How can broadband connection "time out"?

[steveplater]

Mail frequently but intermittently gives error message "the connection to ... server on port 110 timed out". I have to quit and relaunch Mail every time. It's an 'always on' broadband connection. This doesn't happen on iBook using the same broadband through the same wireless router. What's going on – some setting I need to adjust?

 

[Kaveman]

Check in the Window > Activity
also Window > Connection Doctor

your ISP may have changed the required Ports, this is very much in the hands of your ISP as they determine what your mail setting should be, its not one size fits all.

 

[steveplater]

Thanks for your reply, Kaveman. However, the ISP has confirmed to me that port 110 is the correct one.
The "timed out" error has occurred only a few times over the last week. I suspect that the ISP may not have enough capacity, and be operating some kind of "rolling blackout".