Forum Discussion

Cards47's avatar
Cards47
New Contributor III

URGENT: Still having email issues? Post your email status here! Refer Cox Support to this thread.

Since the 4/24/19 email security rollout, users have been experiencing various kinds of email issues. This is now day 13. I can receive email, but when I send email, it shows in my sent box, but is not received by the intended recipient. It is stuck on the Cox email server. My IP address is not blocked, I verified that. This is happening on my new iPad iOS 12.2 and on Cox’s WebMail page, no matter what browser I try. To date: nothing has been resolved. Every fix, workaround, password change, delete and re-entering email address, blah-blah-blah, etc. has failed. Been working on this for 12 days straight.

Please, I would like to hear from all of you what your current status is concerning your email and, if any, what fixes have worked for you.

Please keep the responses coming, we’re really starting to get some strong answers to the email issues supplied by us, not Cox. Awesome!!!

Link to my original post:

https://forums.cox.com/forum_home/internet_forum/f/internet-forum/23081/not-receiving-cox-email-at-at-t-net-and-gmail-com-email-servers

=========================

Contributed by WiderMouthOpen:

You can also see it in a tracert. Notice at hop 6 it leaves Cox and is on a provider called RackSpace. Don't know if they are the email provider or network provider for the email provider, but the thread you quoted shows it's now a partnership.

Tracing route to imap.east.rs.oxcs.net [146.20.147.246]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms router.asus.com [192.168.1.1]
2 6 ms 6 ms 8 ms 10.1.128.1
3 8 ms 7 ms 9 ms 100.120.244.80
4 8 ms 9 ms 9 ms 100.120.244.192
5 18 ms 17 ms 18 ms ashbbprj02-ae1.0.rd.as.cox.net [68.1.0.254]
6 18 ms 18 ms 19 ms aggr501a-94-core9.iad3.rackspace.net [69.20.1.10]
7 * * * Request timed out.
8 19 ms 35 ms 17 ms coreb-dcpe2.iad3.rackspace.net [69.20.2.173]
9 19 ms 17 ms 20 ms core9-coreb.iad3.rackspace.net [65.61.152.173]
10 18 ms 18 ms 18 ms aggr501a-65-core9.iad3.rackspace.net [146.20.80.21]
11 19 ms 18 ms 17 ms 146.20.147.246

FYI that was a tracert from my computer to imap.cox.net. The confusing part is because of the "partnership" they made changes in DNS too.

C:\Users\>nslookup imap.cox.net
Server: router.asus.com
Address: 192.168.1.1

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: imap.east.rs.oxcs.net <==
Address: 146.20.147.246
Aliases: imap.cox.net

Notice how imap.cox.net automatically redirects to the new domains on oxcs.net, which is not a Cox server.

====================

Thank you all in advance.

92 Replies

  • fssbillk's avatar
    fssbillk
    New Contributor II

    My post-April 24 issue is different from yours.  I'm using old, old Outlook on Windows PC.  I cannot RECEIVE email from pop.cox.net, using port 995 and checking Server Requires a Secure Connection, like it's been for awhile.  However, I CAN send emails via smtp.cox.net port 465 w/ Secure Connection just fine!

    Online chat told me that I needed latest and greatest Outlook and that because of the cox "changes", sending may be a problem without the new security protocol.  But I can send with this old Outlook just fine!  So I don't need a new Outlook.

    I tried another posted fix suggestion and changed my password, since I'm able to use Cox Webmail just fine.  I can see the emails there, but still cannot download them to my outlook via pop.

    I love having Outlook consolidate all my emails from all of my accounts, including the three I have on Cox.  Having to go and log on three times to Cox Webmail is a royal pain.

    We'll be moving soon to a non-Cox area.  Who knows if Comcast or Verizon will be any better.

    • Cards47's avatar
      Cards47
      New Contributor III

      There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t want to use your email client since Cox gives you the settings to do so. My email client logs in to both the incoming and outgoing Cox email servers. I can receive email, but the fun happens when I go to send it. The email client sends it just fine and I see it in the sent email box. I login to the WebMail page and the same email I sent is also in the sent box. The problem is that the email is queued somewhere on the Cox mail server as no one actually receives an email from me. I proved that by not using my email client and only using the WebMail page. I can send and receive, but nothing gets sent from the Cox mail server to the recipient even though it’s in the sent box. That WebMail page is in-house on Cox’s servers. At this point it has nothing to do with the setting on my computer. I’m only using a browser to access Cox’s email system. It ain’t me or us, it’s Cox!!

      I think when Cox’s tech support wants me to describe what’s happening, I’m gonna cut and paste what I just wrote over and over again until they get the picture and that “Aha” moment.

      • fssbillk's avatar
        fssbillk
        New Contributor II

        That's weird.  My send through Outlook makes it to the Cox Webmail and then on to the intended recipient - not stuck there like yours.

    • fssbillk's avatar
      fssbillk
      New Contributor II

      After more forum reading, I see what my problem might be - Windows XP.  The operating system itself may not have the wherewithall to conform to the new security standard, regardless of what Outlook version you might be using.  But I can send emails!  And sending emails was the main issue being addressed by the new security protocols.  Just as confused as ever. . . . .

      • Swamper's avatar
        Swamper
        New Contributor III

        I see what my problem might be - Windows XP.

        Thunderbird works just fine on XP. Hate needing a second email client judt for COX! Fortunately very little of my email uses my COX address.

  • Bruce's avatar
    Bruce
    Honored Contributor III

    If you're sending and receiving email, your "security" issue is resolved.  You now have a new problem.  Either the Cox servers are not sending email or the recipient's servers are not accepting email.  If you're not receiving non-delivery notices, your email is being queued somewhere.

    I suspect Cox only because they've been recently tinkering with their email systems...or whoever administers it.

    • Cards47's avatar
      Cards47
      New Contributor III

      Exactly, my son has not received all the test email to his att.net and gmail.com email accounts. He was prior to 4/24/17. They’re being queued on the Cox outgoing SMTP servers. All the sent emails are in the sent box on Cox’s WebMail, but seem to be queued on the Cox server.

      Thank you so much for your reply.

      • KevinM2's avatar
        KevinM2
        Former Moderator
        Hi Cards47, are you able to send and receive emails using the Cox Host Webmail server, at myemail.cox.net? Would you be able to send yourself a test email using myemail.cox.net? If you are having issues sending or receiving emails on our host server, this will without a doubt impact the client server. If this is indeed the case, please include a link to your forum threads, and email us at cox.help@cox.com, so we can investigate this further. -Kevin M. Cox Support Forum Moderator
  • COX SMTP servers now longer works for some internet connections.  It is throwing a CXDNS which means that it is blocking all addresses that cannot be reverse DNS lookup-ed, but some addresses cannot be DNS lookup-ed.  We have Frontier internet and address they give us does not have a DNS entry.  If I switch my Google Fi Android phone to the cellular network, the SMTP works (because the name is DNS resolveable).

    • Cards47's avatar
      Cards47
      New Contributor III

      Thanks for the tip, SpongeBob128, really appreciate it. From what you just told me this is totally and absolutely on Cox. We as users have absolutely no control over whether a DNS server has reverse lookup or not. For crying out loud, we’re the customers, not the friggen IT Tech department. I hope KevinM2 reads your reply and can look into what you described. That’s the best and most logical thing I’ve read concerning Cox’s email issues yet.

      Thank you so much for your reply.

      • Bruce's avatar
        Bruce
        Honored Contributor III

        Definitely a Cox problem.  When you addressed email to ATT and Google, you did not get rejects.  The email has yet to deliver, but you didn't get rejects.

        When you addressed to a valid address on the Cox domain, you did get rejects.

        These processes involve different server agents so you're getting differing results.  The problem is on the server...not with your settings.

    • pianoman's avatar
      pianoman
      New Contributor II

      I am having this same exact issue since 4/24 (CXDNS error due to no reverse DNS). This worked up until 4/24. Many external IP addresses do not have reverse DNS entries.

      Shame on Cox for the lack of notice of these changes AND the lack of response.

  • sw23185's avatar
    sw23185
    New Contributor III

    I continue to have problems sending e-mail via either Thunderbird 60.6.1 on my HP Win10 laptop or my iPhone running plain ol' mail.  I can receive (POP) but cannot send (SMTP).  I've had an open support ticket since Thursday April 25.  I've called in multiple times and am 7 days into a promised 24-48 hour managerial callback.

    • Cards47's avatar
      Cards47
      New Contributor III

      I feel your pain. I went to my Son’s house and used his iPad to send an email to cox.help@cox.com as KevinM2 suggested. You can see what I wrote above when I replied to KevinM2. I know when I used my Son’s email address to send an email to Cox that they would get it as I CC’d a copy to my Cox email account and I received it. I just check my email account on Cox via their WebMail page using Safari and I received it. Therefore, I know that the Cox email account cox.help@cox.com received it as well. The only problem is, will they do anything about it? Considering how long you’ve waited, I not sure I would want to hold my breath. 

      Thanks for posting your reply and please update if you get a response or anything changes.

    • KevinM2's avatar
      KevinM2
      Former Moderator
      Hi Sw23185, we are closely monitoring this escalation here in Social Media. Do you receive any error message when attempting to send emails on the Thunderbird or iPhone? Have you attempted to change the password on the Cox website, http://bit.ly/2KOrZnd, and also updated the password in both the incoming and outgoing server settings? -Kevin M. Cox Support Forum Moderator
      • sw23185's avatar
        sw23185
        New Contributor III

        I have now contacted Cox No Support five times regarding this matter, most calls involving escalation to Tier 2.  I am now 9 days into a promised 1-2 day managerial callback (and reqjuested another one yesterday).  

        Yes, I've changed my password and reset it for my devices.  It makes no difference in the failure to send mail via SMTP.   The first time that you try to send a message you get this error :

        "Sending of the message failed.
        The message could not be sent because the connection to Outgoing server (SMTP) smtp.cox.net was lost in the middle of the transaction. Try again."

        If you then immediately try to send again you get this error : 

        "Sending of the message failed.
        The message could not be sent because the connection to Outgoing server (SMTP) smtp.cox.net timed out. Try again."

        For whatever reason I am now able to send messages via my iPhone, at least of yesterday afternoon, and at least from within my own home on wifi.  Will try again out in the real world later today.  But the problem continues for my laptop running Thunderbird.

  • leatherlady's avatar
    leatherlady
    New Contributor III

    Here's my current status. Since Cox made their changes, I still can't send an email to another Cox account from my Imac or my Ipad.  I can send to other Cox accounts from the Cox webmail page.  My emails to other Cox accounts appear in my sent files.  I get no error messages nor messages that mail is undeliverable.  But the emails to other Cox accounts are never received.  I can send and receive all other emails to non Cox accounts and I receive emails from Cox accounts.  It's only my sent emails to other Cox accounts that don't go through.  My gmail account works fine in all respects.  All the port settings are correct.  One strange thing is that when I log into the Cox webmail page (myemail.cox.net), it first goes to the URL idm.east.cox.net which never fully loads.  At that point I have to click on the "my tools webmail inbox" or "my account" tab and then the idm.west.cox.net  URL loads (I am in Las Vegas.)  Why does my access to this page go from east to west?  Does that have something to do with the issue? 

    • Cards47's avatar
      Cards47
      New Contributor III

      I really wish I knew. The only solid answers and feedback I’m getting on this thread, since I started it, is from people like you who are having issues. There are several posters that have a clear understanding of what the problem is, yet Cox keeps coming up empty. It kinda funny, Cox always wants us to keep trying the same fixes and workarounds while expecting a different out come each time. I believe Einstein called that the definition of insanity. 

    • Cards47's avatar
      Cards47
      New Contributor III

      I have someone at Cox looking into all this and the tech I’m working with will call me tomorrow. So I’ll let ya all know how it goes.

      • KevinM2's avatar
        KevinM2
        Former Moderator
        Hi Cards47, please let us know how this goes, I truly want to have this resolved for you as quickly as possible. -Kevin M. Cox Support Forum Moderator
  • LisaA's avatar
    LisaA
    New Contributor

    I stopped receiving emails to my inbox on Monday (5/6) around mid-morning.  I am still receiving emails in my spam folder.  Is this a Cox issue or is it unique to me?   

    • LisaH's avatar
      LisaH
      Moderator
      Hi LisaA. For further troubleshooting, please contact us via Facebook, Twitter or you can call Technical Support directly as we will need additional information to determine how to proceed. Thanks, Lisa - Cox Support Forums Moderator
    • LisaH's avatar
      LisaH
      Moderator
      Hi Major Steve. We will be glad to help. To get assistance with this issue, please send the link along with any error message you get to cox.help@cox.com and include your complete address and name on the account. Thanks, Lisa - Cox Support Forums Moderator.
  • We have had a sampling of all the problems listed below.  Some of our Apple devices can receive but not send - others haven't received an email since 4-24-19.  Yet they appear to all be on our mywebmail.  Am actively looking for high speed internet alternatives to COX.  Any suggestions?

    • Cards47's avatar
      Cards47
      New Contributor III

      My son has AT&T and has had no issues for years. Hasn’t ever had to contact tech support. I’m looking into that since Verizon fiber optic isn’t available at my address. I don’t know about Santa Barbara, but depending on your address in Orange County, the ISPs available are few.

      • peggy8080's avatar
        peggy8080
        Contributor

        I have been having email issues for over three weeks, almost a month. Almost all of my problem is I can't use the search function. Each and every time it gives some kind of proxy error or other timeout error. I've been screenshotting the errors several times a day for the past two weeks. This happens on every single browser no matter what wifi I'm in. Also, I ONLY use webmail.  I too was told I would get a phone call (no call) and they even had me change my password to something they could see in order to "fix" it. I do not feel comfortable with that, but if it is necessary to fix the problem I was OK with it.  I've never heard back from them, and have spent hours and hours on the phone, chat, email, and cox connect app. They've had my password for over two weeks

  • email-less's avatar
    email-less
    New Contributor

    I am having the same issue, mail upgrade on 4/27/19, kept asking for IMAP password, I called Cox and they reset the password for 1 of my email addresses, now I lost all my tasks, reminders and moved all my tasks into a TO DO list and DELETED, over 12000!!! Still says 'Synchronizing' and does not stop!! Called COX several times and they say their mail servers have to sysnchronize...REALLY 14 days to synchronize?? Cox is the worst service out there!!

    • TJTom's avatar
      TJTom
      New Contributor II

      I'm chiming in to report that I am experiencing the same problems listed by the other posters in this thread. I have burned up several hours of time on Cox chat and phone “support” to receive only the scripted responses to check settings over and over again, reload SW applications, upgrade to the latest SW and refer the problem to Microsoft because “it must be a Microsoft problem.”

      The latest round of problems started on 24 April 2019 (17 days ago). This coincides with the latest known Cox initiated email server changes. ALL of our devices are affected as follows:

      Windows 10 Pro desktop using Microsoft Outlook 2016
      I ended up reinstalling the complete Microsoft Office SW to be sure I was starting fresh. The Outlook auto settings process won’t connect to COX at all even though I can see that it properly discovered the COX server names and port numbers. My internet research found that many users have historically had the same issue with COX servers. The COX rep would not acknowledge that fact and said I should contact Microsoft.

      iPhone X
      Intermittently will not send or receive email even though it has a strong cellular connection AND a strong Wi-Fi connection. Sometimes we can get email to work if we turn off the Wi-Fi and therefore force the phone to use the cellular link. When working we have seen up to a 5 hour latency between sending and receiving an email from one of our cell phones to the other.

      Samsung Gallaxy S7
      Same issues as the iPhone X

      Windows XP Pro desktop using Microsoft Outlook 2003
      Yes. I know it’s old but it was working fine up until 24 April 2019. It will currently still reliably send emails (So it is still connecting to the COX server) but the incoming email completely stopped on 24 April 2019. I even deleted the account and re-entered all the COX setup information. That didn’t change anything. Outgoing still works but incoming does not work at all.

      All of my incoming and outgoing email is visible on the COX web-mail site and I am using only 2% of my allotted 2 GB of email storage. I do not want to use the COX web-mail as my primary email interface application.

      I too am extremely disappointed in the COX service. It appears that they have farmed out the email service and do not have the expertise to troubleshoot and correct the problems. At the end of one chat session the support rep started pitching an additional cost upgrade of my COX “service.” This was after he acknowledged that he had not solved my problem. I had to respond three times that I was not going to buy in to a larger bill. I felt like he just wanted points for up selling and didn’t really care that my email was not working.

      • TJTom's avatar
        TJTom
        New Contributor II

        Additional information...

        I loaded Outlook 2003 on a Windows 7 Pro laptop and successfully got email working (Send and Receive) using the Cox published parameters for their IMAP server. However, I found that my Inbox messages older than 3/24/2019 are no longer shown. I logged into the the Cox WebMail and the WebMail inbox also is now missing the messages prior than 3/24/2019.

        this is a new and distinct problem, Therefore, I will start a new thread about the missing emails on this forum.