empty = no password)

Setting a Password

If you want to require a password for connections:

  1. Edit /config/calibre.ini on your SD card:

    [Settings]
device_name = My E-Reader
password = mysecretpassword

  2. In Calibre, go to Preferences > Sharing > Sharing over the net

  3. Set the same password under Wireless device connection

Both passwords must match for the connection to work.

Troubleshooting

Device Not Found in Calibre

Problem: Calibre doesn't discover your Papyrix Reader

Solutions:

  1. Verify both devices are on the same WiFi network
  2. Check that no firewall is blocking UDP ports 54982, 48123, 39001, 44044, or 59678
  3. Try manual connection using the IP address shown on your device
  4. Disable VPN if you're using one

Connection Fails with Password

Problem: "Password mismatch" or authentication error

Solutions:

  1. Ensure the password in /config/calibre.ini matches Calibre's settings exactly
  2. Passwords are case-sensitive
  3. Try removing the password from both to test the connection

Transfer Fails Mid-Way

Problem: Book transfer stops or times out

Solutions:

  1. Check WiFi signal strength on your device
  2. Move closer to your WiFi router
  3. Try with a smaller book first
  4. Check SD card has enough free space

Books Not Showing Up

Problem: Transferred books don't appear in file browser

Solutions:

  1. Books are saved to /Books/ folder - check there
  2. Only EPUB format is supported
  3. Try restarting the device after transfer

Technical Details

Protocol

Papyrix implements the Calibre Smart Device App protocol:

  • Discovery: UDP broadcast on ports 54982, 48123, 39001, 44044, 59678
  • Communication: TCP connection on port 9090
  • Authentication: SHA1-based password hashing (optional)

Supported Operations

  • Send book - Receive EPUB files from Calibre
  • Get book list - Report books on device to Calibre
  • Delete book - Remove books from device
  • Get storage info - Report free space to Calibre

Limitations

  • Only EPUB format is supported
  • One connection at a time
  • Large libraries may take time to sync

Tips and Best Practices

  1. Keep Calibre updated - Newer versions have better wireless support
  2. Use good WiFi signal - Weak signal causes slow or failed transfers
  3. Organize in Calibre first - Use Calibre's library management, then sync
  4. Set a descriptive device name - Helps identify your reader in Calibre
  5. Exit when done - Press Back to disconnect and save battery

Exiting Calibre Wireless Mode

When you're finished:

  1. In Calibre, right-click your device and select Eject this device
  2. On your Papyrix, press the Back button
  3. The device will automatically restart to reclaim WiFi memory

Note: The automatic restart is required because the ESP32's WiFi stack fragments memory. Without this restart, some features may not work correctly.

Related Documentation