topic Re: SMTP problems?? in Email

SMTP problems??

Tandy — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 21:19:05 GMT

Ive a metronet email account which has been problematic for years (tempremental with sending emails). Im using Samsung email.

For the last few months Ive been using:

SMTP: smtp.metronet.co.uk
Security type None (available options are None, SSL, SSL (Accept all certs), TLS, TLS (Accept all certs)
Port 25
Requires Authentication YES
User names is myemail@metronet.co.uk

password mypassword

I understand that there is a known issue with port 587

Stopped being able to send last night and have tried every combination but cant get anything to work. Id rather not change email client but I did try Gmail which said the CERTIFICATES were invalid.

Any suggestions please??

Re: SMTP problems??

outcast — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 22:43:58 GMT

Have you tried -

Security type : SSL/TLS

Port : 465

Re: SMTP problems??

Tandy — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 23:04:46 GMT

Hi my options are:

SSL
SSL (ACCEPT ALL CERTS)
TLS
TLS(ACCEPT ALL CERTS)

Using 465:
SSL and TLS are rejected as the CERTS are not trusted.
SSL (ACCEPT ALL CERTS) is unable to send (i don't get a reason)
TLS (ACCEPT ALL CERTS) just times out.

Very frustrating

Re: SMTP problems??

Townman — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 23:14:20 GMT

The correct configuration is port 587 with STARTTLS

There has been a network routing issue today, which is reported to be resolved.

Re: SMTP problems??

glasg0wl0dey — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 14:24:09 GMT

Thanks but your suggested setting changes have not worked for me.

I can receive inbound mail but cannot send. The Outlook dialogue indicates that authentication is required - 530.7.1

These are the outgoing server settings in MS Outlook that have worked successfully for many years.

smtp.metronet.co.uk

Port 25

Encryption method - none

SPA check box = unticked

Outgoing server authentication = unticked

Re: SMTP problems??

Townman — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:35:32 GMT

Just because they worked does not mean that they were compliant with best practice.

Port 25 is not the message submission interface it is the relay interface. Port 587 is the correct port.

The SMTP connection should be authenticated - use the same credentials as the inbound port. Not authenticated connections are an in network lazy configuration which ought never to be relied upon and will cause difficulties if connecting over a different network.

The connection should be encrypted (but does not have to be) - use STARTTLS

Those configuration details are correct: if it does not work, then there is an issue with the authentication credentials.

Re: SMTP problems??

Tandy — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 16:39:44 GMT

There has been an ongoing issue with port 587 for metronet mail since mid last year which I rasied a ticket. I was told that whilst it is a known issue there was no plans in place to resolve!!

I was told to use port 25.

I can log in with webmail using my credentials, I can receive mail with the same credentials.

The SMTP issue started 2 days ago and affects both Samsung mail (android), Thunderbird (PC) for 2 different metronet accounts and as above other people.

THAT would suggest its a bigger issue and one that rests with PN.

Problem is, as usual they aren't interested in providing help or assistance!

Re: SMTP problems??

glasg0wl0dey — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 16:40:00 GMT

Thanks for replying however in my defence, ports 110 and 25 were the settings originally provided by Plusnet/ Metronet.

I have tried the settings you suggest but these do not work in any combination. The best I now get is a recurring password pop up and apparent failure of the password.

I am quite willing to comply with best practice however this needs initiation/ cooperation from Plusnet who appear to offer very little support for legacy email addresses once they have acquired the business from their original service provider.

Re: SMTP problems??

glasg0wl0dey — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 16:43:13 GMT

Agreed, this problem seems to have started within the past couple of days. Sadly, PN seem to have assigned a very low priority to the problem possibly because there are fewer users.

Re: SMTP problems??

GrahamS — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 18:00:22 GMT

I am having the same issues since plusnet made a change on 17 March to require the user name to be of the format username@metronet.co.uk.

Changing my username in the server settings to comply with this results in me being able to receive e-mail on the pop3 metronet server but the smtp server will not authenticate.

I have tryied ports 25, 587 without authentication, with authentication, STARTLS, NONE but nothing seems to work.

Its really frustrating and doubly so as there was no notification from plus net ahead of the username change.

At least for now webmail is working....

Re: SMTP problems??

glasg0wl0dey — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 19:17:55 GMT

Totally agree GrahamS - is anyone from Plusnet actually looking into this issue and fixing the cause of the issue that they have unintentionally caused? Come on PN - give the paying public an update!!

Re: SMTP problems??

Rickmia18 — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 19:24:09 GMT

I too am experiencing all the issues with SMTP that others are. I have used the same settings for many years and never had a problem. Its only in the last couple of days that I have found that I cannot send emails – Only receive them.

I can log into webmail without issue using my username without the @metronet.co.uk and password.

Re: SMTP problems??

glasg0wl0dey — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 19:32:58 GMT

Now getting this certificate installation popup which when installed does not resolve the issue.

Re: SMTP problems??

Tandy — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 19:49:59 GMT

I thought it might be an issue with my mail program (Samsung Mail) which does not have a STARTTLS option.

I tried to set up the gmail app and it had major warning about adding the account due to Certificate Issues which should not be trusted!!

Re: SMTP problems??

Townman — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 21:59:12 GMT

Check the certificate details, specifically the server names.

Plusnet servers tend to be a bit bipolar to deal with presumptive clients. Consider first example Plusnet’s core SMTP server…

Real name: relay.plus.net
Client presumed name: smtp.plus.net

Without encryption either will work fine, but with encryption the latter will give rise to a certificate error because the presumed name is technically wrong.

The server detail in the certificate identities the correct server name.

Re: SMTP problems??

tobiz — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 00:25:56 GMT

Seems I have the same problem, (see my Forum entry "Total failure of metronet email service") and it seems to have started at the same time as for others.

My Thunderbird config uses UN: myemail, Port 110 for mail.metronet.co.uk and UN: myemail, Port 25 for smtp.metronet.co.uk

Are these now incorrect? If so what should they be? Since they did work and now seems not to work why were we not notified of the change?

I tried to re-setup Thunderbird on my Samsung Mobile but disconnected Wi-Fi and connected via the mobile data network therefore avoiding a potential fixed IP problem (ie not going via my router). I got the same error msg on smtp setup as before suggesting it's not an IP blacklisting problem indicated by the error msg.

Re: SMTP problems??

tobiz — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 00:54:34 GMT

On my desktop Thunderbird setup I change UN to: myemail@metronet.co.uk for both mail.metronet.co.uk and smtp.metronet.co.uk and restarted Thunderbird.

Result: it now reads emails with other config settings unchanged and original PW supplied when requested. But will not send emails. Progress!

Re: SMTP problems??

Rickmia18 — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 08:06:45 GMT

Using webmail this morning I can log in, retrieve and send new emails using my username without the @metronet.co.uk extension and my password.

Using Outlook I can retrieve but not send any emails using my username with the @metronet.co.uk extension and password.

If I remove the @metronet.co.uk extension within the Outlook settings, using the same password as it was two days ago, I cannot retrieve or send emails.

Something has changed, presumably by PlusNet.

Re: SMTP problems??

glasg0wl0dey — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 09:31:32 GMT

Thanks again Townman however if I am reading the detail correctly, the only apparent reference to a server in the certificate indicates 'mail.enmail.co' ( 2.23.140.1.2.1?) The certificate is issued by R10 and is still valid within the dates shown.

Tracert to mail.enmail.co resolves to 91.204.208.195 after which the host is unreachable probably because it is set not to respond to ping requests.

2.23.140.1.2.1 is not resolvable

Re: SMTP problems??

Townman — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 09:45:08 GMT

This is most helpful. I’m discussing the issues in the SU space, I will add this onto that discussion.