Hi
I was wondering if anyone else is having the same problem as me when I use my Portable Thunderbird.
I must point out that this is not a problem that Portable Thunderbird is causing but more of a general question.
When you have a POP and SMTP e-mail account provided by your ISP I have noticed that you have to be logged on through that ISP to gain access to the SMTP server. I understand why they do this to prevent spammers etc but what can a genuine Portable Thunderbird user do to get around this problem ?
I have tried programs like Free SMTP but nothing seems to work.
So my question is how do I send and receive e-mail from my ISP e-mail account whilst logging on with my Portable Thunderbird on a host computer from a different ISP ?
Does anyone know of any free SMTP servers I could use instead of my ISP ?
Thank you and thank you in particular for Portable Thunderbird it’s great !
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Better ISPs and webhosts provide a secured SMTP that can be used from anywhere, usually with a login and secured via SSL or TLS. But many don't. In that case, there's not much you can do. Using an open smtp server, your mail will probably be blocked as most folks block open relays. Using something that runs an SMTP server locally, your mail will probably be blocked as many folks block dynamic IP addresses.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Hi John !
Thank you for your reply and more so for you work on PT.
I understand the problem much better now after your explanation. I guess the only way to be truly mobile or “portable” is to use an independent e-mail provider that offers SMTP rather than relying on my ISP.
I wonder if it would be a good idea for Thunderbird to have it’s own SMTP sever built in ? I understand what you said about dynamic IP mail getting blocked but for people on fixed IP’s it would be great to be able to send directly to the recipient’s mail box.
Anyway I realise this is a feature request that should be posted on the Thunderbird forum.
Thank you once again John for this really useful program.
Actually, when I said dynamic, that covers what most people think of as static IPs, too. Most home users with a 'static' IP just have an IP that doesn't change... but it's within an IP block marked as dynamic. In general, most larger providers are thinking of blocking out all address ranges that shouldn't be running a mail server due to the proliferation of spam botnets. Most ISPs also specifically block sending on Port 25 as well, so even if you did have a portable SMTP server... and even if the mail server you were sending to wasn't blocking dynamic netblocks... you still wouldn't be able to send it.
The bottom line is that to be able to send email from wherever you'd like, you need a reliable provider that gives you this feature. Some ISPs do. Nearly all webhosts do (so if you host your own domain name somewhere, you can send from anywhere). Most email providers do as well. Even some free providers do: Gmail provides a secure SMTP server operating on port 465, so you can send from anywhere you'd like.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
you do decide that you want a GMail account for mobile sending and you don't have an account, I'll send you an invite.
Yours
Steve Lamerton
The Liberta Project
Just FYI, SMTP is strictly outgoing. There is an option in TB to provide a username and password for SMTP (Account Settings -> Outgoing Server (STMP) -> choose your SMTP server -> Edit.. -> Check "Use username and password" and provide the info). You'll have to check with your provider to get the port if it isn't 25. I've had to do both.
Vintage!
Hi John
Thank you for all the information.
“The bottom line is that to be able to send email from wherever you'd like, you need a reliable provider that gives you this feature. Some ISPs do. Nearly all webhosts do (so if you host your own domain name somewhere, you can send from anywhere).”
Would you believe it !! I have access to a webhost that doesn’t provide this service !
http://www.netpivotal.co.uk/faq/index.php?searchtext=SMTP&search.x=25&se...
There’s a warning to people considering a webhost check to see if they provide SMTP and avoid Netpivotal !!
Hi Steve
“And if you do decide that you want a GMail account for mobile sending and you don't have an account, I'll send you an invite.”
Wow that’s very kind of you thank you. I have often heard of Gmail and the “invite” system but I have never quite understood why they do it. Unfortunately I had just signed up with these people. http://www.mailshack.com/ before reading your kind offer. Would you mind if I left it a little while to see how I get on before taking up your offer of an invite or is there a time limit to these things ?
Hi Bahamut
Thank you for your advice.
Just in case anyone else is having problems with this I have found a free e-mail provider that may be useful to some of you.
http://www.mailshack.com/
I guess as nobody knows who will have access to mail sent and received at this provider I suggest you try Portable Thunderbird with Enigmail.
Thanks to everyone who posted here.