Mail Delay?

[t300]

Mail has always been good to me but as of late I seem to be getting email way later than it was sent, 1-3 hours later. I use both my .Mac and my Charter email through Mail and don't think it is the mail servers. What in MAIL could possibly be delaying my emails? Anyone know?

 

[MisterMe]

Mail has always been good to me but as of late I seem to be getting email way later than it was sent, 1-3 hours later. I use both my .Mac and my Charter email through Mail and don't think it is the mail servers. What in MAIL could possibly be delaying my emails? Anyone know?

Why would you suspect Mail on your local computer? The problem most likely lies in one or more mail servers belonging to one or more of the ISPs that handle the messages. For example, I have had mail to disappear in AOL for weeks! One of the reasons that mail gets delayed is that your recipient may have a limited allocation of file space which may be at its limit. The same may be true of you.

 

[t300]

Well, I don't believe so. It has not been like this until recently, and I can easily get my mail from my .Mac account and Charter account from the internet sites faster...Anyone have a clue?

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

I have Cox Cable Modem, and just found out (via network status) that most of the delyas I see are due to their own network issues.

 

[mkrishnan]

I have Cox Cable Modem, and just found out (via network status) that most of the delyas I see are due to their own network issues.

You mean, like in Jet's case, perhaps the webmail works fine because HTTP connections through the ISP are working fine but the POP/IMAP connections, which use different ports / different routers / etc don't work fine?

But it seems like he's not saying that mail takes a long time to download, but that it comes after a delay.

Jet, Do you ever get exclamation point icons next to your inboxes in mail.app? It could be that it is experiencing failed attempts to get at the POP/IMAP server (usually it puts an exclamation point next to the inbox but does not always pop up a warning or error).

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

You mean, like in Jet's case, perhaps the webmail works fine because HTTP connections through the ISP are working fine but the POP/IMAP connections, which use different ports / different routers / etc don't work fine?

But it seems like he's not saying that mail takes a long time to download, but that it comes after a delay.

Jet, Do you ever get exclamation point icons next to your inboxes in mail.app? It could be that it is experiencing failed attempts to get at the POP/IMAP server (usually it puts an exclamation point next to the inbox but does not always pop up a warning or error).

Cox has had some problems over the last few weeks with their POP and SMTP servers. A friend that I complained to about my email suggested looking at Cox's network status. Low and behold that was he issue.

i am old enough to feel that my internet email should be like my phone service. Available when I need it and want it.

 

[mkrishnan]

i am old enough to feel that my internet email should be like my phone service. Available when I need it and want it.

Hmmm...I just found out that my best svc option in Gainesville FL (where I will be starting in August) is Cox.... I don't really want TV or a landline, and naked DSL from Verizon isn't avail there. So its either $50-53 for Cox (for $3 I get satellite TV channels...funny how cheap that is, I guess they really don't want to give me a net-only connection!) or >$60 for DSL from Bellsouth. They quoted me $85/mo as the cheapest possible option to get DSL and phone both at the minimal levels, which seems awful high to me. Minimal SBC/Yahoo was $55-60. Haveta check my parents' actual bill and then call them again. The CSR I dealt with was kinda a PITA.

 

[MisterMe]

Hmmm...I just found out that my best svc option in Gainesville FL (where I will be starting in August) is Cox.... I don't really want TV or a landline, and naked DSL from Verizon isn't avail there. So its either $50-53 for Cox (for $3 I get satellite TV channels...funny how cheap that is, I guess they really don't want to give me a net-only connection!) or >$60 for DSL from Bellsouth. They quoted me $85/mo as the cheapest possible option to get DSL and phone both at the minimal levels, which seems awful high to me. Minimal SBC/Yahoo was $55-60. Haveta check my parents' actual bill and then call them again. The CSR I dealt with was kinda a PITA.

I compared the services Cox offers you to those it offers me. I would swap places with you in a New York minute. Look--if you can't afford it, don't worry about it.

 

[mkrishnan]

I compared the services Cox offers you to those it offers me. I would swap places with you in a New York minute. Look--if you can't afford it, don't worry about it.

What do you mean? Are services by them priced higher where you are than they are in Florida? Where is that? All these prices seem typical. FWIW I am just trying to put together a budget that's consistent with going back to grad school for a few years.... The parents' thing I meant was that they have Bellsouth in Florida too and their service cost was much lower than the one quoted me.

 

[MisterMe]

What do you mean? Are services by them priced higher where you are than they are in Florida? Where is that? All these prices seem typical. FWIW I am just trying to put together a budget that's consistent with going back to grad school for a few years.... The parents' thing I meant was that they have Bellsouth in Florida too and their service cost was much lower than the one quoted me.

Actually, I meant that your Cox franchise has a better selection of TV channels, faster broadband service, and HDTV. But clearly, your only interest is the price. Maybe, you can beg your parents to spring for the service you want. Like I said, if you can't afford it, don't worry about.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Hmmm...I just found out that my best svc option in Gainesville FL (where I will be starting in August) is Cox.... I don't really want TV or a landline, and naked DSL from Verizon isn't avail there. So its either $50-53 for Cox (for $3 I get satellite TV channels...funny how cheap that is, I guess they really don't want to give me a net-only connection!) or >$60 for DSL from Bellsouth. They quoted me $85/mo as the cheapest possible option to get DSL and phone both at the minimal levels, which seems awful high to me. Minimal SBC/Yahoo was $55-60. Haveta check my parents' actual bill and then call them again. The CSR I dealt with was kinda a PITA.

Trying to get any meaningful cost analysis out of these CSR's is useless it seems....

OT: if the Baby Bells want my money over cable modem, then offer me DSL and telephone (unlimited local calls) for the same $39.95 that Cox charges me. I would accept slower transfers over cost...

 

[mkrishnan]

Actually, I meant that your Cox franchise has a better selection of TV channels, faster broadband service, and HDTV. But clearly, your only interest is the price. Maybe, you can beg your parents to spring for the service you want. Like I said, if you can't afford it, don't worry about.

Hmmm...I'm 29, not a kid. And again, money's not an issue -- *really* not an issue; it's a matter of principle. My parents are just a reference point because they moved to their house in Florida before I will move too mine.

Alas I don't really want to watch TV and decided stylistically that I didn't want to center my new family room around a TV. Wish I could beam you my cable options, since I don't much want them.

I'm just frustrated that this is another area where telecom deregulation hasn't produced as much competition as it was supposed to.... There are surprisingly few options for high-speed internet in most areas, especially unbundled consumer services.