BT busienss broadband - cant connect using port 21 for FTP

Can somebody please offer some advice or has anybody had this problem?

I recently signed up to BT Business Broadband - everything went smoothly. Engineer installed line in days - internet speed brilliant, telephone service great.... but, I am finding myself unable to access my website (not host by BT) using FileZilla FTP software. I am also unable to use RoyalMail SmartStamp as it cannot connect to server - always times out. I believe that also uses Port 21.

I contacted BT who said by default 21 is open & active. I went to the http://home/ area to change the router firewall settings to "allow all applications".
I disabled windows firewall and use AVG Anti-virus which shouldn't be an issue - AVG is also unable to perform the requeired update - uses Port 21 I assume.

I then used command prompt to "telnet ebay.co.uk 21".... guess what... won't connect:

Connecting To ebay.co.uk...Could not open connection to the host, on port 21:Connect failed

The solution is probably right under my nose - but I really can't find how to sort this out. When I connect using the same software from my virgin media line it works perfectly.


Any advice, pointers, tutorials, guides, or whatever may come to mind would be appreciated...?/

Thanks!

I can't connect to ebay.co.uk on port 21 either. I wouldn't have thought that port would be open. If there is a way of FTP'ing files to ebay, is is actually e.g. uploads.ebay.co.uk or similar?

What happens when you connect to whatever FTP server hosts your website e.g. ftp.mydomainname.com?

Oh right, would the error be different though if it was a simple case of not having access the it.

Even when I "telnet printnine.com 21" which is my website it brings back the same problem. Would it not refuse the connection based on access rights rather than port 21 connection error?

Although I am still unable to connect using royalmail smartstamp and AVG update which must use the same port...

If I try and FTP to printnine.com I get the same problem.

However, if I try and FTP to ftp.printnine.com it does indeed connect (though it doesn't authenticate, as you'd expect!)

Try that..

There is no reason to FTF to EBay so it wouldn't have port 21 open.

And surely RoyalMail SmartStamp is just printing from the Web?

It's been a while since I used it, but from memory it connects in order to calculate carriage charges and to deduct amounts from your balance when you print out barcoded postage labels.

That is unlikely to be on port 21. Suggest OP has a look at the Smartstamp website and docs - there's bound to be something in there about setup and what ports it works on. Then it might be necessary to open those specific ports on the router.

Finally, go into the Windows firewall settings on the PC running Smartstamp and then "Exceptions" and if Smartstamp isn't showing as an exception, add the program (browse to the EXE file and add it)

Right, I see.

This is odd, I try "telnet ftp.printnine.com 21" and get the message:

220 Gene6 Server v3.10.0 <Build 2> ready...

Few seconds later:

421 Connection closed, timed out.

Does this mean anything?

With SmartStamp - its an offline application to allow bulk postage printing. You can also print postage using their online system which is different.
SmartStamp, when I connect it takes a minute and times out. Not sure whats wrong..

AVG is also unable to connect.

Not sure what I am missing here...

Have a look at this:

http://www.110mb.com/forum/ftp-server-response-421-t...

In reply to a post by arcon5:

This is odd, I try "telnet ftp.printnine.com 21" and get the message:
220 Gene6 Server v3.10.0 <Build 2> ready...

Few seconds later:
421 Connection closed, timed out.

Does this mean anything?

Yes, it means you successfully connected to PrintNine's port 21 but you failed to login within the allocated time.

Oh right,

any idea as to why connectign using FileZilla FTP, RM SmartStamp or AVG won't work?

Its very strange then if command prompt is connecting...