email settings for aol

[debben]

Hello. Is there a problem with AOL and smtp settings? I have read all the old posts but can not find anybody else who has had this problem. In the Network Set Up, Email Settings, up I have entered "localhost" , "aol.com" and "smtp.uk.aol.com" but the error message I get reads:
The computer you specified as your mail server is not a valid mail (SMTP) server. Check the computer name or address and try again. If it fails again, then it is possible, you were locked out by a firewall program, or you don't have network connection to this server.
I am sorry if this is a daft question, I am a dummy, Steve from www.debben.co.uk :o

[jont]

AOL is notoriously difficult in sending emails using 3rd party applications - this is an attempt to keep the spam down.

You need to use a local SMTP server (you can down load many free versions from the web) set with your screen name and password and ensure you are signed in AOL as the same screen name.. using LOCALHOST as the server inside Actinic.

I can't recall off-hand the allowed ports for connection to AOL for setting inside the SMTP server but a quick search on the web should tell you (there are 2 allowed and it is the highest figure you need to use)

AOL is a royal pain in using with Actinic (I have it working with AOL but it is very unstable and I only use it for testing not to run the actual business side of thing) - for sanity best to use another ISP.

HTH

[Mike Hughes]

The email address for actinic should be that of your web host not your ISP.

In this case it looks like it might be easyspace or iomart rather than aol.

Mike

[debben]

Thank you Jont and Mike, I will explore these options, Steve

[jont]

In this case it looks like it might be easyspace or iomart rather than aol.

With AOL they do not allow relaying so if you want to use your main email address eg: sales@site.co.uk you need to use an SMTP server which acts as the relay via the AOL account.

[pinbrook]

I can't recall off-hand the allowed ports for connection to AOL I thinks its port 587

and actinic uses port 25 for SMTP

[Mike Hughes]

I'm confused.

With AOL they do not allow relaying so if you want to use your main email address eg: sales@site.co.uk you need to use an SMTP server which acts as the relay via the AOL account.

Surely you should be sending the email out via your web hosts smtp server. I know there are a few web hosts that don't have an smtp server, but they're best avoided anyway.

Why are we getting into discussions on relaying?

Mike

[jont]

AOL only likes you to send emails when you are signed into AOL using your AOL screen name.

Even if you want to check/send sales@site.co.uk using say Outlook / Thunderbird etc and your ISP is AOL you need to use a 3rd party SMTP server ... this needs to sit between the local machine and your AOL connection.

Didn't Norman have an SMTP server for v7? AOL is really best being dropped as your ISP for Actinic.

[Mike Hughes]

yes, but using actinic there is no smtp from the PC to your server. Actinic sends the mail contents using http up to the server and then sends them via the local smtp server.

HTH. I've got to pick up my son and take him to his football lessons.

Mike

[pinbrook]

But AOL doesn't allow you to send mail.yourdomain.co.uk using SMTP via port 25

[debben]

Does Actinic send emails as it is residing on my machine, or does it send them from my webserver?

[debben]

and how/where do I change from port 25 to port 587? I am sorry for all the questions, I did not think it was so difficult to send email from actinic using a popular ISP like aol

[Mike Hughes]

Does Actinic send emails as it is residing on my machine, or does it send them from my webserver?

Actinic sends all emails from the webserver. Any emails you send from actinic on your pc are http'd up to the server and then sent from there. There is no smtp from actinic on your PC.

But AOL doesn't allow you to send mail.yourdomain.co.uk using SMTP via port 25

But Actinic doesn't need to do this so why is it a problem? Are you talking about being able to send non-actinic email from outlook, etc? If so then this is a different problem altogether and nothing to do with Actinic.

Mike

[Mike Hughes]

PS. After checking some other threads, if you are hosted with iomart/easyspace then it looks as if you need to use an IP address to access the smtp server. Give them a call or email their support to get the IP address as it doesn't seem to be posted on the forum.

Mike

[debben]

Thank you for your help Mike, hopefully I can get my automated responses to customers orders working soon, Regards, Steve

[debben]

With in the network setup panel I have tried the following
First I have a box that I can tick or untick, the Questoin is "Yes, send me an order when an order arrives"
I have ticked this box.
Next, "Send the public customer an email on placing an order."
I have ticked this box.
1st blank to be filled in is "My email address:"
I have entered steve@debben.co.uk (I have previosly tried debben1@aol.com)
2nd blank to be filled in is "SMTP Server."
I have entered smtp.easyspace.com, mail.easyspace.com, bibble.easyspace.com and the easyspace IP address 62.128.193.150
Then I have a tick box which asks "User name and password required?"
I have ticked this box, (Also tried unticking this box)
"Username:" steve@debben.co.uk
"Password" ********
Then at the bottom of the screen is the "Next >" button
I click this and then it comes up with an error message
"The specified server does not appear to be running a mail server or the server is down. Connection refused "
Any ideas anybody??

[Duncan Rounding]

Don't know if it's appropriate for EasySpace but in your network settings try using localhost as the SMTP server and uncheck Username and Password Required.

[pinbrook]

If Easyspace is giving you the run around, then take a look at this post

http://community.actinic.com/showthread.php?p=164985#post164985

and contact

Johnathan Williamson
Customer Support Manager
http://www.easyspace.com

get the correct settings from him and post them here

[Mike Hughes]

You should be trying a specific easyspace 'internal' IP address for the smtp server which is why I suggested contacting easyspace support (unless they gave you that IP address, in which case you should go back to them and ask why it isn't working.)

See this thread http://community.actinic.com/showthread.php?t=27784 as it does have some IP addresses to try.

Mike

[debben]

Hello Mike, problem resolved and you where bang on. Easyspace where very helpfull and gave me an IP address to enter, then unticking the box for user name and password got me the result, thank you to everybody who helped, Steve Debben

[debben]

Thanks to Mike, Jont, Pinbrook and Drounding my email link is now working, My next task is to tackle all the spam. I know this is not Actinic related and sorry if my post/reply is out of place. I am experiencing a deluge of junk email, does anybody in this Forum have any recommendation for good effective spam filters that work with easyspace, obviously I need to get emails from new customers so the type where you report an email as spam and then it is blocked seems to be the safer option. Steve:confused: