Email won't send from hotel room

[Raven]

I just checked into a hotel. They have wireless internet at N/C.
I can get my email sent to me. I can get access to websites.
But it won't let me send.
It gives me some kind of error message.

However, when I go to my ISP where my mail is stored, I can send from there.
What gives?


 OS10.4.11. Mail app 2.1

[Paddy]

Generally, you cannot send mail through your ISP's servers from some other ISP (ie: the hotel) using SMTP. ISPs block outgoing email from outside their own network to prevent spammers from using their mail servers to relay spam. You will most likely need to use web mail to SEND email while traveling - as you've discovered, that works fine.

http://blogs.chron.com/helpline/archives/2..._send_mail.html

[Thomas S. England]

With Entourage, I frequently have to go into my account preferences when I'm in hotels. Then I change the setting for "SMTP server requires authentication".

That usually lets me send mail.

[Paddy]

I think that only works with some ISPs, Thomas. Rogers (my ISP here in Canada) requires authentication all the time - but as far as I know, I can't send from my Rogers accounts in Mail when I'm not at home. But certainly worth a try anyway.

[chriskleeman]

Sometimes it just depends on how the server is set up from the ISP that any given hotel is using as Paddy noted. I've been able to send email from some, and not from others.

I would say that the majority of the time I'm able to send email no problem. But then there are those places where it won't work.

I'll give Thomas's solution a try next time that happens!

Chris K

[Mayo]

The problem is not the authentication process. The default port for sending e-mail is usually 25. Many ISPs block that port when non-subscribers attempt to send mail in order to prevent spammers from using their servers. You can download e-mail and surf the Web but you cannot send e-mail.

Your options are to obtain an alternative outgoing port number from your ISP or utilize its Web mail service if you have that option. (Most ISPs have alternative SMTP ports available.) I recommend that Road Warriors permanently switch to an alternative port on their portable Macs because inevitably you will run into an e-mail server that won't allow connections via port 25.

BTW, this subject has been covered in the past (not too long ago if memory serves me...) so I suggest utilizing the TS search function before starting a new thread.

[kbeartx]

FYI, FWIW, etc., having begun using GMail as my main email account some years ago, and setup POP access using Mail on my powerbook, I did not have any problems sending or receiving email when staying in several internet-equipped Motels while between domiciles in 2007, but maybe this issue has worsened since then.

Kb

[Paddy]

Rogers doesn't use Port 25 even when I'm at home. As noted - different ISPs do different things, so YMMV.
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20090958-...ed-Alternatives

And Comcast is selectively blocking Port 25 as of January.

[Mayo]

As I noted, port 25 is usually the default SMTP port for sending e-mail. ISPs can and do block multiple ports and ISPs can designate a default port that is different than port 25.

So folks who want to send e-mail in places other than their home/office should obtain alternative port info from their ISP/Web site host, etc. as well as learn how to access and use the Web based e-mail option if your ISP/Web host offers such a service.

And anyone who habitually uses public Wi-Fi and Ethernet networks would be well advised to sign up for a private VPN service because of the risks associated with using public Internet access points. E-mail is particularly vulnerable on unsecured public networks.

[sandbox]

I use IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) instead of POP and I seems to work everywhere so far.
gMail has a Imap option and you can set it up in most email clients. If you use a domain account like anybody@techsurvivors.net the mail server usually has an Imap option. Using Imap keeps all your email in sync in many computers and locations.

[tacit]

QUOTE(Raven @ May 11 2009, 04:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just checked into a hotel. They have wireless internet at N/C.
I can get my email sent to me. I can get access to websites.
But it won't let me send.
It gives me some kind of error message.

Please tell us word for word what the error message says.

You have several good guesses in this thread, but that is all they are--just guesses. It is not helpful to tell us you get "some kind of error message"--when you say that, all we can give you are guesses. If you tell us what the error message says, then we don't have to guess--we can tell you exactly what the problem is.

[kbeartx]

QUOTE(tacit @ May 13 2009, 08:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Please tell us word for word what the error message says.

You have several good guesses in this thread, but that is all they are--just guesses. It is not helpful to tell us you get "some kind of error message"--when you say that, all we can give you are guesses. If you tell us what the error message says, then we don't have to guess--we can tell you exactly what the problem is.

Tacit,

as is frequently the case w/ your contributions to threads here at TS, this is so clearly stated and so so 'right on target' that I am tempted to lobby for it to be made into some kind of rule, or at least a strongly worded guideline for future posting here at TS.  Maybe something like this:

The more detailed a description you provide of your problem or issue, the better we [collectively] can help to focus on the exact problem and provide a solution; if you receive Error Messages or Dialog Boxes, note and report the precise wording; describe in detail the steps required to produce the symptoms; and in many cases, the Mac Model and amount of RAM installed, version number of system software [e.g., OS-X 10.3.9, 10.4.11, 10.5.5], and application [Photoshop CS2, iTunes 7.5, Firefox 3.0, etc.] can be especially relevant to solving your problem, so please include this type of info if you know it.

In most instances, without detailed info, all we can do is speculate about the source and solution to your particular problem, so if you'd like us to provide detailed troubleshooting and problem-solving advice rather than theories or guesses, help us to help you.

Kb

[krissel]

Or something like this?

http://www.techsurvivors.net/tipsforforumusers.html

[kbeartx]

Kris, that does seem rather familiar to me, and I suspect that both of us had a hand in drafting and revising that [I wonder how many of the current group have read that or even know it exists], but at this time I am proposing something that is more strongly worded and prominently posted.  

Kb

[sandbox]

Since there are no dumb questions and sometimes formulating the question is harder than finding the answer, maybe y'all can let it slide? Almost by force of habit it seems sometimes I will click off an error massage without reading the details and I always wish that I took the time a slap a photo.