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

[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