"Comcast & Outlook" Thu Nov-18-04 05:44 PM by _Chewy_
I just got my cable hookup today and i've been having some problems configuring MS Outlook to retrieve my messages.
If there's any Comcast users here who have successfully configured their Outlook to send/receive messages, I'd appreciate some pointers on this one. I've called their tech support line and like the typical ill-trained people that they are, i was told to contact MS.
I wish I'd taken the time to write down all the little glitches I had starting Comcast. They do have a few decent techs but it takes some luck to catch the smart ones when you call. If you sign up for Giganews to get NNTP newsgroups, you may find even bigger adventures.<g>
Make sure that you've been to your mail box at their web site and tested mail there. Even after you're up and running, it doesn't hurt to visit your mail box. I've found that on days when I get a lot of spam, there can be a message from "unknown sender" with nothing in it. It's probably a message that Comcast screened because it was from a problem ISP but it often causes the download to Outlook to hang. Often, if Outlook gives an error message, I can go to my Comcast mailbox on the web, delete offensive messages and the ones I want will later download just fine to Outlook.
I believe username is case sensitive and you need to have both username and password entered correctly.
There shouldn't be a check next to "Log on using Secure Password Authentication"
Under the "More Settings" button, check the "Outgoing Server" tab. Should be a check by "My outgoing server requires authentication and a bullet next to "Use same settings as my incoming mail server"
Keep in mind, it might be the Comcast servers that have not been set to deal with you, the new customer, and might not be your settings at all. Just because your mail is available in your web mail box does not mean the POP3 account is up and able to send you mail.
>Under the "More Settings" button, check the "Outgoing Server" >tab. >Should be a check by "My outgoing server requires >authentication and a bullet next to "Use same settings as my >incoming mail server"
Steve, thanks for that detailed response. I think the only thing that the tech missed was the part about the server requiring authentication. I'm in the middle of solving another problme but will try it out as soon as i get the chace. Thanks.
>If you sign up for Giganews to get NNTP newsgroups, you >may find even bigger adventures.<g>
I've always wanted to try a newsgroup and see what it's like. Did you have to call Comcast to get a list of newsgroups offered by them?
#5. "RE: Comcast & Outlook" In response to _Chewy_ (Reply # 4) Thu Nov-18-04 10:44 PM by SteveYandl
>>If you sign up for Giganews to get NNTP newsgroups, you >>may find even bigger adventures.<g> > >I've always wanted to try a newsgroup and see what it's like. > Did you have to call Comcast to get a list of newsgroups >offered by them? > Once you connect, you download the entire list and choose which ones to subscribe to. It is simple and they have search capability to look for groups by key word.
They contract with Giganews who is the actual provider and has a huge array of available newsgroups. I'm primarily interested in the microsoft.public groups. Somewhere on the Comcast web page they will have a spot for you to sign up. It takes a couple of days before your account is set for access. There is a download limit for free access but it is more than enough unless you plan to spend time on alt.binary groups trading pictures or music. Even though you're using Outlook for mail, you will be setting up Outlook Express to handle newsgroups. I just have a separate shortcut in my QuickLaunch area for OE set to do newsgroups only.
The problem I had when signing up was that after things got up and running I lost my access. Comcast paid for access to Giganews servers but were too cheap to pay for customer support. Problem was that they still were telling customers with problems that it was a Giganews issue and you had to call Giganews (who had in fact blocked a bunch of IPs that belonged to former ATTBI customers). Out of frustration I shot off an email to the webmaster at Giganews, never really expecting a response; I just wanted to vent. I was contacted by a guy who told me to call Comcast, ask permission to record the conversation and demand a third level supervisor. He said when they refused, to let them know his name and ask the name of the tech I was speaking to. I gave it a shot and had a third level supervisor at Comcast in about two or three minutes and my problem was fixed an hour later.
#6. "RE: Comcast &amp; Outlook" In response to SteveYandl (Reply # 5) Fri Nov-19-04 12:49 AM by _Chewy_
>He said >when they refused, to let them know his name and ask the name >of the tech I was speaking to. I gave it a shot and had a >third level supervisor at Comcast in about two or three >minutes and my problem was fixed an hour later.
Unreal. I'm shaking my head right now... i can't believe the amount of frustration they caused you. Why is that these major ISPs don't pay any attention to quality tech support when there are so many qualified techies already looking for a job? It seems like all they care is about the bottom line and if a few customers get screwed or fustrated in the process, they see it as trivial.
EDIT:
Your directions were right on the money SteveY; i'm all set w/ my Outlook now - thanks.
I had AOL briefly and I was an MSN customer for quite some time. Both offer pathetic customer service so I am not surprised by lack of service with any ISP.
Comcast support can be as pathetic as the others but I've not had many problems once I was up and running. Every three weeks or so there seems to be some "burp" that gets me disconnected but I can unplug the modem for 20 seconds or so and when I plug it in I'm fine. If you're hooked directly to the modem (as opposed to a router like I am) you can probably use IPCONFIG to accomplish the same goal but I find it easiest to just pull the plug.
