Level 1

24 points

Can't send email when away from home!

Hello...

This is driving my nuts and I wonder if anyone can help...

I can receive emails fine when home but as soon as I leave the house and (like right now) try and use friends wifi, I can't send anything. I get emails fine but sending just throws up an error message. The weirdest thing is, my wife also has a MacBook Pro, is also using the same version of Mozilla Thunderbird, and her settings are the same - and hers sends emails fine!

This is making me think it's not a Mozilla problem, or an ISP problem but some other setting that is particular to my MacBook but might be different in hers... Any ideas??

The error message I get is "An error occurred sending mail: SMTP server error. The server responded: EHLO requires valid address Contact your mail administrator for assistance."

And I've checked all the server settings, changed the ports, etc etc. And like I said, my wife's are the same and it works fine so...

HELP!

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Aug 22, 2014 3:44 AM

24 replies

Aug 22, 2014 5:11 AM in response to beanwalls

i was more thinking on the lines that Thunderbird as some setting saved that is causing the problem and a different email client would have a fresh set of data.

the error message is very clear, your mail client is not sending a valid address. could you look at the Raw email data you have sent on the failed message and check the email address that Thunderbird is sending that solicits the error message? If you can see that the address is incorrect in some way, extra space etc you may be able to correct it in the settings.

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Aug 22, 2014 8:35 AM in response to beanwalls

From the Mail menu bar, select

Window ▹ Connection Doctor

Click the Show Detail button. A drawer opens. Try to send a message and post the text that appears. Anonymize any personal information before posting.

beanwalls Author

Level 1

24 points

Aug 22, 2014 9:38 AM in response to rack0 tack0

can i get access to the raw email data from Thunderbird?

beanwalls Author

Level 1

24 points

Aug 22, 2014 9:39 AM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks. Good idea. I'll open up Mail again and try that...

beanwalls Author

Level 1

24 points

Aug 22, 2014 10:00 AM in response to beanwalls

Ok, this makes no sense to me but... I did exactly as you asked, turned on connection doctor and then sent tried to send an email from one email address to another... Results below...

INITIATING CONNECTION Aug 22 17:57:47.334 host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x0 -- thread:0x600000871100

CONNECTED Aug 22 17:57:47.359 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000004c8030 -- thread:0x600000871100

READ Aug 22 17:57:48.514 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000004c8030 -- thread:0x600000871100

220 avasout05 smtp relay.plus.net

WROTE Aug 22 17:57:48.524 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000004c8030 -- thread:0x600000871100

EHLO unknown-20:c9:d0:e4:8b:1f.home

READ Aug 22 17:57:48.542 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000004c8030 -- thread:0x600000871100

501 EHLO requires valid address

WROTE Aug 22 17:57:48.543 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000004c8030 -- thread:0x600000871100

EHLO unknown-20:c9:d0:e4:8b:1f.home

READ Aug 22 17:57:48.563 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000004c8030 -- thread:0x600000871100

501 EHLO requires valid address

WROTE Aug 22 17:57:48.563 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000004c8030 -- thread:0x600000871100

RSET

READ Aug 22 17:57:48.584 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000004c8030 -- thread:0x600000871100

250 OK

WROTE Aug 22 17:57:48.584 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000004c8030 -- thread:0x600000871100

HELO unknown-20:c9:d0:e4:8b:1f.home

READ Aug 22 17:57:48.603 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000004c8030 -- thread:0x600000871100

501 HELO requires valid address

INITIATING CONNECTION Aug 22 17:57:48.604 host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x0 -- thread:0x600000871100

CONNECTED Aug 22 17:57:48.628 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000004ce310 -- thread:0x600000871100

READ Aug 22 17:57:50.050 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000004ce310 -- thread:0x600000871100

220 avasout05 smtp relay.plus.net

WROTE Aug 22 17:57:50.050 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000004ce310 -- thread:0x600000871100

HELO unknown-20:c9:d0:e4:8b:1f.home

READ Aug 22 17:57:50.073 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000004ce310 -- thread:0x600000871100

501 HELO requires valid address

WROTE Aug 22 17:57:50.074 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000004ce310 -- thread:0x600000871100

HELO unknown-20:c9:d0:e4:8b:1f.home

READ Aug 22 17:57:50.094 [kCFStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone] -- host:relay.plus.net -- port:25 -- socket:0x6000004ce310 -- thread:0x600000871100

501 HELO requires valid address

Aug 22, 2014 10:46 AM in response to beanwalls

It looks as though it is picking up the MAC address of your computer and adding it to the domain 'home' as your validation credentials. If so it is no wonder the server rejects it.

i Am not sure were that would be being picked up from by Thunderbird, hopefully Linc or someone else will help.

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Aug 22, 2014 10:57 AM in response to beanwalls

Change the name of the computer in the Sharing pane of System Preferences to one that has no spaces, apostrophes, parentheses, or special characters.

If you have a BT Home Hub wireless router or something similar, you may also need to change the computer name in the router's settings as described by vincentfromcork on page 2 of this thread.

beanwalls Author

Level 1

24 points

Aug 22, 2014 11:50 AM in response to Linc Davis

WOW! It worked! I'm so impressed! And massively grateful!!

Anyone know why it would be doing this? It is a BT Home Hub I'm connected to so I wonder if that's got anything to do with it...

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Aug 22, 2014 12:24 PM in response to beanwalls

Everything I know is in the discussion linked above.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Can't send email when away from home!