Email Recommendations for the ELK-M1XEP (February 2011)
Elk normally recommends customers use their ISP’s (Internet Service Provider) email services where possible, but in some cases it may be necessary or advantageous to us alternate email providers. This is especially true when it has been difficult or impossible to configure the M1XEP to send email using the ISP’s servers. A common difficulty is whenever the ISP requires SSL or TLS for sending email, and the M1XEP does not support SSL/TSL.
There are quite a number of alternate email providers like Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo that provide free regular email accounts, however they generally charge a fee for SMTP (Simple Mail Transport Protocol) email accounts. SMTP is something that is needed by devices such as the M1XEP.
Another potential problem or issue is that some ISP’s block outgoing ports to alternate (other) email providers. In these cases, it is often difficult, if not impossible, to use a third-party provider.
Elk Products has identified two alternate email providers that have free SMTP services and do not require SSL/TLS. We cannot endorse either of them, nor can we guarantee the reliability of their services or that they will maintain free services in the future. However as of February, 2011, accounts with the two providers listed below have been tested and confirmed to work with the M1XEP. Provided your ISP is not blocking these, using one of them is as simple as signing up for a free account on their websites and configuring the M1XEP to send email through their servers. To use any one of them, visit their website and sign up for a free account. Remember the email address (username) and password you choose there.
AOL
http://www.aol.com GMX
http://www.gmx.com
Setup Information
For either of these three, configure your M1XEP email as follows:
AOL
Server URL: smtp.aol.com
Port: 25 (alternate: 465)
From Address: the address you chose when signing up (
[email protected]).
Username: the address you chose when signing up (
[email protected]).
Password: the password you chose when signing up.
GMX
Server URL: mail.gmx.com
Port: 25 (alternates: 465, 587)
From Address: the address you chose when signing up (
[email protected]).
Username: the address you chose when signing up (
[email protected]).
Password: the password you chose when signing up.