topic Re: Cannot send IMAP emails using port 25 in Mobile Broadband

Cannot send IMAP emails using port 25

PT3112 — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 09:40:14 GMT

Can any one help please?

For internet access I use a 4GEE sim card.

For around 10 days I have not been able to send business emails on an IMAP account I have with my employer. Their IT people have looked into it and I have engaged a private IT firm to help as I wondered if it was my Mac or home setup that was causing the problem. They are happy this is not a configuration issue on my Mac, my network, my router or my mail app (Outlook 365).

I have spoken with EE support several times. The IMAP account uses port 25 and it appears that this is blocked/not working. If I work from other remote locations I can send emails OK on this account but not from home. Has anyone any ideas as to how I can fix this?

Paul

Re: Cannot send IMAP emails using port 25

grsdev — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 11:49:25 GMT

IMAP is a protocol for receiving email and has nothing to do with sending e-mail. Port 25 is indeed used for SMTP (sending).

Which is it that you're having trouble with, sending or receiving?

Have you set up the correct encryption (STARTTLS or SSL) and authentication methods on your mail client?

Re: Cannot send IMAP emails using port 25

PT3112 — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 13:30:20 GMT

Hi Grsdev and thank you for your response.

I can receive fine but cannot send. The email server requires SMTP and there is no authentication or SSL requirement. The account has been checked, reinstalled several times and the login information has not changed. The basic login credentials must be OK because I can send and receive OK from remote sites so this problem seems to relate to my 4GEE connection at home.

Regards

Paul

Re: Cannot send IMAP emails using port 25

James_B — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 15:29:40 GMT

Hi @PT3112,

Welcome to the EE Community. 🙂

Our Technical Support Team will be happy to look into this issue if you get in touch.

Thanks

James

Re: Cannot send IMAP emails using port 25

PT3112 — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 17:54:45 GMT

Hi James_B

I did get in touch but after a long call with one of your colleagues, he said he did not have a diagnostic test available anymore and there was nothing he could do more.

The problem seems to be location specific but I am at a loss where to go with this. Are you able to look into this for me as offered?

Many thanks in anticipation

Paul

Re: Cannot send IMAP emails using port 25

Christopher_G — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 18:26:28 GMT

Thanks @PT3112

I've sent you a private message to get some information from you. Could you have a look and get back to me please?

Thanks

Chris

Re: Cannot send IMAP emails using port 25

Legacy0 — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 21:29:27 GMT

It is because EE network are blocking port 25 outgoing just like they do for protocol 47 I contacted EE about this they don't seem to be able to talk to the network team.

Re: Cannot send IMAP emails using port 25

grsdev — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 21:38:20 GMT

I get why someone providing you with internet connectivity would block your access to port 25 on anything but their own outbound relays.

That's why I asked if you'd set up transport security correctly as using port 25 struck me as OK maybe 10 years ago but no longer these days. I have multiple e-mail accounts, both personal (on servers that I run myself) and professional, and they all use either straight up SSL/TLS on port 465 or STARTTLS on port 587.

Re: Cannot send IMAP emails using port 25

PT3112 — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 08:39:29 GMT

Chris

Thank you for your intervention. Your colleague Dougal spent a long time trying all sorts but ultimately it did not resolve my problem but he tried amazingly hard and I am very appreciative for his time and the education.

Many thanks

Regards

Paul

Re: Cannot send IMAP emails using port 25

PT3112 — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 08:40:53 GMT

They say they do not block port 25. I have spoken to several support guys including level 2 techs and they all dismiss this as the explanation of my issue.

Re: Cannot send IMAP emails using port 25

PT3112 — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 08:43:04 GMT

I understand your point about old tech. The It firm I brought in said the same, but I am stuck with it and it keeps being pointed out that out of a team of 41 people, only I am having this issue so there is no point changing anything for everybody.

Re: Cannot send IMAP emails using port 25

grsdev — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 08:54:51 GMT

Another thought... Are your colleagues having no problems on a company VPN of some sort? That's another classic gotcha.

Re: Cannot send IMAP emails using port 25

PT3112 — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 09:45:47 GMT

Only I am having problems so IT have set they are not changing anything but told me to get a windows laptop and stop using Mac.

Re: Cannot send IMAP emails using port 25

grsdev — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 11:39:17 GMT

E-mail protocols are the same regardless of the system being used. "Use a PC, not a Mac" means "I can't be bothered to troubleshoot this".

Either you have been given incorrect settings to apply or you are not applying them correctly.

Try what I said. Switch to port 587 and use STARTTLS. If that doesn't work, try port 465 and SSL/TLS. Also, I can pretty much guarantee that it will want authentication to send e-mail.

Also, you've not actually told us what error message you're receiving. That could hold a clue to what's going on.