Setting up secure email and/or sending email when away from home network

[#1]

Hi guys, Embarrassed to say a simple thing has stumped me.
Until recently I have only accessed internet via home desktop, but now I have a laptop - I take it out and about, either to a freinds house or elsewhere.
How do i configure email for that so that i can send emails as well as receive them.
I am using Thunderbird 3
How about documenting it on the help pages as it must be a very common requitement these days?
thanks
Mal

[#2]

If you alter the email account you use at home to use authenticated SMTP using your main account username and password (the ones used to login to the Member Centre) you should find sending works whether you are on your home connection or a non-Plusnet one.
The account has to be a paid-for subscription account and the connection ISP has to permit external connections to Port 25. Make sure secure authentication (SSL) or TLS is *not* selected.
If this doesn't work it can be tested from the command prompt as described in the Customer Support Library article Testing SMTP authentication using telnet.
David