Just to humor me, can you download the UPS shipping module and install it on your site with the default settings just to see if it shows quotes?

http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=product_contrib_info&products_id=1963

OK.. I installed the UPS module as requested and when I try to check out I get the following message for UPS quotes:

"We are unable to obtain a rate quote for UPS shipping.
Please contact the store if no other alternative is shown."

The same USPS message as before also shows below the UPS message.

You need to talk to your hosting provider and see why outgoing http connections are blocked on port 80 ...

I have emailed my hosting company and inquired about the outgoing http connections being blocked on port 80 and as soon as I hear back from them I will update you.
Thank you again for your help.

My hosting company replied and copy of their reply is below:

Please note that outgoing 'HTTP' connections are not blocked on port 80. You can verify this from the logs pasted below:

root@monaco [~]# iptables -nL | grep :80
ACCEPT tcp -- 0.0.0.0/0 0.0.0.0/0 state NEW tcp dpt:80
ACCEPT tcp -- 0.0.0.0/0 0.0.0.0/0 state NEW tcp dpt:80
Chain acctboth (2 references)
tcp -- 216.218.220.45 0.0.0.0/0 tcp dpt:80
tcp -- 0.0.0.0/0 216.218.220.45 tcp spt:80

root@monaco [~]# telnet google.com 80
Trying 74.125.224.113...
Connected to google.com (74.125.224.113).
Escape character is '^]'.
^]

I am not sure what the next step is. Please advise if you know.

Thanks!!

I would ask them to check again that both incoming and outgoing are working on that port ...

It is not making sense that this is not working for you ... maybe tell them what program you are running and what is failing to see if it triggers any clues with them ...

I emailed them and asked them to recheck the port and also provided them with customer log in details so they can see what the problem is and see if they have any suggestions to offer.
I will update when they reply.

Thanks!!

I have been in contact with my host, several times, and their last communication snippet is below:

The server is communicating fine with Production Servers.

root@monaco [/home/aeroelec/public_html]# telnet production.shippingapis.com 80
Trying 56.0.70.50...
Connected to production.shippingapis.com (56.0.70.50).
Escape character is '^]'.
^]
telnet> q
Connection closed.

root@monaco [/home/aeroelec/public_html]# telnet secure.shippingapis.com 443
Trying 56.0.34.44...
Connected to secure.shippingapis.com (56.0.34.44).
Escape character is '^]'.
^]
telnet> q
Connection closed.

However, the 'Checkout' gives the following error:

Shipping Method:

Please select the preferred shipping method to use on this order.
United Parcel Service United Parcel Service
We are unable to obtain a rate quote for UPS shipping.
Please contact the store if no other alternative is shown.
United States Postal Service United States Postal Service
We are unable to find a USPS shipping quote suitable for your mailing address and the shipping methods we typically use.
If you prefer to use USPS as your shipping method, please contact us for assistance.
(Please check that your Zip Code is entered correctly.)

Please update us with the exact steps that needs to be done from our end (Hosting support) to enable the USPS shipping module.

Also, do update us if there are any other specific IP addresses or Port numbers with which the domain should communicate for USPS shipping module to work.

I have also called USPS again and asked them to verify that I am on production mode and explained to them the problem I am having and they informed me that all is working well on their end and asked me to supply this link, https://www.usps.com/business/webtools-technical-guides.htm to the shipping cart development team.

Something is off somewhere apparently and I can't put my finger on it.

Kindly, PLEASE advise what I should do to try to get this issue resolved.
I can PM you the link with my hosting company support ticket details if that would help.
I sincerely appreciate your help.

I do not know if you are into this test, but are you able to create a test database with the demo data and a test directory and install a clean Zen Cart v1.5 and the USPS and UPS shipping modules just to rule out anything in your current site from causing this? :unsure:

I don't guess there is any other option available at this point.
It will take some time to get it done. I will post an update when it is done. :(

Perhaps tell them that the PHP function fsockopen() is required and see what they say ...

Also you could try temp ...
/includes/classes/http_client.php line 306

        if (!$this->socket = @fsockopen($host, $port, $this->reply, $this->replyString, $this->timeout)) {

remove the @ ... TEMPORARILY and see if you see errors or get error logs in the /cache ...

I have already started the re-install of the cart.
I just as well start from scratch while the site is new rather than fighting it. If it was something wrong when it was first set up it should fine with a fresh install.
I will update the status when I get it done.

Thanks again for the help.

Update on the module issue....
I did a fresh install of the 1.5 version, and after all the time I spent doing that, the same problem was there which ruled out any issues with my old site software.
Following Ajeh' suggestion on post #51, I contacted my host, Hostgo, and asked them to enable the fsockopen function.
They enabled the function by inserting a custom php.ini script in my account and that fixed the problem!!
If needed I can get that script for anyone else with similar problem.

Thank you again Ajeh for the help!!!

I am glad that you got this working ...

I would be interested in see the php.ini file that they gave you for your site ...

I will contact Hostgo and ask them to send me a copy of it and I will post it when I hear back from them.

Thanks again!!!

I PM'd you a very long text file rather than paste here because I was unable to tell if it contained any sensitive settings information.
Let me know please if you need any additional info from my host.

Oops!
I could not PM the file because it was way too big.
I have sent you my email address and you can email me for it.

This works perfect for paypal, however google checkout does not want to display first class mail international as an option any more... Any ideas?

Anyone else seeing this?