Michael, > ....connecting to port 25 (smtp) on the "mail.charter.net" address gives > me the following: > > [mfleming@defender mail]$ telnet mail.charter.net 25 > Trying 209.225.8.224... > Connected to mail.charter.net (209.225.8.224). > Escape character is '^]'. > 220 charter.net ESMTP server ready Tue, 13 Mar 2007 09:00:41 -0400 mirror!/~ % telnet mail.charter.net 25 Trying 209.225.8.224... Connected to mail.charter.net (209.225.8.224). Escape character is '^]'. <note no 220 prompt, typing anything> Connection closed by foreign host. Jonathan