Can't send mail

[sundayknitter]

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC
Email Client: pop

My ISP is AOL. does that matter?

I've tried to correct and reconfigure my SMTP settings as much as I can, and not mail will be sent: error 3259.

My settings:

POP account (through my web server),
SSL activated,
authentication required (using same user and password for for incoming, which works fine)
SMTP set to: "smtp.[mywebsite].com

 

[Diane Ross]

My ISP is AOL. does that matter?

See this page for help:

Using AOL with Entourage <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/accounts/aol.html>

 

[sundayknitter]

Thank you. I've visited and read the links you suggested.

It is apparent that the problem is with my smtp settings. I don't know how to deal with the fact that my incoming server (my webhost) is POP and my isp (AOL) requires accounts be set up as IMAP.

I've tried setting my smtp server to smtp.aol.com, and also to sundayknits.com (my web). no luck. I've opened a second IMAP account to parallel my POP account, hoping that one could receive, and one could send. no luck.

I hope you can help me.

 

[Diane Ross]

It is apparent that the problem is with my smtp settings. I don't know how to
deal with the fact that my incoming server (my webhost) is POP and my isp
(AOL) requires accounts be set up as IMAP.

Ah, a misconception. Your emails with your ISP are totally separate from
AOL. Create an IMAP account for AOL. Use the setting given to you by AOL.

I'll ping Adam to see if he can give you some guidance.

 

[sundayknitter]

Thank you. I tried that - a POP Mail account for incoming and a IMAP account for outgoing. I attemped many different settings and configurations. I will try again, but would appreciate more guidance about settings, if you or Adam have any thoughts.

Thank you again. I appreciate you time!

 

[Diane Ross]

Thank you. I tried that - a POP Mail account for incoming and a IMAP account
for outgoing. I attemped many different settings and configurations. I will
try again, but would appreciate more guidance about settings, if you or Adam
have any thoughts.

You don't set POP for incoming and IMAP for out going. The IMAP will do
both.

 

[sundayknitter]

Thank you.

But my email account is a POP account. It is from my webhost. Customers email to me (e-mail address removed). I would like to be able to reply to them as such. It's more professional than to reply as (e-mail address removed).

I am able to send mail from Mail, but only if I use my AOL screen name. But that's not my goal.

 

[Diane Ross]

But my email account is a POP account. It is from my webhost. Customers email
to me (e-mail address removed). I would like to be able to reply to them as such.
It's more professional than to reply as (e-mail address removed).

Let me try to be clear. The two accounts are completely separate. Unless you
set up forwarding for an account on the web, then you set up the account as
instructed. Your ISP email POP account has nothing to do with your IMAP
account.

Think of your ISP as a host. It will allow you to use their email accounts,
but you can also use other accounts like Hotmail, Gmail, AOL, pair.com etc.

 

[sundayknitter]

I still don't know how to make it work.

My web host requires that I establish a POP email account in order to receive email through their servers. No problem there.

In order to send, I have also set up an IMAP account with AOL, my ISP, as they require. But I can only send using my AOL screen name as the sender. I can't send using my web name. The error state a problem with the server.

 

[sundayknitter]

more....The IMAP doesn't work for either incoming or outgoing mail addressed to (e-mail address removed). It doesn't recognize the server. I assumed that was because my webhost established the email account as a POP account.

IMAP only works for email addressed to (e-mail address removed)

 

[sundayknitter]

more still...

It's become clear to me that IMAP won't work for sundayknits.com. So I'm back to trying to send through my POP account.

The errors I keep getting have to do with the ports timing out. I've tried ports 25, 465, and 587.

Could you suggest how I might adjust my SMTP settings in the POP account? Another port to try? Does it matter how I set my SSL setting?

Thank you again for all of your help with this.

 

[Diane Ross]

In order to send, I have also set up an IMAP account with AOL, my ISP, as they
require. But I can only send using my AOL screen name as the sender. I can't
send using my web name. The error state a problem with the server.

So your ISP uses AOL IMAP accounts? But then you say you can have a POP
account. This is contradictory info.

more....The IMAP doesn't work for either incoming or outgoing mail addressed
to (e-mail address removed). It doesn't recognize the server. I assumed that was
because my webhost established the email account as a POP account.

IMAP only works for email addressed to (e-mail address removed)

That's correct they are two separate accounts.

It's become clear to me that IMAP won't work for sundayknits.com. So I'm back
to trying to send through my POP account.

sundayknits.com is not connected to the AOL account so yes, you need to have
it set up as it's own account. Not to confuse matters, but most ISPs give
you the option to set up as either POP or IMAP. BUT, the two are separate
accounts.

The errors I keep getting have to do with the ports timing out. I've tried
ports 25, 465, and 587.

They are timing out because your info is incorrect. If the SMTP is not
correct it won't matter what port you have set.

Are we making any progress in understanding accounts?

 

[sundayknitter]

Progress?...
well, in response the the contradictory info: I don't know. Aol is my ISP. IMAP is what they specify when using an outside mail application like Entourage, or apple Mail, or whatever. (e-mail address removed) is a POP email account as designated by my web server. I don't know if they're contradictory or not. I just want to be able to respond to emails that come in to (e-mail address removed). And since AOL is my ISP...it seems like they have some of their own guidlines about SMTP settings. maybe not.

But the main thing - you wrote that I'm timing out because my info is incorrect...that the SMTP is not correct. Can you tell me what I can do to correct it?

 

[Diane Ross]

well, in response the the contradictory info: I don't know. Aol is my ISP.
IMAP is what they specify when using an outside mail application like
Entourage, or apple Mail, or whatever. (e-mail address removed) is a POP email
account as designated by my web server. I don't know if they're contradictory
or not. I just want to be able to respond to emails that come in to
(e-mail address removed). And since AOL is my ISP...it seems like they have some
of their own guidlines about SMTP settings. maybe not.

I don't normally think of AOL as the ISP. I think of AOL as a type of
account not as an ISP. Are you even sure they allow you to access other
accounts?

Everything I searched came up with how to access an aol account via a real
ISP.

But the main thing - you wrote that I'm timing out because my info is
incorrect...that the SMTP is not correct. Can you tell me what I can do to
correct it?

You need to contact AOL and find out how they will allow you to access your
other account. I think you are the first person to ever ask about using AOL
as an ISP for other accounts.

Frankly, AOL has declined and I would never recommend it to anyone.

Until you can figure this out you can forward your domain account to AOL for
download and sending.

This entire conversation is like we are speaking in two different languages.

 

[sundayknitter]

Diane, Thanks so much for your patience with me. I fully agree with your last statement. I hope this hasn't been too frustrating for you.

I am not IT savvy, and probably used the term ISP incorrectly. I thought that AOL was my internet service provider because I pay them $25 a month and use them to dial up and connect to the internet.

I don't think what I am trying to do is unusual. I just don't know how to explain it well. But please let me try again:

I have a website. My web host is AIT. As part of their deal, I have a "POP" email account with usernames@[mywebsite].com I access this email using Entourage. I have also used Apple Mail. WIth both applications, I am able to receive, but not send mail. I've talked to support people at AOL and also at AIT. They have each recommended trying different, and sometimes conflicting (seemingly) smtp settings. That's why I thought I'd check with you to see what settings other Mac users have success with when using both AOL and Entourage, for email other than AOL screennames.

 

[Kerry]

I can see how this has gotten kind of confusing for you. Your original
post didn't really describe your scenario that well. But what you are
trying to do isn't a biggee you just need the right settings. I
haven't used dial-up since 1998 (broadband since then) but AOL is your
ISP however it really sort of got out of this and is now primarily
thought of as a web portal. When you dial into AOL you are able to
browse the internet. Now in the day they used to be very proprietary
as a dial-up service. I have no idea if they still are as I don't
think you can order their dial-up anymore or maybe you still can. Back
to your question - I access the internet via Rogers Hi-speed
broadband. However, I use two e-mail systems that are both IMAP (which
is what AOL is). I use gmail and Fastmail. I have two accounts set up
in both Entourage and mail to access both my accounts as IMAP. In each
account, one labeled gmail and the other fastmail, I access my
incoming mail as per gmail's and Fastmail's incoming settings. For
outgoing mail I have two options. I could use Rogers smtp server or I
can use Gmail's and Fastmail's smtp server. In each case, I have to
use each services smtp settings. You get this from each service. I
have used Rogers smtp service but I now use Gmail's and Fastmail's
smtp service. Why - no particular reason I just use their SMTP
service. For each, they have different smtp settings. So for Gmail I
got their SMTP settings from Gmail's help and for Fastmail I got their
smtp settings from their help. In both cases it was clear I just had
to input the settings exactly as stated otherwise mail does not send.
Rogers also provides its own settings if I were to use that. In
Entourage or Mail you specify in the account setup for your account
how your name should appear to the user receiving your mail and the
return address - you can state any return address (in Entourage you do
this under Personal Information). So you only need to setup one
account for your service with the correct SMTP settings.

 

[Kerry]

Oh and I forgot to clearly mention that you should check whether your
own website where you are receiving your pop mail has an SMTP server.
Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't but as in my case you could
use their SMTP server in your account profile to send your mail.
Finally, if you're using AOL just for internet access but using your
own system for mail you might think about switching to a different
ISP. $25 strikes me as a lot for dial-up access. I'm guessing you're
in the States since you are using AOL (although I used it back in the
80's along with Compuserve) but in Canada with Rogers and others they
have a broadband internet service called Ultra-Lite which is twice the
speed of dial-up for $19.95. If you're not in an area that supports
broadband a dial-up service that I used that is everywhere is NetZero
and I see them advertising dial-up access for $9.95. This is an open
access service. Finally, your local cable or telephone company should
both provide internet access. Rogers is a cable service and only
provides broadband. The teleco's here provide broadband also and they
used to provide and maybe still do (don't know as haven't used this in
so many years) dial-up which is completely open. I just think you're
paying too much for dial-up and you really should check to make sure
AOL doesn't have a proprietary interface to internet as they sure did
when I used them but that's a way long time ago.

 

[Diane Ross]

Diane, Thanks so much for your patience with me. I fully agree with your last
statement. I hope this hasn't been too frustrating for you.

I do my best to help someone that works with me. Our problem has been in
communicating. My only frustration is getting a good result for you. One
thing I've learned is AOL is an ISP. What we don't know is what they will
allow.

I am not IT savvy, and probably used the term ISP incorrectly. I thought that
AOL was my internet service provider because I pay them $25 a month and use
them to dial up and connect to the internet.

An ISP is your Internet Service Provider. They offer dial-up, DSL, cable
modem or dedicated high-speed interconnects.

ISPs _may_ provide Internet e-mail accounts to users which allow them to
communicate with one another by sending and receiving electronic messages
through their ISPs' servers.

IMO, AOL is a poor provider. It's long lost it's prominence. I have used
Comcast for several years. It's my local TV connection so having both
accounts through one provider has worked for me. Do a Google search for ISPs
in your area. You might find one that competitive and give you better
service. Do you require dial-up or is this a cost decision? Obviously, the
DSL and cable will be more costly, but the speed and time you save will be
tremendous.

I have a website. My web host is AIT. As part of their deal, I have a "POP"
email account with usernames@[mywebsite].com I access this email using
Entourage.

I use pair.com to host the Entourage Help Page and Entourage Help Blog. Both
sites include email addresses. I can use Entourage to download these
accounts or I can view using my browser.

I have also used Apple Mail. WIth both applications, I am able to
receive, but not send mail. I've talked to support people at AOL and also at
AIT. They have each recommended trying different, and sometimes conflicting
(seemingly) smtp settings. That's why I thought I'd check with you to see what
settings other Mac users have success with when using both AOL and Entourage,
for email other than AOL screennames.

Can you write out what both are recommending?

One thing you can try, is use the AOL setting for SMTP for your site
address. Sending usually allows you to use the ISP's info. You will probably
have to connect first to AOL to send.

 

[Diane Ross]

$25 strikes me as a lot for dial-up access.

My guess is it's for the "extras" that AOL provides. Back at the beginning
of time when the internet was new, this was good for users that didn't know
anything about surfing. Now as you mentioned, there are many options that
give you a lot more for less.

 

[sundayknitter]

Hi Diane,

Thank you again for your efforts. I've found out that my ISP and my webhost are, in fact, incompatible when it comes to outgoing mail: while AOL, along with many other access providers blocks port 25 (too spammy), it is the only one my web host uses. Time to find a new host, and perhaps, as you suggested, a new access provider as well, although dialup is the only option we have out here in the woods. Anyway, thanks again for your assistance and for hosting this forum.