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Troubleshooting SmartLink wired connection issues on the mailstation2 and DM125-DM475

Restart the SmartLink device and meter, check the connections, and change your connection option to resolve SmartLink wired connections.
Products affected: mailstation2™, DM125™, DM300c™, DM400c™ and DM475™ (K7C2, PREC and G910)

Issue

Your meter cannot update, add postage, or otherwise communicate with the Pitney Bowes Data Center.

A working SmartLink device shows the USB Connectivity light usb icon as solid green and the Network Connectivity light network icon as blinking green.

smartlink device running correctly

However, your SmartLink device:

  • shows different USB Connectivity and Network Connectivity light combinations
  • shows the message No dial tone
  • shows the message Processing for more then 5 minutes when adding postage or performing an update

Cause

  • Your SmartLink device does not communicate with the Pitney Bowes Data Center.
  • Your SmartLink device does not communicate with your meter.

Resolution

To resolve communication issues between your meter and the Pitney Bowes Data Center:

  1. Restart your SmartLink device and your meter
  2. Check your Network Connectivity light
  3. Change your connection option

To resolve communication issues between your meter and your Smartlink device:

  1. Check your USB Connectivity light

Solution 1: Restart both your SmartLink device and your meter to clear your error

  1. Unplug the power cord from your meter.
    power cord into meter
  2. Unplug the power cord from your SmartLink device.
    unplug power cord from Smartlink device
  3. Unplug your network cable from your SmartLink device.
    unplug network cable from Smartlink device
  4. Unplug your USB cable from your SmartLink device and your meter.
    unplug USB cord from Smartlink
  5. Wait one full minute.
  6. Plug the USB cable back into your SmartLink device and your meter.
  7. Plug your network cable back into your SmartLink device.
  8. Plug your power cord back into your SmartLink device.
  9. Plug your power cord back into your meter.
  10. Wait one full minute. Verify that your Network Connectivity light network icon is blinking green and your USB Connectivity light usb icon is solid green.
    working smartlink with lights
  11. Turn your meter on and retry your connection.

If this does not resolve your issue, try Solution 2.

Solution 2: Check your Network Connectivity light

Look at the Network Connectivity light network icon on your SmartLink device. If your Network Connectivity light network icon is not blinking green, then select the option below that best describes this light on your SmartLink device.

For each of the following solutions, please consult with your IT department if you are not a technical person.

Be sure to give your SmartLink device enough time to connect. It may take 30 seconds to a few minutes on some networks.
smartlink device-network icon is green

network lights off Your lights are off

What this means

Your device has no power.

Action required

  1. Plug your SmartLink device into a power outlet. Be sure to use the power adapter included in your box.
  2. Check to ensure that your power outlet is on. Try another outlet if you’re not sure.
  3. Retry your connection.

network light blinking amber Your light is blinking amber

What this means

Your SmartLink device is waiting for an Ethernet connection.

Action required

  1. Ensure that your wired Ethernet cable is securely plugged in to your SmartLink device and your network port.
  2. Check that the lights on your SmartLink device near the Ethernet cable are lit.
  3. Verify your network port has an active internet connection.

network light - solid green Your light is solid green

What this means

Your SmartLink device is updating.

Action required

No action is required. Wait until your light starts blinking green.

  1. The solid green light appears when your SmartLink device first connects to the internet to update your software. Updates can take up to 15 minutes to finish. After your update process finishes, your Network Connectivity light starts blinking green.
  2. Your SmartLink device is connected to the internet correctly.

lights both solid red Your lights are solid red

What this means

The voltage is not correct.

Action required

  1. Ensure that you are using the power adapter shipped with your SmartLink device.
  2. Move your SmartLink device to a different power outlet, preferably one in a different room or on a different wall.
  3. Retry your connection.
  4. If your lights are still solid red, then you may need to replace your SmartLink device. Use the contact options at the end of this article to contact technical support.

network light blinking green and usb light solid green Your network icon light is blinking green and your usb icon light is solid green and you see the No dial tone message

What this means

Your meter does not detect your SmartLink device, and then tries to connect your meter to the Pitney Bowes Data Center using a phone connection.

Action required

  1. Power down the postage meter by turning off the power switch or unplugging the power cord.
  2. Unplug the power cord from the SmartLink device.
  3. Unplug the USB cable in the back of the machine.
  4. Power the meter back up.
  5. Plug the USB and the power cord of the Smartlink device back in once the meter returns to the Home screen.
  6. Retry your connection.

For each of the following solutions, please consult with your IT department if you are not a technical person.

network light blinking off red amber Your light is blinking Off, then Red, then Amber

What this means

Your SmartLink device cannot retrieve an IP address from your network.

Action required

  • Be sure to check first with your IT department to resolve network issues.
  • Check the DHCP settings on your router to make sure it is enabled and has enough IP addresses for all your devices, including your SmartLink device.
  • Check that MAC Address Filtering is either not enabled or that it allows your SmartLink device access to your network.

network light off amber off red Your light is blinking Off, then Amber, then Off, then Red

What this means

Your SmartLink device cannot connect through your network.

Action required

  1. Have your IT department review the SmartLink Installation Requirements and Connectivity Setup Guide  to resolve your issues.

Possible issues include:

  • Your SmartLink device cannot connect through your network.
  • The port that SmartLink uses to connect to the internet is blocked by your network firewall. Your Smartlink device connects with port 31314, 993, or 443 using TCP. Verify that your network allows traffic through these ports.
  • The URL that the SmartLink uses to connect to the internet is blocked by your network firewall. Your SmartLink device connects to the address agent.sl.pb.com.
  • Proxy address or port incorrect: Your SmartLink device cannot connect through your proxy.
  • Validate that your proxy settings are correct and the proxy is available.
  • Proxy Access credentials rejected: Your SmartLink device cannot connect to your proxy.
  • Verify that you entered correct proxy credentials. Proxy Usernames and Passwords may be case sensitive, depending on your configuration.

If this does not resolve your issue, try Solution 3.

Solution 3: Change your connection option

  1. If you have a wired connection, try changing to a WiFi connection instead.

If this does not resolve your issue, use the Contact Us options below for further assistance.

Solution 4: Check your USB Connectivity light usb icon

  1. Confirm that your Network Connectivity light network icon is blinking green.
  2. Check your USB Connectivity light usb icon on your SmartLink device. If it is not solid green, then select the option below that best matches the lights on your SmartLink device:

usb light off Your lights are off

What this means

Your SmartLink device does not see a connected Pitney Bowes meter.

Action required

  1. Verify that your meter’s power is turned on.
  2. Verify that your USB cable is plugged securely into your meter and your SmartLink device.
  3. Reseat your USB cable connections:
    1. Disconnect the USB cable from your SmartLink.
    2. Disconnect the USB cable from your meter.
    3. Reconnect the USB cable to your SmartLink device.
    4. Reconnect the USB cable to your meter.
  4. Check your usb icon light; if it is not solid green then use the Contact Us options below for further assistance.

usb - solid amber Your light is solid amber

What this means

Your SmartLink device is connected to your meter, but it may not be communicating with your meter.

Action required

  1. If you see a warning or error message on your meter screen, clear that message by restarting your meter.
  2. Reseat your USB cable connections:
    1. Disconnect the USB cable from your SmartLink.
    2. Disconnect the USB cable from your meter.
    3. Reconnect the USB cable to your SmartLink device.
    4. Reconnect the USB cable to your meter.
  3. Check your usb icon light; if it is not solid green, then use the Contact Us options below for further assistance.

If you need further assistance, please use the Contact Us options below.

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UPDATED: 04 October 2023