IMAP Problems - Configuration & Mail Retrieval Time (IMAP & Webmail)

[#1]

There are some configuration options, that do not work from the website guide or are incorrect.  This was found out over the last few days, when trying to reconfigure the IMAP setup as the IMAP mail service was being intermittent (mails not being received quickly).

Configuration Issues

Link: https://www.plus.net/help/email-guides/how-to-set-up-plusnet-email/

1:  Incorrect Values: Outgoing Server (SMTP)

Outgoing server: relay.plus.net  [website guide] (use smtp.plus.net instead - this will then work when sending messages)

2: Port Security (STARTTLS / SSL) - neither of these options work with iPhone (Outlook client), this has been a problem for a long time.  Is there any fix for this?

IMAP Mail Retrieval Time

The amount of time to retrieve messages has increased to a point where Outlook (for iPhone) no longer can download the messages sufficiently quickly resulting in timeouts and inability to use the IMAP mail service.  "Service is frozen on Downloading Your Messages on iPhone application)   Is there any fix for this?

Webmail Retrieval Time (webmail.plus.net)

The amount of time to login / retrieve the initial indexing of emails is taking > 5 mins (chrome) when there are 881 messages in a mailbox and does any messages in the frame.  The time required on Edge is ~ 2 mins.   Learning: Dont use chrome. 

[#2]

1. Incorrect - whilst smtp.plus.net will work, it is not compatible with the security certificates ...
   
   Correct usage is relay.plus.net port 587 with STARTTLS
2. On the iPhone, set Use SSL and the iphone will work out the appropriate setting

Long download times suggest that you have mail items with massive attachments.  Email is not a file transfer service.

Webmail time outs also suggest a large number of mail items, possibly with large attachments.  I have a mailbox with 4k+ items in - that takes circa 20 seconds to load the first 100 items at busy times.

How many items per page have you set the interface to and what is the sort sequence - see the List Options just to the left of "From" on the column header bar.  Setting the sort to "None" produces optimal performance.

[#3]

I am having authentication password failures when using Outlook (IMAP) and HP Printer setups - one in 4 attempts it works, same password.  Something has changed, where previously this all worked fine.

[#4]

Dan,

Can you please explain a little more clearly - what has HP Printer setup got to do with Outlook IMAP set up?

Has this got anything to do with the Plusnet email service?