Pitney Bowes PC Meter Connect is unable to connect

[MrLudwig]

Hi,

 

Is anyone else having trouble with PC Meter Connect software being unable to connect to the PB services? We have been having this issue since last week - the software does a "check for internet" which passes, then fails when "connecting to PB Services". We now have almost zero funds on our Franking machine but without the PCMC software, have no way to top it up.

 

I know there are issues with this going through firewalls/filters etc, but I've tried it over a mobile hotspot and from my home connection to rule out our school firewall/filter; get the same result each time.

[robyholmes]

We have the following URLs in Auth Bypass rule on our Smoothwall:

 

distservp1.pb.com

dlsdlp1a.pb.com

dlsdlp1b.pb.com

pb.com

pbdlsp1.pb.com

pitneybowes.com

 

EDIT: Just spotted you tried it unfiltered. So ignore the above if you want

[MrLudwig]

Thanks for the info robyholmes. Yeah I tried it through a non-filtered connection to rule out the firewall/filter blocking something, but it is something I would like to get working through our main connection eventually anyway so the domains you mentioned will be helpful in future. I had been using a mobile hotspot for the odd occasions we needed to top-up and upload data, but this has also been failing since last week.

 

Do you use the PC Meter Connect software to update your Franking machine or is it connected directly into your network?

[robyholmes]

Thanks for the info robyholmes. Yeah I tried it through a non-filtered connection to rule out the firewall/filter blocking something, but it is something I would like to get working through our main connection eventually anyway so the domains you mentioned will be helpful in future. I had been using a mobile hotspot for the odd occasions we needed to top-up and upload data, but this has also been failing since last week.

 

Do you use the PC Meter Connect software to update your Franking machine or is it connected directly into your network?

 

We do use the PC Meter Connect software installed on a PC, with the machine connected by USB. The software normally connects fine but we often have problems with the machine itself trying to connect via the phone line. Restarting the machine and the software often solves that.

 

We have the software set to use 'No proxy' rather than use IE proxy. Then with the above urls in auth bypass it just lets it out. I wonder if your software is getting a proxy from IE and keeping it when you try it on an unfiltered connection?

[tl82]

I used to have this problem as well (before we got rid of our franking machine). Even had an on-site visit by a PB tech. In the end, I just installed the software on a laptop as a local admin, and then once a month plug the laptop in and update the machine. I never bothered with the wi-fi module as couldn't get it to see out network.

[MrLudwig]

We do use the PC Meter Connect software installed on a PC, with the machine connected by USB. The software normally connects fine but we often have problems with the machine itself trying to connect via the phone line. Restarting the machine and the software often solves that.

We have the software set to use 'No proxy' rather than use IE proxy. Then with the above urls in auth bypass it just lets it out. I wonder if your software is getting a proxy from IE and keeping it when you try it on an unfiltered connection?

 

I used to have this problem as well (before we got rid of our franking machine). Even had an on-site visit by a PB tech. In the end, I just installed the software on a laptop as a local admin, and then once a month plug the laptop in and update the machine. I never bothered with the wi-fi module as couldn't get it to see out network.

Yeah ours still tries to do the dialout if it can't see the Meter Connect software via USB to a laptop, which is how I've been doing things up to now.

 

Not sure sure what did it in the end but I have now got it to work again. I ended up using an old laptop that hasn't been turned on since August and so no Windows Updates since then. Also swapped the USB lead just in case. Plugged the Meter in and it detected it and connected back to PB first time.

 

Will try again with the original laptop & USB the next time it needs an update/funds added and see how it goes. Then swap out one thing at a time to see what makes a difference.

 

Thanks for the info and suggestions guys, much appreciated.