Level 2

169 points

Verizon DSL - SMTP outgoing mail won't work!

More often than not, if I try to send email using my new verizon DSL connection (using Apple Mail), it will tell me the outgoing server is not available and offer me some other outgoing servers I have set up (gmail, dialup). I can go to verizon's webmail page to verify that the outgoing server is working fine. It seems like there is some setting on my computer side that is keeping the connection to the outgoing smtp server from linking up. I never have trouble getting the mail - incoming.

Their Mac tech help guy walked through the settings with me and everything is setup correctly - at least as far as the mail connections are concerned (SMTP: outgoing.verizon.net - set to use password authentication) . Does anyone know why this is happening??

It is ONLY with the Verizon one, but again, if I do it via webmail everything works fine - it is only when doing it via POP from Mail. And the other SMTP servers work fine from Mail. It is driving me crazy!

It sounds similar to this post: http://discussions.apple.com/webx?50@@.68bb50a3
thanks

Posted on Oct 7, 2005 4:34 AM

30 replies

ericole Author

Level 2

169 points

Nov 18, 2005 9:30 AM in response to Clayton Emery

AMEN AND AMEN AND AMEN TO THESE COMMENTS!!!!!
Eric

Note Verizon is the WORST computer company I've seen
in 20 years. Their website is a sprawling mess
subdivided into fragments. There is no general logon
password. Searches only search part of the site.
There is very little tech help. If you send email
to tech support, they send you a generic useless
message. If you complain to billing, same reply.
If you call on the phone, you'll be tracked not to
help but to lists of MORE options and services to
buy. It's even deceptive, such as "If you're having
problems, you should try Verizon Encore", which is
just another pay-for crap service. They have a
robot to answer tech questions, and it's useless.
If you can navigate the phone tree to tech support
after 20 minutes, you'll get a Windows guy, who will
then forward you to a Mac guy, another 20 minute
wait, and he wasn't much help.

Verizon needs to get whacked with a class action
suit. I switched to them from Comcast, which now
runs dog-slow, but Verizon isn't much better.

Clayton Emery

ericole Author

Level 2

169 points

Nov 18, 2005 9:35 AM in response to Clayton Emery

Someone mentioned about Mail "holding" settings and having to go in and "force" it to use new ones. When I try to set up a new account, ANY SMTP server I have put in, in the past, shows up - even though some of those accounts are deleted. They also show up as a choice when I have the outgoing server error - but they are no longer valid choices b/c I don't have that service. Where is that stuff being saved?? I have deleted the accounts that contained those SMTP servers, so why does that show up? Does anyone know how to remove them for good? It is like have things hiding in the Windows Registry - it is "uninstalled" - but not really! 😟

ericole Author

Level 2

169 points

Dec 2, 2005 10:48 AM in response to Julie Gallagher

Thanks,
I will try those settings. Those are VERY different than anything Verizon has said or anybody else on here for that matter. Where did you get those?
Eric

eMac 1.25GHz Mac OS X (10.4.3) 80GB external FW, 1GB RAM, Superdrive

axiom

Level 1

0 points

Dec 5, 2005 11:35 PM in response to ericole

this is turning into a big verizon bash, which is fine because this company expanded way too fast and can't provide good basic service in all areas. okay everyone agrees with that. but there IS a mail software (programming bug) issue here. the key to this problem is referenced in the original post from ericole:

"if I try to send email using my new verizon DSL connection (using Apple Mail), it will tell me the outgoing server is not available and offer me some other outgoing servers I have set up"

this is the exact same problem that I and many mail users i know are having. even when i add a new server, then quit, then re-launch mail, the new smtp server wont even show up in the drop down menu of the error message -- the one that asks you to "pick another smtp" server.

this is whacked. i tried going into the "composing" preferences and switching from the "send from last account used" option or whatever, and that didn't work either. i love the features of this software, but this glitch is obviously a deal killer. sending mail just can't be this hard.

Feb 26, 2006 5:26 PM in response to ericole

After spending 4 hours trying to get my mothers email to work, I can only add fuel to this fire.
Verizon *****! Not only did it take multiple phone calls of 2 to 3 hours on hold just to get the service set up, (She is in one of their new "Fiber" areas) and they have an entirely different set of ying yangs that take the order and then they try to pass you off to a different group when calling for tech support.
The lie and advertise $14.95 set up for DSL, which would be great, but since she is in the fiber area, they charge her (and her fixed income) $30 a month

Same problem here. Webmail works but cannot send mail through Apple Mail, so the "Mac" tech guy tells me they have "reached their support boundary - It must be a problem with your computer sir!"

I am trying to set her computer up from my home in another state, with broadband access. I can receive mail, use the Verizon webmail to send and receive. Have they possibly done something that mail will only send when connected through their DSL (fiber) modem?

Feb 26, 2006 6:14 PM in response to Shoeskier

Shoe,

First of all, Verizon prohibits sending with any From address not of their domain. However, I assume she has a Verizon address?

Secondly there is a lot of search hits suggesting the need to use the Verizon Online ID, and that it is different from the Username derived from the email address, although there may be a process to create an alias for this ID, that is the same you would expect to derive from the email address. This would be with regard to the entry for Username in the SMTP authentication settings. See:

http://www2.verizon.net/help/upgrade/email_faq.asp

I am not sure about any of this, and can only hope it is useful.

Ernie

ericole Author

Level 2

169 points

Feb 28, 2006 6:48 PM in response to Ernie Stamper

Can you explain this further?
"First of all, Verizon prohibits sending with any From address not of their domain. However, I assume she has a Verizon address?"

Would me using "myname@verizon.net" not apply as being that? If not, what am I missing?

I have never gotten this to work, and just use the smtp server for my gmail account.

In reference to the smtp server not showing up when you have an error, my experience is that each time you try an smtp server, and it doesn't work, it removes it from the list the next time. Presumably this keeps you from "accidentally" trying one you have already tried.

eric

Mar 1, 2006 4:54 AM in response to ericole

Hello,

As you suggest "myname@verizon.net" would indeed be an address with the domain of Verizon.

My comments to Shoe were very much focused on the new type of DSL service being referred to, and not necessarily to all Verizon accounts, as regards form of ID.

As I review your situation, when last we had exchanged posts, you were describing the Verizon SMTP as working sometimes -- did this continue to be true? Did you investigate the possible role of MTU and sporadic success/failure as I last suggested to you?

Ernie

ericole Author

Level 2

169 points

Mar 1, 2006 8:17 AM in response to Ernie Stamper

Ernie (that's my dad's name),
I don't think I actually did. At the time, I had the gmail thing working and after trying a few things I think I moved on b/c I was frustrated. I will do that tonight though. I guess what isn't clear to me (maybe it is on the link?) is what exactly am I looking for, and once I find it, what should be the change?
thanks
eric

Mar 1, 2006 10:30 AM in response to ericole

Eric,

You should test changing the MTU value to 1492, and if no change, decrement by 100, at least two or three times. The test should be a message with typical file that you might normally attach.

I have to think about the relationship of your reported success with smtp.gmail.com versus the Verizon SMTP. I would assume they are on different ports? MTU can be strange, particularly if 1492 would work versus the default 1500. Once upon a time, Verizon had issues with over 1492, but I have had no recent experience.

Ernie

ericole Author

Level 2

169 points

Mar 1, 2006 4:42 PM in response to Ernie Stamper

Before I make the changes you recommend, I should say that my ethernet option is set to "automatically." Will it not mess things up if I set it manually?
thanks

Mar 1, 2006 8:03 PM in response to ericole

Eric,

It should not mess things up, and you should be able to return to Auto, should you desire.

Ernie

ericole Author

Level 2

169 points

Mar 29, 2006 7:14 PM in response to ericole

I have discovered something - don't know if this is new or not, but this is how it works consistently:

If I send mail out of my main verizon account (ericole), using their SMTP server (which is set up as one SMTP server I can use, just like the Gmail one is) - it works fine.

BUT, if I try to send an email from another "account" (ie extrame - one of my verizon alias accounts) using the verizon SMTP server, then it doesn't work. It gives me the error saying "cannot use outgoing server."

That makes no sense. I can then choose to use Gmail's SMTP server to send it, and it works fine.

Any ideas?

Mar 29, 2006 7:43 PM in response to ericole

Eric,

When you try to send from a Verizon alias account, do you continue use the exact same SMTP (name that has been altered to include your Username or ID) as with your primary account, or do you try to authenticate the SMTP with some other Username (perhaps based upon the alias address)?

More info, please, including the number of different (if any) Verizon related SMTP names in the list of SMTP?

I have not used Verizon alias addresses, and so I do not have specific information about doing so -- do you have a link from Verizon covering alias addresses?

Ernie

ericole Author

Level 2

169 points

Mar 30, 2006 6:38 PM in response to Ernie Stamper

The outgoing server address doesn't change - it is based on my main user account. Really, the only difference is that the mail should show that it "came" from my alias account (sub account if you will - we can have up to 5 I think) so that if someone replies it will reply to that alias.

it is outgoing.verizon.net - same username (ericole) and same password - no matter what I use.

Again, if I want to use that alias account (extrame), I can but I have to send it using the gmail SMTP server - but I shouldn't have to.
eric

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Verizon DSL - SMTP outgoing mail won't work!