Work-around for off-campus IMAP connection failure
updated April 19, 2005
We do have one "work-around" that you can try. It will not solve the
slowness issue, but should stop the "timeout errors" and should make
email work, even if it takes several minutes to open.
Most email programs have a "timeout" setting. The default timeout is
usually set around 30 seconds which causes the email program to give
up to quickly. If you change the timeout setting to the maximum
value, we have found that your email will open and work, but it may
take several times to open.
The timeout setting is located in different places depending on your
email program and version. We have included instructions for some
common email program below.
OutLook
Click on "Tools", "E-Mail Accounts", "View or Change existing e-mail
accounts". Select you Whitman Email account and click on "Change".
Click on "More Settings" and finally on "Advanced". Change the
"Server Timeouts" to the maximum (10 minutes) and click on "OK",
"Next" and "Finish" to save your changes. Exit and then restart OutLook.
OutLook Express
Click on "Tools" and the "Accounts". Select you Whitman Email account
and click on "Properties". Click on the "Advanced" tab. Change the
"Server Timeouts" to the maximum (5 minutes) and click on "OK" and
then "Close" to save your changes. Exit and then restart OutLook Express.
Thunderbird
Thunderbird does not have a timeout setting that you can change. It
has been reported that the default timeout is long enough and
Thunderbird should open your email if you wait long enough.
OS-X Mail
OS-X mail does not have a timeout setting that you can change. We
have heard of reports of "timeout" issues with Charter customers using
OS-X mail. This may mean that the default timeout value in OS-X mail
is too short. Since you can not change the timeout, we do not have a
"work-a-round" for OS-X mail at this time.