Mail V3.1 can not create a new Cablevision Optimum Online mail account

Question

Apple Technical support asked me to report this on this forum.
I have OS X 10.5.1 with Mail 3.1. My ISP is Cablevision Optimum Online, which uses mail.optonline.net as their POP and SMTP servers.
Pre-existing mail accounts, created under 10.4.x (Tiger) work perfectly. I am unable to create a new mail account with this version of the mail program. Mail's Add Account dialog (wizard) hangs as soon as it tries to connect to the mail.optonline.com server. After a long time trying it just says it can not connect to the server. This happens if I choose the new (and default) "Automatically set up account" option or not. It happens on multiple Leopard systems. In other words, when the mail account setup wizard checks for connectivity to the mail.optonline.net POP server, it fails, even though the mail program has no problem interacting with that same server with accounts set up under a previous version.
We brought a MacBook to the Apple store, and the tech. at the genius bar could not get it to work. He said call the ISP. We did that, spent hours with the ISP tech who told me many people are complaining about this. I suspected it was a problem with the way Mail 3.1 was doing its initial connectivity check. Perhaps using an incompatible port (SSL setting perhaps).
After a good nights sleep, I figured out a work-around. I created a dummy GMail account, after it was created I modified it to have my Optonline account specifications, turned off SSL and it worked.
After I had circumvented this problem, someone else that had the same problem found a different resolution. We both also had .mac accounts defind. When they deleted their .Mac account from the mail program, they were able to create a new Optonline.net account. .Mac uses SSL.... interesting.
Thus, it seems that if you have a .Mac account with Mail 3.1 you can not create an Optonline.net account. A bug that I hope Apple fixes quickly.

Answer 1

iLounge had some good info on this topic. The KEY INFO in the post was that after you have gotten the account set up you need to turn off your WiFi router (if you have one) to reset it.
http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?t=221752
Here are the details on how Optonline says you set up an account:
Name: type your name here
Address: [email protected]
Description: whatever you want to put here
Incoming Mail Server
Host Name: mail.optonline.net
User Name: xxxxxxxxxx (don't add "@optonline.net" here, but put what goes before it)
Password: your password here
Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP)
Host Name: mail.optonline.net
User Name: xxxxxxxxxx (don't add "@optonline.net" here, but put what goes before it)
Password: your password here
My other settings under the "Advanced" tab look like this...
Deleted Messages
Remove: Never
Incoming Settings:
Use SSL: OFF
Authentication: Password
Delete from Server: Never
Server Port: 110
Outgoing Settings:
Use SSL: OFF
Authentication: Password
Delete from Server: Never
Server Port: 587
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This person adds "Oh, one more thing... after you save your account settings, you may need to turn off WIFI, then "power off"... then "power on" turn WIFI back on and try to get mail again after it connects."
============
Based on the information I read here and on iLounge I was able to get Optonline email working.
1) Deleted my Dot Mac mail accounts in Apple Mail
2) Created an Optonline account based on the details above from Optonline in Apple Mail
3) Unplugged my Airport Extreme Base Station, waited 20 seconds, plugged it back in.
4) I was then able to receive mail but not send on the Optonline SMTP server
5) So...I then went back and checked the details on the Optonline account in Apple Mail. Not sure why but the SSL/authentication selections were changed. So I set them correctly based on the information above and saved. That worked and I was able to send email.
As you are having trouble with Apple Mail and Optonline (why else would you be reading this?) let me also mention that Optonline blocks Port 25 for outbound email so if you have non-Optimum Online email accounts and want to send email on that ISP's server you will not be able to do that unless (a) you pay Cablevision more for a business or boost account (b) use webmail (c) your ISP is willing to provide you with an alternative email port other than 25.
Here is the page from their site on this topic
ort 25 and Optimum Online
Answer
All e-mail sent via the Internet is routed through Port 25, the channel used for communication between an e-mail client and an e-mail server. Activation of Port 25 is currently available with Optimum Online® Boost or Optimum Online for Business. Please continue reading for more information, including activation instructions.
Port 25 Filtering/Blocking
To help control the amount of spam that originates from the Optimum Online network, Optimum Online filters outbound Port 25 e-mail (SMTP) traffic for all standard Optimum Online customers. This filtering is a common spam control measure used by Internet Service Providers. It not only prevents spam sent intentionally, but also thwarts computer viruses that let spammers connect to an unsuspecting customer's infected computer and send spam.
This filtering is transparent to the vast majority of our users. However, if you access a non-Optimum Online e-mail service with an e-mail client application (like Outlook Express), or run your own mail server, you may not be able to send and/or receive e-mail.
Port 25 Availability
If you require Port 25 to be active, Optimum Online offers these options:
Subscribe to Optimum Online Boost. Click here for more information.
Businesses can subscribe to Optimum Online for Business or Optimum Online Boost for Business.
Activating Port 25
If you subscribe to Optimum Online Boost, and would like to utilize Port 25, you'll need to activate it. Simply follow these steps:
Log into optimum.net using your Optimum ID and Password.
Click on Optimum Services.
Click Manage from within the Advanced Config section.
Set Port 25 to On and click Submit. Your modem will be rebooted automatically. Once it starts up, Port 25 will be active.
Optimum Online for Business customers who do not subscribe to Optimum Online Boost can call Technical Support at 1-866-575-8000 to have Port 25 activated.
Workarounds for Standard Optimum Online Customers
If Port 25 filtering is affecting your ability to send or receive non-Optimum Online e-mail, here are some options you may choose to pursue:
Contact your e-mail service provider to see if they support alternate connection methods such as VPN or SMTPS.
If available, use your e-mail service provider's WebMail.