Plusnet Email MacOS Mojave Setup

[#1]

Moderator's note by Dick (Strat): Topics merged to keep things in one place.

[#2]

@Gandalf Other email accounts work fine. 

I've managed to get the accounts in Apple Mail after leaving the system spinning for a half hour or so. But the account aren't connected. 

Here's the thing, the accounts setup fine on "Mac A", but not on "Mac B".

I've gone as far as removing the Apple Mail preference and starting fresh, but still no joy.

Both Mac A and Mac B have identical settings.

[#3]

Hi @darrensen, thanks for getting back to us.

With what you've said, it's looking more and more like a device issue and not a network issue. At this point there isn't a great deal more we're able to do to support you with this issue as:

-It's working in webmail

-It works on other devices with the exact same settings

We're sorry that we couldn't be of more assistance in this matter.

[#4]

Moderators Note
This topic has been moved from Email to Tech Help as it's a more Apple related issue.

[#5]

dear plusnet

the response you have given is just not good enough.

there is clearly a major problem setting up plus net accounts in the mail programme on new apple computers (ie those running Mojave)

I have used Macs for 20 year and been a customer of various broadband providers and have always been successful in setting up apple mail. I have been a customer of force9 and then plus net for many years.

I accept that some of the problem lies with apple(as they seem to have made it more complicated to do this), but even when you have done all the tricks suggested above and finally managed to add an account Mojave will not take the accounts online.

I think that the key to the problem may be that Mojave is somehow not accepting or cannot connect with the host name mail.force9.net    - it keeps trying but failing, and in the process changing it to mail.force9.co.uk

I have invested in a new Mac. It is now easier to change the provider than the hardware!

[#6]

Sorry to open this up but my Mac has started to refuse to authenticate against relay.plus.net too. I have gone into the MAc Mac connection doctor and generated logs for the connection to relay.plus.net. It seems odd that the plusnet server responds to the Macs EHLO message but then the Mac just sends a QUIT without logging on. Is there something in the SMTP response from the server that the MAC doesn't like?

p.s. I think it is appalling in this day and age that plusnet hasn't enabled SMTP over TLS. Do they not care about security and privacy???

INITIATING CONNECTION Sep 12 14:53:00.913 host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x0 -- thread:0x6000039ccec0

CONNECTED Sep 12 14:53:01.079 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000002a4900 -- thread:0x6000039ccec0

READ Sep 12 14:53:02.212 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000002a4900 -- thread:0x6000039ccec0
220 avasout04 smtp relay.plus.net

WROTE Sep 12 14:53:02.222 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000002a4900 -- thread:0x6000039ccec0
EHLO [172.20.6.146]

READ Sep 12 14:53:02.369 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000002a4900 -- thread:0x6000039ccec0
250-avasout04 hello [12.202.176.50], pleased to meet you
250-HELP
250-AUTH LOGIN PLAIN
250-SIZE 104857600
250-PIPELINING
250-8BITMIME
250 OK

WROTE Sep 12 14:53:02.370 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000002a4900 -- thread:0x6000039ccec0
QUIT

[#7]

I ran some more tests and tried switching between port 587 and 25, and I spotted something in the logs I hadn't seen before.

"authentication rejected as source IP has a poor reputation"

I am currently sitting in a Hotel room on a business trip. This is not good.

INITIATING CONNECTION Sep 12 15:32:05.971 host:relay.plus.net -- port:587 -- socket:0x0 -- thread:0x600003b0f400

CONNECTED Sep 12 15:32:06.124 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:587 -- socket:0x600000658000 -- thread:0x600003b0f400

READ Sep 12 15:32:07.192 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:587 -- socket:0x600000658000 -- thread:0x600003b0f400
220 avasout06 smtp relay.plus.net

WROTE Sep 12 15:32:07.202 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:587 -- socket:0x600000658000 -- thread:0x600003b0f400
EHLO [172.20.6.146]

READ Sep 12 15:32:07.347 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:587 -- socket:0x600000658000 -- thread:0x600003b0f400
250-avasout06 hello [12.202.176.50], pleased to meet you
250-HELP
250-AUTH LOGIN PLAIN
250-SIZE 104857600
250-PIPELINING
250-8BITMIME
250 OK

WROTE Sep 12 15:32:07.348 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:587 -- socket:0x600000658000 -- thread:0x600003b0f400
AUTH PLAIN (*** 56 bytes hidden ***)

READ Sep 12 15:32:07.553 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:587 -- socket:0x600000658000 -- thread:0x600003b0f400
535 ...authentication rejected as source IP has a poor reputation

WROTE Sep 12 15:32:07.553 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:587 -- socket:0x600000658000 -- thread:0x600003b0f400
AUTH PLAIN (*** 36 bytes hidden ***)

[#8]

Hi

Perhaps you could use a VPN to remove the ip address you are using (one setup by your company ideally) or resort to web mail.

If PN is blocking a well known hotel chain they must have a reason.

Companies sometime  subscribe to organisation which provide a database of ip addresses involved in spam, which is a bit hit and miss, though I have to say if an organisation allows mail relay open to the world, they need to get it sorted.

[#9]

Hey, I know this was posted ages ago but I've just bought a new mac and have been struggling with this.  I thought I'd done everything but your tip on just ignoring the red warnings was the bit I was missing. Now all set up so thanks very much!!

[#10]

I am also having trouble (Mac os 10.15.3)

Did things in the same order but at the last stage I get the attached screengrab. If I ignore the path box I just get the "unable to verify. Any idea what I should put for the path prefix?

[#11]

@MartinC 

Mine has INBOX in that field.

[#12]

Companies sometime  subscribe to organisation which provide a database of ip addresses involved in spam, which is a bit hit and miss, though I have to say if an organisation allows mail relay open to the world, they need to get it sorted.

Plusnet use Cloudmark. I have occasionally seen temporary problems with IP reputation when connected to public networks. They usually clear quite quickly. As said above, a company vpn is a good idea if you need email on business trips.