[wellylug] cable modem email issues

[Rob Stockley]

Jamie Baddeley wrote:

>On Sat, 2005-03-19 at 11:55 +1100, Rob Stockley wrote:
>  
>
>>Jamie Baddeley wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>tcl block inbound smtp internationally for the ranges on the motorolas.
>>>
>>>easiest way around it is to get someone to do secondary mx for you
>>>nationally. They relay international mail to your cable mailboxes.
>>> 
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>Damn! That explains a few things. Namely that I have friends using 
>>hotmail that can't get through.
>>...
>>I've just spoken with TCL and they assure me that they do not block 
>>international smtp. They do offer a backup MX service but only to 
>>domains registered with them and the pricing schedules suggest 
>>commercial use.
>>    
>>
>
>Well that's odd. I guess things must be spotty, as I've definitely seen
>this in the past. I had a customer with exactly the same problems. I
>tcptracerouted on port 25 from the US to the host in question, and
>things definitely stopped at TCL international border in NZ. It must not
>have been my imagination, as they're still paying us for the solution.
>
>I've doubled checked, and that seems to be the case.
>
>Network 203.96.154.0/24 is not filtered, but Network 203.79.97.0/24 is.
>
>jamie
>  
>
I just called a first tier technician again and I got the impression 
that he was honestly unaware of the problem. He is the second tech today 
who swears that tcl do not block international smtp.

As a test I just set up a hotmail account and tried to email myself. It 
didn't get through. I don't have an offshore shell account to do a 
traceroute but I agree that this problem seems real not imagined. The 
tech suggested calling on Monday and asking to speak with a senior 
technician.

Unfortunately for TCL my house is wired for both jetstream and cable so 
I have a choice. The trouble will be getting them to acknowledge the 
problem so that I have grounds to cancel my connection without penalty. 
Of course if they can fix the problem to my satisfaction then I'll stick 
with them. After all this is the only niggle I've come across so far.

Rob