So where's it going wrong...?

[G0AOZ]

I exchange e-mails with a friend maybe once a week on average, and have done so successfully for several years. Neither of us have changed ISPs or account names etc., and now all of a sudden I cannot get ANY e-mails through from him, and yet he receives mine ok. I'm on Freeserve and he uses NTL. E-mails from other people are continuing to come through ok. Neither ISP admits to any problems, so I'm not sure how to proceed. I don't want the hassle of changing ISPs, so anyone got any clues? Is there a way to check out a path between NTL and Freeserve?

Yours exasperatedly,


ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[Salem]

Is your friend receiving any kind of reject message when he tries to send to you?

Do you/your friend know anyone else on NTL who would be willing to send you a test message to see if that works?

 

[G0AOZ]

So far 4 days have elapsed and no bounce back or reject messages. Offhand, I don't think either of us has other contacts on NTL or Freeserve respectively, but will recheck this...

He confirms that his messages are getting through to other contacts ok.

Two messages he sent had attachments (.GIF files less than 60K), and he's used the "Reply to" facility on my messages to him, to preclude any wrongly type addressing.

This may not be of any consequence but... On Saturday evening I e-mailed back to myself one of the questions on this (Tek-Tips) site. It appeared to whizz back to me within minutes! I did the same trick last night, and it took nearly 12 hours before appearing at Freeserve this morning.


ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[Salem]

> So far 4 days have elapsed and no bounce back or reject messages.
This seems a long time to go without any kind of non-delivery.

> Two messages he sent had attachments
Have you tried a message with no attachments?

There are several things which could be going wrong
- system is simply too busy
- mis-configured virus checker rejecting the attachments
- mis-configured spam blocker rejecting the NTL domain, or rejecting the content of the message

> Is there a way to check out a path between NTL and Freeserve?
Well you could check the headers of the last good message you received from your friend, with the headers of a similarly timed message from somewhere else. The last few steps should be common to both (ie the route through Freeserve).
At the point where they differ, you could try 'ping'ing the machine(s) on the route back to NTL from your friend to see if they are still alive.
This URL should help you understand mail headers

http://combat.uxn.com/tracing.html

Does NTL/Freeserve have a user forum where other users of the ISP can discuss shared issues like this?

 

[G0AOZ]

Thanks for the further reply SALEM.

> This seems a long time to go without any kind
> of non-delivery.
Yes, I'd not have expected a "bounce" after that sort of interval...

> Have you tried a message with no attachments?
Yes, probably at least 4 now, of different lengths without attachments. Makes no difference - still not delivered.

> - system is simply too busy
In view of the fact that the NTL user has successfully sent and received messages from other ISPs, I'd be surprised if that's the cause. I'd have expected a "bounce" before now...

> - mis-configured virus checker rejecting the
> attachments
I've received a message with attachment from another ISP ok.

> - mis-configured spam blocker rejecting the NTL domain,
> or rejecting the content of the message
I don't run a spam blocker - can't comment on what Freeserve might be running though...

I'll check headers etc., when I'm back in front of the machine, and also that URL.

The last time I looked at the Freeserve user forum it appeared to mainly consist of messages of a dubious nature from what can best be described as extremely immature hooligans. I believe it's currently not running...


ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[G0AOZ]

I'm pleased to report that it all started to work again yesterday for no apparent reason, and mail is now coming through ok from NTL. However, the 6 previously sent messages and attachments have not materialised and, I believe, are unlikely to do so now. They must have just disappeared into that famous black hole...


ROGER - G0AOZ.