Thanks to all who tried to help. I got the email working this morning, (from a PN connection)

I've just tried that and get the same as you.

Edited by RobertoS (Mon 09-Feb-15 11:25:13)

Now that's what you call 'A Connection'!

If telnet results in a blank screen and a flashing cursor, it indicates a connection has been established and is waiting for input or output, just as BatBoy says. Anything sent or received after that is just communication across the established connection. Another one to try:

telnet forums.thinkbroadband.com 80

In technical terms, the blank screen with a flashing cursor signifies that the 3 steps of TCP connection establishment have completed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmission_Control_Pr...

In reply to a post by wingco1:

Thanks to all who tried to help. I got the email working this morning, (from a PN connection)

Excellent.

Sorry we didn't get further than

we are trying to access his BT email account via a PN connection. Would this cause the failure?

I felt it should, but it is odd that the one XRaySpeX gives generates a prompt. Seeing as both are connections to the same mail server I would have expected a prompt in both cases.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

I felt it should, but it is odd that the one XRaySpeX gives generates a prompt. Seeing as both are connections to the same mail server I would have expected a prompt in both cases.

A TCP connection has been established in both cases.

Port 110 is an unencrypted POP3 connection not expecting an SSL handshake, so it sends data straight away to the telnet client.

Port 993 is an encrypted IMAP connection expecting an SSL handshake after it connects, hence a blank screen waiting for input, much like my port 80 example which is waiting for HTTP commands before it replies.

Thanks .

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

If telnet results in a blank screen and a flashing cursor, it indicates a connection has been established and is waiting for input or output

Agreed, but then you would expect some response when you do type something even if erroneous. At least with the TBB one you do get some feedback when you type into it.

Anyway, this is all academic. BT email can be accessed from any network incl. PN. The OP just needed to get the email server settings correct & has now confirmed it works.

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

Anyway, this is all academic. BT email can be accessed from any network incl. PN.

Exactly. I access mine from numerous different connections in the UK and abroad and these days there is never an issue. Boot the PC, connect to a network wired or wireless, open Outlook and immediately new messages are downloaded.