Sending emails using Mozilla Thunderbird

[#1]

Hi there,

Newcomer here and barely IT competent I'm afraid.  I have just arrived on holiday in Spain and have found that whilst I can use Mozilla Thunderbird to receive emails I cannot send any - I get "log in to server relay.plus.org with user name < my user name.plus.com> failed".

I contacted Plusnet support but after investigating and trying altering the outgoing server settings they decided they could not help.

They suggested trying this forum.

HELP!!!

[#2]

@davidjatkin As you are not using the Plusnet network while away from home, you will not be able to send email via the PN mail servers unless you authenticate.

It is that long since I  did this, I can't remember how you do it, but hopefully, someone will be along (probably tomorrow morning now) who can point you in the correct direction.

[#3]

Hi @davidjatkin 

And welcome to the fora.

As per https://www.plus.net/help/email-guides/how-to-set-up-plusnet-email/ you need to set SMTP Authentication to yes when using a non-Plusnet connection.

[#4]

@Mav  - the TB link on that page returns a 404, so is not going to help.

[#5]

Not sure what a TB link is but the page opens without issue using the latest FF and Chrome browsers.

[#6]

The PN guide page opens, as you say, but if you click the link for help with Thunderbird setup, it just comes up with 'page not found'. I suspect Thunderbird have modified the link, but PN haven't updated their link, so it will not open as you would expect.

[#7]

@jab1 

Aha, I see now. I didn't get that far I simply clicked on "What other settings do I need?" assuming the OP already knows how to set up Thunderbird.

[#8]

Understood, @Mav . As you say, you need to set authentication, but as I said, I can't remember how you do it - must have been nearly 20 years ago I did it on my TB setup. 😀

[#9]

@davidjatkin - see message #5 in this link: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=1656265

[#10]

many thanks John.

I have just returned to find your message amongst a few others, and am doing my best to try out your suggestions.

[#11]

Many thanks for replying May

I am attempting to try a few of these ideas

[#12]

I now have the following details for the selected outgoing server:

description                     <not specified>

name                               relay.plus.net

username                        [Removed]

authentication method    normal password

connection security         SSL/TLS

Unfortunately this still won't let me send emails (though I am receiving them OK as normal).  Instead it gives an "outgoing server (SMTP) relay.plus.net timed out"  error message.

Moderators Note: Personal information removed

[#13]

@davidjatkin you should be using port 587 with security as STARTTLS.

Although from your error message, I suspect its not an authentication problem, its likely an 'IP reputation' problem.

Are you using a public Wifi system or a mobile network ?

[#14]

Thank you so much for this.  I have changed to the settings you suggested.  This time when I tried to send an email it asked me to confirm my password.  However it then failed to send (the "progress" bar kept "scrolling through" for ages but there was no error message.

I suspect you may well be right about it being some other issue.  I am using the wifi of the villa we have rented.  It is not a public one.  We stayed at the same place last year and I think it was the same wifi then (and I had no problems).  If there is a problem now with this wifi, what options do I have please?

[#15]

If it is an IP reputation problem then it should clear in 24bhrs or so. Meanwhile you could save the email in drafts,  login to webmail and send it from thete. That should send without a problem