Mailbase Connection Support

Watch this video to learn how to reboot a comms device if it has no internet.

To reboot a comms device if it has no internet, please follow the below instructions:

1. Remove the power cable from the device.

2. Once the lights have gone out, reinsert the power cable.

3. Wait for to green light to appear.

4. Try to reconnect your machine.

Watch this video to learn how to reboot a dongle if it has no internet.

To reboot a dongle if it has no internet, please follow the below instructions:

1. Remove the power cable from the back of the machine.

2. Remove the USB adapter (Dongle) from the back of the machine.

3. Check the LAN cable and USB on the dongle are secure.

4. Plug the dongle back into one of the two USB sockets on the back of the machine (either port will work).

5. Plug the power lead back into the machine.

6. The machine will now initialise.

7. Check the lights on the dongle. You should have a static light on the 100 and the ACT light should be flashing.

8. Try connecting the machine again to see if the issue has been resolved.

To use PC Meter Connect, your PC must meet the following minimum system requirements:

1. Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit operating systems)*

2. 1.2GHz processor, 512 Mb RAM.

3. USB port.

4. Administrative rights to install software.

5. Microsoft .NET framework 2.0 (will be automatically installed if not found on the PC). This is a one-time installation.

6. Internet Connection.

*Mac, Linux and other non-Windows operating systems are not currently supported. FIPS mode not currently supported on Windows 10.

The PC Meter Connect desktop application, along with high speed internet access and a USB connection, helps your franking machine communicate with the Pitney Bowes Data Centre more quickly and reliably than with an analogue phone line. The current version of PC Meter Connect is 05.00.0056.0000. To install PC Meter Connect please follow the steps below:

1. Download the PC Meter Connect file https://www.mailcoms.co.uk/downloads/pcmc-setup-v05_00_0081.exe

2. You may be asked to either Run or Save the .exe file. Select Run if given the option. If you select Save, choose a destination for the .exe file that you will easily remember. Once it is saved, open the .exe file to launch the installer.

3. When the installer is launched, click Run to begin the installation.

4. Choose English when asked to select a language unless you would prefer another language option.

5. Follow the instructions as you step through the screens.

Whether it’s through a LAN, a dedicated PC, Wireless or 3G, internet connection issues can have many causes. Most connection problems involve either the internet connection, software application configuration, or the mailing system itself. Check these general settings as well as settings specific to your mailing system here.

Check your internet connection and firewall configuration check to make sure you have an internet connection. Go to www.mailcoms.co.uk from the PC. If it displays, the internet connection is working.

Check your PC meter connect configuration by doing the following:

1. Be sure you have the latest version of PC Meter Connect (latest version is 05.00.0056.0000) installed on the PC, and that is connected to the mailing system.

2. Apply Internet Settings from within the PC Meter Connect application: Right click the PC Meter Connect icon in the system tray (bottom right corner of the screen) and select Internet Settings from the menu:

2a. Select Non-Chunked as the HTTP Transfer Encoding Method.

2b. Select HTTP or HTTPS as the Protocol. If option is greyed out, select Passive FTP Mode as the Protocol.

Mailing systems configured with constant connection can connect to the PB Data Centre as a mode on your local area network (LAN). If a connection attempt fails immediately but you can access a website such as www.mailcoms.co.uk, it is likely that you have a firewall problem.

Please Note: If you have been experiencing problems through your NETWORK/LAN or ANALOGUE LINE and we advise you to connect via PC. You will need to download the following programme before you can make a successful connection. https://www.mailcoms.co.uk/support/downloading-and-installing-pc-meter-connect/

No Dial Tone

If your franking machine is trying to connect by dialling a number, this means the franking machine is not detecting a PC. Please follow the steps below:

• Reboot your franking machine.

• Check the USB is connected properly to the machine and at the PC.

• Change to a different USB port on the computer.

• Ensure the programme is open by double clicking PC meter connect icon on the desktop.

• If all of the above fails please uninstall and reinstall programme using the below link: https://www.mailcoms.co.uk/support/downloading-installing-pc-meter-connect/

DE00/DE01/DE04/DE014/DE015

If your franking machine shows up with any of the above error codes, this may be due to a number of issues. To try to resolve this, please follow the steps below:

1. Try connecting your franking machine in the morning when the server is experiencing less volume.

2. Try rebooting your franking machine and your PC to see if they will respond as they start up. You will need to log on as a user on your computer.

3. If the above fails, you may need to change the setting on the PC meter connect programme. Please follow the steps below:
• Right click the small PC meter connect icon on the tool bar at the bottom right hand corner of your PC. (By the time and date.)
• Click on Internet Settings.
• First change your non chunked setting to chunked. Then click OK at the bottom of the window and then retry your connection.
• If this doesn’t work repeat the first two steps shown above.

4. On the right hand side it Says FTP Mode. Change this from Passive to Active once again retry your connection.

5. If all of the above fails, please uninstall and reinstall programme using the below link: https://www.mailcoms.co.uk/support/downloading-and-installing-pc-meter-connect/

Connection Lost

• If this error shows on your franking machine, this is an issue with the servers at the postage company. The only resolution is to keep trying, please contact us if this problem persists for over 2 hours so we can confirm and advise the next steps.

PC Meter Connect Proxy only mode

• If your PC shows a message saying, PC meter connect running in proxy only mode follow the same steps as stated in the DE00 error code section above.

To install the USB LAN Kit adapter:

1. Turn the power off using the switch on the back of the machine.

2. Connect one end of the Ethernet cable into the USB LAN adapter and the other end into the wall outlet or router.

3. Plug the USB LAN adapter into the USB port.

4. Turn the power on using the switch on the back of the machine.

5. Once the meter powers up, press the “Options” key.

6. Press “Page Down” twice.

7. Select “Connect Data Centre”.

8. Select “LAN Settings”.

9. Select “Get IP”:

a. If you are using a dynamic IP address, select “Automatically”.

b. If you are using a static IP address, select “Manually”. Consult with your IT department for the correct address.

10. Press the “Home key”.

11. To verify connectivity, perform a balance enquiry:

a. Press the “Add Postage” key.

b. Select “Check PBP Balance”. If postage totals display, the installation is complete.

12. When the meter prompts to “Add Postage”, press “No” to return to the Home screen.

Issue

The meter is connected via LAN adapter (USB-to-Ethernet), but fails to communicate with the Pitney Bowes data server.

Cause

LAN (Local Area Network) issues can be caused by an issue with the settings, the physical connection, or a firewall problem.

However, often all that is required is a reboot of the meter, before attempting once again to make a connection.

Resolution

There are several troubleshooting options for resolving LAN connectivity issues.

First, restart the meter. Follow these steps to restart safely:

1. Turn the power off with the power switch (or remove the power cable from the back of the meter).

2. Wait for the display to turn off.

3. Wait one to three minutes.

4. Power the meter back up.

5. Once the meter has initialised, attempt a connection (for example: a balance enquiry or top-up).

If this does not resolve the issue, perform the following troubleshooting steps:

• Check the Physical Connection

• LAN Settings

• Set meter to Static IP address

• Set Proxy settings

• Set the DNS server

• Firewall issues

1. At the back of the meter, check that the green LED lights located on the USB-to-Ethernet adapter are visible within one minute of turning on the meter.

2. Either the 10 or 100 LED indicators should be on (solid green). This indicates the connection’s data transfer rate.

3. If no transfer rate is indicated (no 10 or 100 light), make sure that the LAN cable and LAN adapter are plugged in firmly.

4. Turn the meter off using the switch.

5. Move the LAN adapter to the other USB port.

6. Repeat steps 1 – 3 using the other USB port.

Note: Make sure that the meter is not connected to a phone line or to a computer with PC Meter Connect installed while using LAN.

7. If the LEDs are not lit, verify that the other end of the LAN cable is plugged into a router or wall port.

8. If the cable is plugged in, try a different cable.

9. If, after a new cable is installed, there are still no lights, contact Technical Support.

To set the meter to automatically get an IP address (using DHCP), follow these steps:

1. Press Options.

2. Press Page Down twice.

3. Select “Connect-Data Centre”.

4. Select “LAN Settings”.

5. Select “Get IP”.

6. Select “Automatically”.

Note: After changing the LAN settings, reboot the system.



 

1. Press Options.

2. Press Page Down twice.

3. Select “Connect-Data Centre”.

4. Select “LAN Settings”.

5. Select “Get IP”.

6. Select “Manually”.

7. Set the IP address (IP), Subnet (Sub) and Gateway (Gwy).

Note: IP settings will be provided by your IT department.

Note: After changing LAN settings, reboot the system.

Note: Proxy support availability may depend on the software version on your meter.

1. Press Options.

2. Press Page Down twice.

3. Select “Connect-Data Centre”.

4. Select “LAN Settings”.

5. Press Page Down.

6. Select “Proxy”.

a. Select “Enable Proxy” to turn proxy support on or off.

b. Select “HTTP Settings” to set the HTTP proxy address, port, user name and password.

c. Select “HTTPS Settings” to set the HTTPS proxy address, port, user name and password.

d. Press Page Down and select “Exclusions” if any proxy exclusions need to be set.

Note: After changing LAN settings, reboot the system.

1. Press Options.

2. Press Page Down twice.

3. Select “Connect-Data Centre”.

4. Select “Distributor Values”.

5. Press Page Down.

6. Select either “Primary DNS server” or “Secondary DNS server”.

7. Press Yes.

8. Enter the DNS server.

Note: To enter a decimal point (.) press the 1 key four times.

9. Select “Set the New Value”.

10. Press Home.

Make sure that your firewall is configured for all of the requirements. See the DM Series Lan Connection Setup Guide for details.