topic Re: Can't connect to server in Email

Can't connect to server

Mayfly — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 10:24:04 GMT

Keep getting...

'Thunderbird could not connect to server mail.plus.net; the connection was refused'

Is this a PN problem or Thunderbird. It's a bit intermitant, happened yesterday afternoon then worked again and won't download any thing after 7.05 this morning but I can send email.

No problem on my android devices, any help please?

Re: Can't connect to server

Townman — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 11:06:47 GMT

Connection refused - was there a more precise error, like a code please?

Is this a POP3 or an IMAP configuration? mail.plus.net suggests POP3, in which case the action of sending will be saving the sent item locally, not on the server.

This could be an intermittent performance issue; it could also be an issue attempting to download an overly large mail item. Inspecting the mail box using webmail might be beneficial.

Does Thunderbird enable adjustment of the service time out duration?

Re: Can't connect to server

Mayfly — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 11:41:24 GMT

Hi Townman

Pop 3, no other error message other than in my OP.

I had checked squirrel mail but this came up trying to send an email to myself just now ...

Requested action not taken: mailbox unavailable
550 <{mailbox}@{username}.plus.com> invalid address '{mailbox}@{username}.plus.com'

Then this...

Warning: A non-numeric value encountered in /var/www/html/squirrelmail/functions/mailbox_display.php on line 618

Re: Can't connect to server

Townman — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:29:04 GMT

Need to be careful that we do not get confused here.

Your thunderbird issue is one of RECEIVING from the POP3 server - you stated it is intermittent - are you receiving email but unreliably or receiving (downloading) none at all ... which you can see in webmail
Your Squirrel mail issue is one of SENDING to the SMTP server

They are unlikely to be related.

Can you please try the default (round cube) webmail please?

@plusnettony

Are these issues on Greenby's radar please?

Is this a proxy issue (Greenby) or a mail server issue (Plusnet)?

Re: Can't connect to server

Baldrick1 — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:44:12 GMT

Unrelated post moved and re-titled

Re: Can't connect to server

Mayfly — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 15:51:27 GMT

I confess to not understanding about email, I can set up my account and that's about it.

My issue was Thunderbird not downloading email when I requested it to, but android tablet it was fine. It's set up as Pop3,

Just been out for a couple of hours and Thunderbird has now downloaded 19 emails no problem, all that was sitting in Squirrel Mail - so it looks to me as tho' Thunderbird is connecting intermittantly but downloading everything once it has. Where the fault lies I have no idea.

On Squirrel mail it wouldn't send to my own email which I assumed was down to the same issue but perhaps not, however I have not changed any settings in either Squirrel mail or Thunderbird.

Not heard of Round Cube what is it? Sorry for being a numpty!

Re: Can't connect to server

jab1 — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:01:47 GMT

@Mayfly Can't explain the TB issue, but Roundcube is the 'enhanced'/standard version of Sqirellmail.

Re: Can't connect to server

Townman — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:17:06 GMT

The scenario you describe is typical of where there is a massive email queued for downloading.

Re: Can't connect to server

Mayfly — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 04:50:25 GMT

Quick update, looks like it was the router at fault, Changed it to PN Hub2 and all is working again.

Thanks for your input. 😁

Re: Can't connect to server

Mayfly — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:36:59 GMT

So an update to my update.....

The router solved the problem for about 24hrs then downloading email all went pear shaped again.

Around this time I noticed I had a failed W11 update KB5066835 that I couldn't solve, so got on to Microsoft Support who remotely fixed the problem tho' it did take well over an hour and all is well again now (at least for the minute so keeping fingers crossed!