SMTP problem - switching ISPs constantly 1

[psemianonymous]

First off, I'm a student.

I have two POP email accounts--one with the school, one with a web hosting service. I have a third account with my ISP (cable Internet provider), but it is totally unused and I don't care about it.

It is my understanding that I can only send OUT email using SMTP. And it is also my understanding that I can only send out email via the 'local' SMTP server, i.e. smtp.myisp.net.

So I set up both email accounts with the SMTP server as my local ISP's SMTP server name. This seems to work.


My problem is this: what happens when I move my computer around to a wireless hotpoint? How then do I send my email?

Or if I go to a LAN party (this has happened)--how then should I set up my SMTP so I can send emails?

Do I actually have to 1) discover who my ISP is, 2) change my Outlook Express SMTP settings for each 'Account', 3) send mail, 4) change settings back to normal? Is this what business travelers go through?

I'm basically asking: did I miss something painfully obvious?


Pete
PS--yes, I've tried using IMAP, and I hate it with Outlook Express. So don't mention it as a possibility.

 

[mrbusy]

In answer to your question, no you didnt miss anything obvious and SMTP for people who move from network to network is a pain.
When you send an email from Outlook, or whatever you choose to use, it goes via SMTP to the outbound server you have specified for that account. This server is oftern refered to as the ISP's SMTP gateway. ISP's (and other network providers) will normally lock down who can send using their gateway to people on their network. This is to stop people just choosing anyones gateway to send anonymous or spam email, but leads to the problem you have with moving around.
You have a couple of choices. Firstly, when you relocate to a new network you can identify the SMTP gateway and change the settings in Outlook. This is what a lot of people do.
Secondly you could get an SMTP gateway application which runs locally on your computer. In this case you would make all your outgoing SMTP servers 'localhost'. Messages would then be routed via this application direct to the reciving email server. Basically thats all your ISP is doing, but be carefull not to let yourself be used as an open relay for others to send using your computer. The other drawback of this method is that many organisations block SMTP on their firewalls for all but approved email servers which means your local app may not be able to connect and send your message. Blocking SMTP is becoming ever more common now viruses using their own SMTP engine to spread have appeared.
Basically there is no easy answer.

 

[psemianonymous]

Thanks for the reply. You basically confirmed my suspicions.


Pete