M1 Monterey Email Test just spins

[drewaz]

Dear drewaz and WeatherCat troubleshooters,

I apologize but I'm really unable to imagine what is causing your problems.

so ....  I use Apple Mail to retrieve emails from Cox.  I set the mail preference in WC to mirror the setup in Apple Mail including the port and did a test and once again got this message:  "WeatherCat was unable to send a test email to xxxxxxx@cox.net. 

I assume that Apple Mail has absolutely no problem sending messages - only WeatherCat.  Could you perhaps give us screenshots of the Apple Mail settings that you are using for Cox?  It is a long shot, but just in case.

You suggested this:  "Try using exactly the same settings in something like Apple Mail and see if it gives some sort of error message that could help us figure out what is going on:  is that what you wanted me to do?

Actually, I was wondering about using iCloud with WeatherCat.  Since you had created an application specific password so that WeatherCat could use iCloud, I was wondering what would happen if you provided those settings in a test account using Apple Mail.  I'm still trying to differentiate if the problem is internal to WeatherCat or somehow network related.

these are from the WC log:
11:21:01 AM 07-Jul-2022: ***Custom Alert 'Int. temp > 85 Alert' Triggered***
11:21:01 AM 07-Jul-2022: ***Custom Alert 'Int. temp > 85 Alert'*** Sending alert email...
11:21:01 AM 07-Jul-2022: ***Email: Couldn't send Custom Alert 'Int. temp > 85 Alert' xxxxxxxx@cox.net***. Mail failure

11:33:11 AM 07-Jul-2022: Email: Test failed. Couldn't send error.

Oh well, I was hoping that perhaps there would be a more specific error message.

Please keep us updated and we'll keep trying to help!

Edouard

Here's a screen shot from Apple Mail ....  and yes, it's working as expected.

"Actually, I was wondering about using iCloud with WeatherCat.  Since you had created an application specific password so that WeatherCat could use iCloud, I was wondering what would happen if you provided those settings in a test account using Apple Mail.  I'm still trying to differentiate if the problem is internal to WeatherCat or somehow network related"  .....  I'm a little confused about how to do this.

and, as always, THANK YOU!

EDIT:  I can't seem to get the screen shot to upload but here's the info:

INCOMING MAIL SERVER
user name:  XXXXX@cox.net
password:  XXXXX
host name:  imap@cox.net
automatically manage connection settings checked
port 993

OUTGOING MAIL SERVER
account:  XXXXX@cox.net
user name:  XXXXX@cox.net
password:  XXXXX
host name:  smtp.cox.net
automatically manage connection settings NOT checked.
port:  465, use TLS/SSL checked
authentication:  password

[elagache]

Dear drewaz and WeatherCat troubleshooters,

I'm definitely running out of ideas on this one.  Did this problem start immediately after you purchased a new M1 Mac?

I'm all the way back at macOS Mojave, so Monterey is unknown to me.  However, macOS does have a built-in firewall now.  I'm wondering if somehow the default settings for Monterey are interfering with WeatherCat.  There is this Apple Support article on the Monterey Firewall feature:

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-firewall-preferences-on-mac-mh11783/mac

You might look through it to see if says anything about blocking SMTP.  It might be the case that Apple blocks this for anything besides Apple Mail to prevent your computer from being hijacked and used as an illicit spamming device.

Unfortunately I can't help you with this directly.  However, anyone else running macOS Monterey is definitely encouraged to do some research to see if they can help out.

By all means let us know.
Edouard

[xairbusdriver]

First, I'm still using Big Sur (11.6.7), I have no experience with Monterey...

1. What happens if your check/allow "Automatically manage connection settings"?
2. What happens if you disable "Use TLS/SSL"?

3. What are your choices in the TLS Certificate: drop-down menu?

Not sure why (EDIT: See note* at end of this post), but the only other difference (other than being Comcast vs Cox, of course) is the text in my "Account:" is "Comcast".
4. What are the other choices in your drop-down menu?


*NOTE: In the Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP) section, the last option in the "Account:" drop-down menu is "Edit SMTP Server List..." I assume they match what you have in those duplicate fields in that Edit form.

[drewaz]

Dear drewaz and WeatherCat troubleshooters,

I'm definitely running out of ideas on this one.  Did this problem start immediately after you purchased a new M1 Mac?

I'm all the way back at macOS Mojave, so Monterey is unknown to me.  However, macOS does have a built-in firewall now.  I'm wondering if somehow the default settings for Monterey are interfering with WeatherCat.  There is this Apple Support article on the Monterey Firewall feature:

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-firewall-preferences-on-mac-mh11783/mac

I'm actually not sure when the problem started ....  we rarely have weather here except excessive heat so I didn't really expect any notifications for my custom alerts ....  until a few weeks ago lol.

I turned off the firewall and that didn't correct the problem.  FWIW WC was in the 'allowed' apps already.

Anyway, your assistance is greatly appreciated.  It's not a major issue and I'll be able to live with it. 

Have a great weekend.

You might look through it to see if says anything about blocking SMTP.  It might be the case that Apple blocks this for anything besides Apple Mail to prevent your computer from being hijacked and used as an illicit spamming device.

Unfortunately I can't help you with this directly.  However, anyone else running macOS Monterey is definitely encouraged to do some research to see if they can help out.

By all means let us know.
Edouard

[bob2k2]

I had the exact same problem. Still do. I have two weather stations one at a second home and one at my home. We saw the 2nd home but I still host the weather station for the owners. So I don't go out there and access it remotely via TeamViewer. I use the same settings e email setup on both computers. The computer at the second home is Catalina -No problem at all using Apple settings

On my Monterey 12.6 based M! system system at my house I used the same settings and WeatherCat and recently it kept crashing -didn't realize why until I was told by support it was unsuccessfully trying to send emails, Prior to Monterey 12.6 I didn't have a crash and did not notice an email issue.

Settings that work on my second home are:
Server: smtp.me.com
User:xxx@me.com
Password: My Apple PW
Authentication: Checked
Port 587


The only difference is the operating system on the two computers:
2nd Home Catalina 10.15.7 -I only use the computer for WeatherCat - EMAIL STILL WORKS
My Home 24"M1 Monterey 12.6 - Spinning wheel for email w/ same settings as 2nd home.

Whenever I've had to reset the email for a variety of reasons it's always seems like I'm starting over from beginning trying to find the right settings. I gave up on Gmail and just used my Apple account.

I have to say the only frustrating thing about WeatherCat has been setting up the email over the years. That's just my personal experience. Otherwise, it's pretty rock-solid IMHO.

If others are using a different setting for Apple mail I'd be interested in what works for you. I've given up at home and just left it blank.

TIA

Bob

[drewaz]

I haven't been able to resolve my email issue either.  I'm hoping Ventura will be the answer but I'm not holding my breath lol.

[elagache]

Dear Bob, drewaz, and WeatherCat troubleshooters,

Unfortunately, there is sometime mysterious going on with email services in recent months.  I suspect there is a behind-the-scenes security issue that is causing changes to the way email is handled and that is what is causing the problem for WeatherCat.  I ran into some problems of my own this past year which were not easy to resolve.

I had the exact same problem. Still do.
. . . .
Settings that work on my second home are:
Server: smtp.me.com
User:xxx@me.com
Password: My Apple PW
Authentication: Checked
Port 587
. . . . .

You might have done this, but just as a precaution.  When you say "My Apple PW" do you mean your Apple ID password or an application specific password for WeatherCat. 

As noted earlier in this thread, Apple has required an application specific password for a long time.  Here is Stu's posting from 2016 advising us about it:

https://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=2356.msg22954#msg22954

He directs us to this Apple Technical Support document:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204397

You might need two distinct application specific passwords for the WeatherCat installations at the two different houses.

Let us know if that gets you unstuck.

Edouard

[drewaz]

to be honest, emailing an alert is pretty much obsolete ....  why not tweak WC to send text message alerts?  that seems to be the current standard for most programs I deal with.

[bob2k2]

Edouard, in the WC email set up you use the Apple ID User password NOT the WC password. That would be the same for either computer that I have setup - yet one works and the other spins with the same settings. On my home computer it worked for a long time and then it just stopped working and that's when my app would crash and Trixology support said it was trying to send out an email that couldn't go out. That's when I noticed the spinning wheel. The only reason I didn't see it is that I'm not sending an alert sound from my house since I'm there and I know what the weather is.

[drewaz]

I'll ask again .....  can WC be updated to send alerts as text messages?

[xairbusdriver]

I'll ask again .....  can WC be updated to send alerts as text messages?

Of course, if and when the developer has the time to make the changes. He has a list of known concerns and suggested changes and tries to address them in a timely manner. He also has a full-time job and family.

However, placing a request in the 14 pages of posts will probably be the fastest and most direct way to add your desired function. I doubt he has time to read every post in every thread every day. So there is a whole section/forum just for "requests": WeatherCat Feature Requests

Personally, I have little need for a text or email alert. I have access to my own website (which is not "programming", even grade schoolers can do it ) that WC updates every 5 minutes and the only time I'm not in front of a browser is when I sleep. Even then, the Mac mini is running 24/7/365 and will display any problems when I awake. Fortunately, I'm retired now and find 'immediacy' is applied to fewer things than in the past!

[drewaz]

I'll ask again .....  can WC be updated to send alerts as text messages?

Of course, if and when the developer has the time to make the changes. He has a list of known concerns and suggested changes and tries to address them in a timely manner. He also has a full-time job and family.

However, placing a request in the 14 pages of posts will probably be the fastest and most direct way to add your desired function. I doubt he has time to read every post in every thread every day. So there is a whole section/forum just for "requests": WeatherCat Feature Requests

Personally, I have little need for a text or email alert. I have access to my own website (which is not "programming", even grade schoolers can do it ) that WC updates every 5 minutes and the only time I'm not in front of a browser is when I sleep. Even then, the Mac mini is running 24/7/365 and will display any problems when I awake. Fortunately, I'm retired now and find 'immediacy' is applied to fewer things than in the past!

Enjoy retirement!  I did add my wish to the Features Request yesterday.  Fingers crossed!

[bob2k2]

Edouard,  the application specific password jogged my 73-year old memory I recalled that I had set one up. So I am embarrassed. I set up another one today (and wrote it down this time)  and tried using it with the same settings as my other working system at a 2nd home  (below) and all I still get is a spinning wheel with Apple mail. I've pretty much decided to forgo email and just live without it as the computer is at my home. As I said this is the only really irritating issue I've had with WeatherCat in that one would assume it is easy to trouble shoot email setup..  So, it's not really a big deal even though it has occupied a good deal of my retired life recently to my wife's irritation. If this is the worst problem I have I can live with it. I'll get back to it later I am sure.

Settings workING at my second home are:
Server: smtp.me.com
User:xxx@me.com
Password: My Apple Email PW - iTunes PW
Authentication: Checked
Port 587

[drewaz]

Edouard,  the application specific password jogged my 73-year old memory I recalled that I had set one up. So I am embarrassed. I set up another one today (and wrote it down this time)  and tried using it with the same settings as my other working system at a 2nd home  (below) and all I still get is a spinning wheel with Apple mail. I've pretty much decided to forgo email and just live without it as the computer is at my home. As I said this is the only really irritating issue I've had with WeatherCat in that one would assume it is easy to trouble shoot email setup..  So, it's not really a big deal even though it has occupied a good deal of my retired life recently to my wife's irritation. If this is the worst problem I have I can live with it. I'll get back to it later I am sure.

Settings workING at my second home are:
Server: smtp.me.com
User:xxx@me.com
Password: My Apple Email PW - iTunes PW
Authentication: Checked
Port 587

Hi ...  see my post from today about downloading Xcode ...  it solved my problem!

[bob2k2]

Mine too. Just tried it. Pretty cool. Thank you!