E-mail Ports

Hi folks,

I was speaking to a friend last night who is looking to move from Tiscali to PlusNet, but wanted to know whether PlusNet bind all e-mail to their own mail ports like Tiscali do? Apparently, he has had problems getting e-mails to work through his mail client with Tiscali because they force all mail through their SMTP port. Does anyone know whether PlusNet do the same?

Cheers,
Marc.

Hi Marc,

It's not that all outgoing mail traffic is forced through the ISP's mail server, but rather that if you're on for example Tiscali and trying to use the Plusnet mail server to send mail the Plusnet mail server will recognise you're not a Plusnet customer and therefore refuse to relay the mail. The same would happen in reverse too (i.e. being on Plusnet and using Tiscali's relay server). This is a measure against SPAM more than anything else.

On the flip side, you can use the relay server for your current ISP no matter where you get your mail from - I get mail from gmail, plusnet and virgin and can send via Plusnet's relay server without any issues. The important thing is to use the outgoing server for whichever ISP you're connected with as that will prevent 'Relay not permitted' errors.

Hope that helps,

Edited by deleted (Fri 14-Aug-09 11:14:58)

Which external mail service does he use?

If the ISP blocks outgoing port 25, (the default setting for SMTP), which Tiscali certainly does, then your friend should be able to use one of the alternative ports that all decent mail hosts provide. Some such as mine provide two alternatives.

I have never heard of these other ports being blocked by any ISP.

I think you're answering the wrong question there Orbrey , although what you say is obviously correct.

Tiscali block outgoing port 25 to external SMTP servers from the customer's mail client. So do O2/Be. Non-savvy users therefore have to use the ISP's SMTP servers.

Edited by RobertoS (Fri 14-Aug-09 11:43:48)

I'll be honest - I never knew that. Interesting.

Thanks for the heads up, that will be very handy to know.

Can the OP therefore assume Plusnet don't block outgoing port 25? (Assuming that is what he meant?)

Hi guys,

thanks for the responses.

>>Assuming that is what he meant?

Yup, that's exactly what I meant, RobertoS.

>>Which external mail service does he use?

He uses an e-mail address hosted by 1&1 as part of my website package - the outgoing SMTP server is: auth.smtp.1and1.co.uk As far as I can tell from what he's told me (I haven't actually seen it) the settings he's using are correct (i.e. identical to mine, which work fine on Zen). We've tried changing the outgoing port to 587 (which 1and1 recommend), but it still fails. The general consensus when I asked about this on one of the other forums here suggested Tiscali are something of a pain for this kinda thing.

Cheers,
Marc.

I didn't know they blocked 587 as well. Though that is one of the common alternatives. Thanks .

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Can the OP therefore assume Plusnet don't block outgoing port 25? (Assuming that is what he meant?)

He can indeed. We don't block outgoing port 25.

Sounds like he may be advising the user to join you then.

I shall eagerly await your cheque.

Edited by RobertoS (Fri 14-Aug-09 13:18:00)

Hi Marc,

He should be fine to use either the 1&1 server or our own if he moved to Plusnet.

Hope that helps,

I trust he is aware of the 12/18 month minimum contracts.

he should be, clear enough on the foot of the home page... before any sign up process..

"Stuff you need to know

Minimum contract length of 18 months applies to Plusnet Value and Plusnet Unlimited. Prices displayed are inclusive of VAT. View our terms and conditions. "

a valuable contribution Wingco... as ever

Just to say I am on madasafish(plusnet) and have a 1and1 hosted email account and have no problem sending mail via my maaf adsl using the recomended auth.smtp.1and1.co.uk port 587 from my pc or on my iphone when on my wi-fi.

Hope that helps as maaf uses the same mail platform.

a valuable contribution Wingco... as ever

Certainly more helpfull than your persistant stalking, trolling and nitpicking.

Thanks for the confirmation .

Thanks for the clarification guys - I'll pass on the info.

Cheers,
Marc.

I shall eagerly await your cheque.

As Matt has clearly forgotten this, it's in the post

In reply to a post by mkelly:

As Matt has clearly forgotten this, it's in the post

Ah thanks Mark, that's great.

I shall look forward to the Post Office delivering it with the other 471 such that they have been hanging onto for up to 40 years.

In reply to a post by mbaldw:

Hi guys,


He uses an e-mail address hosted by 1&1 as part of my website package - the outgoing SMTP server is: auth.smtp.1and1.co.uk As far as I can tell from what he's told me (I haven't actually seen it) the settings he's using are correct (i.e. identical to mine, which work fine on Zen). We've tried changing the outgoing port to 587 (which 1and1 recommend), but it still fails. The general consensus when I asked about this on one of the other forums here suggested Tiscali are something of a pain for this kinda thing.

Cheers,
Marc.

Hi Marc, as others already stated PN doesn't block port 25 from use either on their consumer or business offerings. Mine are all set up as mail.xxx.com etc on port 25, which works fine on outlook and my Nokia e75.

I don't know if 1&1 does this but smtp can be set up on port 26. exim can do this and on cpanel/whm based servers this is very easy to do.

Thanks Taras - I'm going over there next weekend, so I'll have a look at port 26.

Cheers,
Marc.

In reply to a post by mbaldw:

Thanks Taras - I'm going over there next weekend, so I'll have a look at port 26.

You mean for use on Tiscali? I don't think 1&1 listen on it as they only publicise 587. And for PN 25 works anyway .

I was planning to try on Tiscali and see what happens, although as you mention it may not work as 1&1 don't appear to listen on it. In the interim it's not a major problem, because he has access via webmail.

Cheers,
Marc.