SMTP server using mobile hotspot

[Simon_y7]

I'm trying to switch to Mozilla Thunderbird on my laptop. While both incoming and outgoing mail works flawlessly on my home network, when using Thunderbird with the VZW mobile hotspot, sending mail through the usual SMTP server doesn't work. (Incoming mail through the usual POP - no problem.)

Anybody has had this issue? Any suggestions? Any SMTP servers to try? What SMTP server does the phone Gmail account use?

 

[acejavelin]

I am not really sure why standard POP3/SMTP mail wouldn't work well tethered using the VZW HotSpot, it should although I have not tried it.

To use POP3/SMTP with Gmail there a few steps you have to go through, first you have to enable POP3 in your Gmail settings, then there are special ports and authentication needed to access it, but fortunately Google has walk-thrus for all of it...

Start here: Enabling POP - Gmail Help
Then configure Thunderbird via: Getting Started - Gmail Help

But I think you are going through this backwards... it would be better to use the web version of Gmail, and have Google pull your other POP3 mail into that. Start here for more information: Get mail from other accounts - Gmail Help

 

[Buickman]

I am not really sure why standard POP3/SMTP mail wouldn't work well tethered using the VZW HotSpot, it should although I have not tried it.

The OP is probably using his home ISP's email (Comcast,charter, ect). For security and to reduce spam they don't allow sending messages from off of their own network. The problem isn't so much that they are trying to do it from a LTE hotspot, it's they are trying to do it from anything other than their own providers network. That's the biggest issue with using mail clients instead of webmail, you often have to provide your own SMTP server if you want to send anything.

 

[acejavelin]

The OP is probably using his home ISP's email (Comcast,charter, ect). For security and to reduce spam they don't allow sending messages from off of their own network. The problem isn't so much that they are trying to do it from a LTE hotspot, it's they are trying to do it from anything other than their own providers network. That's the biggest issue with using mail clients instead of webmail, you often have to provide your own SMTP server if you want to send anything.

True, I hadn't thought of that... although most ISP's have special ports/authentication combinations available for off-net access to their POP3/SMTP mail accounts besides web mail... for example, from my ISP's email help:

Mail Settings

If you'd like to change your email program to automatically load a new account's email, please use the following mail settings:

Standard

• Incoming: pop.midco.net
• Outgoing: smtp.midco.net
• Username: full email address (ex: email@rap.midco.net)
• Password: password for email address

The secure settings below can be used when sending and receiving email outside of the Midcontinent Communications network.

Secure

• Incoming: popa.midco.net
  • If POP server, server port number = 995
  • If IMAP server, server port number = 993
• Outgoing: smtpa.midco.net
  • Port 25 (preferred setting) or Port 465 (may not be compatible with all software/providers)
  • Requires a secure connection (SSL) or TLS must be checked (depending on the device)
  • Outgoing server settings may require full username and password
  • Must select ?Outgoing Server Requires Authentication?
  • Do not select ?Secure Password Authentication (SPA)?
• Username: full email address (ex: email@rap.midco.net)
• Password: password for email address

So, to get back to the OP's original question based on this possible puzzle piece... have you verified your ISP does not have special email requirement's for POP3/SMTP email when you are connecting from off of their network (and on some other ISP, like VZW)?