Smtp auth. fails for Mac mail but ok for netscpae mail ???

Question

Hello all,
I am having some persistent problems with SMTP authentication to send mail from my Mac via my ISP onto the internet.
What DOES work:
1. sending and receiving mail from my current ISP account using Netscape mail.
2. receiving mail from my ISP account using Mac mail
What DOES NOT work:
3. sending mail via my ISP using Mac Mail. The error message is that the SMTP authentication failed.
Yes, I checked the mail port (25) and the smtp address (in plain text ascii)
Has anyone had a similar problem, where Mac mail failes, but another mail tool succeeds? Has anyone succeeded at getting it to work for Mac mail?
Thanks,
Ary
Powerbook G4   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

Answer 1

If your ISP requires POP before SMTP authentication which requires checking the account's incoming mail server for new mail before being able to send with the account's SMTP server (checking the account for new mail should be required once per session only), then authentication for the SMTP server should be set to None.
Go to Mail > Preferences > Accounts and under the account information tab for the account preferences at the SMTP server selection, select the Server Setting button below.
If Password is selected for SMTP authentication, change it to None and test if this resolves the problem.
If None is selected and your ISP requires password authentication for their SMTP server, select Password and enter the account's user name and password required for the authentication.