The No Answer POS1 or POS2 etc Retry error message occurs when one POS terminal cannot communicate with another POS terminal.
The reasons a POS terminal cannot communicate with another POS terminal include:
A POS terminal is switched off.
A POS terminal is in the middle of a Windows update.
A network switch or router is powered off or has failed.
The network cable that plugs into the back of a POS terminal has come loose.
The network cable that plugs into a network switch or router has been unplugged.
A network cable is broken.
IP Conflict between devices on your network.
Resolution:
Step 1:
The first thing to try is an ICR Initilaise - this runs a quick check on the POS network and trys to get all the POS terminals communicating.
Manager Function > Sign On > Inline Functions > 1. IRC Initialise
When you Initialise the IRC you will see a message box appear with a number in brackets. The number represents a POS terminal and it will count up each POS terminal that is online.
For example, if you have 3 POS terminals in your system then it should count up to 3. If it only counts up to 2 then that means that one of the POS terminals is still offline.
An Initialising IRC report will print, with details of all the POS terminals online.
Step 2:
If one or more of the POS terminals are still offline after Step 1, then it is most likely that you have a physical network issue.
Try each of the steps below followed by an IRC Initialse:
Check the router and any network switches are powered on and have no cables unplugged.
On the network switch and router check that all connected cables have a light - this indicates an active connection.
If one of the lights is off, try plugging the network cable into a spare port.
Check the POS network cables is plugged in at both ends.
At the POS end, check the network cable has a light - this indicates an active connection.
Restart the router and any network switch.
Restart the POS terminal.