smtp.vodacom.co.za

I'm using Outlook 2003 (not express) and have had no problems. Uploads at 8kB/sec.
 
vodacom3g said:
I get this on Outlook Express, where the client pops up the message but it actually goes through.

It seems to be a function of the file size / 64kb/s.

Which client are you using?

Outlook Express. Hmmm Will have a closer look. Apart from that the link looks good.

VMS
 
I also had this same problem , for quite a while now .

What happened to me it doesnt even send the message,
It sending message bar in outlook Express would run to the end, and then nothing would happen further, and then the timeout message would popup.

but I only experienced this on emails i send with relatively large attachments.

What I tried is to change the server timeout time , on my Outlook Express from one 1 min - 3min or so.
and now it looks like it's at least sending the email again.

But it takes extremely long for example to send 2.7mb file (i'm testing it now as i'm writing)

But now the sending bar on Oultlook, looks like its sending according to the actual data that has been send, not like previously just jump to the end , and then timeout

not sure changing the server timeout if it did actually solve the problem, though
 
Last edited:
I also have the same problem and am using OL2002. A couple of people I know are also having the same problem. I sent a 1MB file and it took 7.5 minutes on a 512 connection. I have logged a call with MWeb Business who have logged with SAIX. Is this message limit thing not causing a problem?

Kind regards

Alan
 
First calculate how long a file should upload. Remember you're limited to 8KB/s, so work on 6KB/s to be safe.

Now divide the attachment size by 6KB, say you mail a 1Mb file, it should take around 160 seconds, or nearly 3 minutes.

If your Outlook Express timeout is set to less than this, the 'error' message pops up but I found the mail still goes out, taking the expected 160 seconds. I just ignore the message nowadays.

While you're sending mail, watch your bandwidth meter and you'll notice, even after the 'timeout' message appears, the mail still goes out.

Let me know if you see the same.
 
Did I miss something somewhere - are you saying that SAIX has also imposed a limit of 8Kb/s in addition to the message and size limits?

Kind regards

Alan
 
Alan, I was referring to the upload speed on a Vodacom 3G link which is 64Kb/s or 8KB/s.

In your case (ADSL, I assume?), you were getting about 2KB/s on a link that should support around 60KB/s.
 
Exactly! Maybey SAIX has got clever and is also throttling SMTP connections?

KInd regards

Alan
 
In the last 48 hours my SMTP server has begun refusing to send emails when I am connected via Vodacom (GPRS but presumably the same will go for 3G). The same emails are sent fine when I connect with another ISP. It looks like Vodacom have recently changed something or been blacklisted. Here is the response from the SMTP server:-

An unknown error has occurred. Account: 'pop.gmx.net', Server: 'mail.gmx.net', Protocol: SMTP, Server Response: '421 4.3.2 and see( http://www.gmx.net/serverrules )', Port: 25, Secure(SSL): No, Server Error: 421, Error Number: 0x800CCC67

The serverrules page mentioned seems to deal mainly with requirements for people wanting to send mail to me, but I have reproduced it below anyway:-

E-mails must comply to the standards described in RFC 2822. http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2822.txt

E-mails should not be delivered from within dialup IP ranges. The default setting for each user is to not accept sucht e-mail in order to prevent the spreading of mail worms.

The delivering server must have a reverse DNS entry with a fully qualified domain name.

A complete and plausible HELO/EHLO as described in RFC 2821 must be sent. http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

We check the sending server for SPF compliance if the user hasn't disabled this setting. The addresses of forwarded e-mail therefor MUST be rewritten using SRS standards.

The communicating server must not be an open proxy and must be protected against unauthorized access.
 
sun, first things first: What do you mean when you say 'my SMTP server'? are you running a SMTP server on your own machine(s), and trying to send via that?

If so, most ISP's don't allow those type of relays, as per:

http://www.zylem.com/Content/emailFAQ.htm

11: I can receive email but can not send. Why?

See 5 above. If you are happy your settings are correct then read on.

Some ISPs are preventing email being sent through their Internet connections unless it has originated from one of their own servers. If this is the case, you would need to contact your supplier and ask them for the name of their outgoing SMTP mail server to enable you to change your settings. You may have received an error message something like this :

An unknown error has occurred. Account: 'mail2.zylem.com', Server: 'mail2.zylem.com', Protocol: SMTP, Server Response: '421 tmailb1.svr.pol.co.uk: Too many concurrent SMTP connections; please try again later.', Port: 25, Secure(SSL): No, Server Error: 421, Error Number: 0x800CCC67

Doing a quick google indicates that the 421 error is a connection refused error, or something similar.
 
Sorry, by 'my SMTP server' i meant the SMTP server of my free email provider (like hotmail or yahoo except they allow POP and SMTP access). They are in Germany and are unrelated to any ISP I use.

Well it would be a sad day if Vodacom were preventing sending emails, especially since the use of Vodacom's SMTP server is not in general free. However I don't think that is the problem in this case. The error message is different. And wouldn't there be an outcry?
 
sun, not to sure why you state the Vodacom SMTP server "in general is not free"?

Vodacom provide a SMTP Relay server (smtp.vodacom.co.za) completely free of charge for your use, no strings attached.

As per normal ISP practise, this server is monitored for spam, blacklistings with SpamHaus, SpamCop, sorbs, etc.

If you use your own SMTP server, there is no guarantee that it or the IP you're assigned in your current session is not blocked (by other mail servers, Vodacom does no blocking of any nature) or that another problem might prevent you from sending mail.

The Vodacom SMTP relay is running on a highly redundant architecture and is directly on the GPRS/3G network, giving you the best possible performance. This forum made sure of that, trust me!
 
Last week I also experienced a high number of bounced emails, which I have not encountered before.
Generally I got "Error 503" and "550"
I have not changed much on my side, and the situtation seems to have corrected itself, and can only assume I got one of those unlucky assigned IP addresses ?

The vodamail team ( [email protected] ) were quick to reply and were very helpful in offering solutions. :)
 
vodacom3g said:
sun, not to sure why you state the Vodacom SMTP server "in general is not free"?

Vodacom provide a SMTP Relay server (smtp.vodacom.co.za) completely free of charge for your use, no strings attached.

As per normal ISP practise, this server is monitored for spam, blacklistings with SpamHaus, SpamCop, sorbs, etc.
I agree with v3g, one should as a rule ALWAYS use your ISP's SMTP server for outgoing mails from your notebook/desktop.

It's obviously another story altogether when you run a web based e-mail interface from a server (web forms, webmail, etc).
 
Server Authentification?

The server you connect to might need authentification.

In Outlook 2003 / 2000 you would:

Click Tools (Menu Bar) -> Email Accounts -> Check "View or Change existing email accounts" -> click Next -> Select the account you use -> Click Change -> Click the "More Settings" Button -> Click the "Outgoing Mailserver" Tab - > Check the "My outgoing server requires authentification".

In Outlook Express:

Tools -> Accounts -> Mail -> Properties -> Servers Tab -> Click the "My Server Requires Authentifiation" check box -> click ok.

Otherwise forward your mails through Vodacoms SMTP.

See if that helps.
 
Thanks Crash, yes it does require authentification but that is already set up. The key point is that the still mail sends when I am connected via landline or MTN.

Sorry, V3G, I assumed that the R29 per month email address was required to use the SMTP server. What is the SMTP server address? That is still second prize because it requires me to send email from a different account when connected via vodacom. Lots of people have laptops which connect to the internet in a variety of ways, eg company network, landline ISP, WiFi, Cellular. It is undesirable to have to keep changing mail accounts depending on how you are connected.
 
sun, it's smtp.vodacom.co.za.

I agree it's a pain to change your smtp server everytime you change bearer. When we launched the 3G service a year ago, I tried to get most ISP's to accept mail from the Vodacom domain, but it was an impossible task....

It's actually a function of the mail client you use. A decent mail client should be able to change the outgoing server based on the active connection.
 
Thanks V3G, working fine on smtp.vodacom.co.za.
I have PM'd you on an unrelated issue.
 
vodacom3g said:
It's actually a function of the mail client you use. A decent mail client should be able to change the outgoing server based on the active connection.
HAHAHA, so you saying MS Outlook is crap? lol
 
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X