DS2 Mini: Email Snapshots Failure

[Don Cohen]

I have had my DS2 Mini programmed for about 3 years now to send an email with a snapshot when someone presses the doorbell. This uses the DS2's built-in "Snapshot-Email" function. This was working as recently as June 25th, and has basically never been a problem.

I have recently realized that this is no longer working - if someone presses the door bell, an Intercom call is made, and works fine, but I never receive an email. I also have programming to send a similar snapshot when an Axxess Motion Sensor at the front door detects motion, and this is not working either.

I have:

• Rebooted the Controller
• Restarted the DS2
• Firmware Version is 2.33.5.42.15. I hit the Action Button to 'Update Firmware' with no change in Firmware version shown
• The email is sent via my Photography email server, and the credentials haven't changed in years. I can send email from that address outside of Control4 with no problem
• When I log into the DS2 mini itself, under Services...Email...SMTP...Advanced Settings...E-Mail Sending Diagnostics, I can enter an email address to test this system, and this is the output:
  Email created.
  Snapshot attached.
  Sending started.
  Test email FAILURE.

I can't think of what else to try, and am open to suggestions. I'm on OS 3.2.4 with an EA-3 as my Controller.

I have contacted my ISP to make sure they didn't make any changes in terms of SMTP access, but haven't heard back as yet.

Thanks.

[South Africa C4 user]

Are you using gmail?  I wonder if the new gmail security settings have had an impact - I think they went live on 1 July.  I will have a look at mine later on today to see if I have the same issue…

[Don Cohen]

Thanks for the reply. I'm not using gmail for SMTP - as I indicated, I have a small website for my photography, and I'm using their SMTP server. The webhost is A Small Orange, and I have contacted them just in case they also changed something. I am aware of the gmail and July 1st thing, as the timing is certainly suspicious. But in my case, gmail isn't being used.

 

[South Africa C4 user]

3 hours ago, Don Cohen said:

Thanks for the reply. I'm not using gmail for SMTP - as I indicated, I have a small website for my photography, and I'm using their SMTP server. The webhost is A Small Orange, and I have contacted them just in case they also changed something. I am aware of the gmail and July 1st thing, as the timing is certainly suspicious. But in my case, gmail isn't being used.

 

Missed that… sorry! And good luck!

[lippavisual]

Wouldn’t be surprised if your webhost is in fact using Google services, a lot of them do use it in the background.  That’s what I would bet on. 

[msgreenf]

I wouldn't be surprised either that they are reseller G Suite

[Don Cohen]

Interesting thought, guys. I'll have to look into that.

[Don Cohen]

The Webhost is recommending a different SMTP Server and Port, although they say so far this has nothing to do with gmail. I'm not convinced, but so far those settings aren't working either.

One can change the email server settings in the DS2's web portal, or in Composer - is there a preferred way to do this?

 

Edit:

They're recommending these:

Incoming/Outgoing mail server : xxxxx.asoxxxxx.com 

Port : 995

Encryption : SSL

SMTP Port : 465

I don't see an option to enter the 995 Port, only the SMTP Port of 465

[Don Cohen]

I'm waiting to hear back from my Webhost's Advanced Tech Support to see if the problem is on their end.

I tried to reconfigure using Gmail - one can create an "App Generated Password" within your Google account for email, and I think, but am not sure, that this still works. This is how I have the Chowmain SMTP Driver configured with my Chime Doorbell, and this is still working fine, so it would seem so.

This makes me start to wonder if the problem is on the Control4 side of things.

@Darin, C4 PM UI - are there any reports of problems with the DS2's built-in Email/Snapshot function? My previous configuration, which has worked without incident for 3 years, has stopped working, and I can't yet get it working again with either Gmail, using the App Generated Password, or with my POP3/SMTP server for my photography website. Details above.

I can probably get this going using the Chowmain SMTP Driver, but since my current DS2 password has an "@" in it, it will need to be changed since it messes things up with Chowmain's driver. Plus I'd just like to get this figured out and working as it's supposed to, if possible.

[Don Cohen]

Just to close this up:

While waiting for my webhost to get back to me, I did change my password to be compatible with the Chowmain SMTP Driver, and so got that working.

My webhost did then get back to me, and using a different Port setting than what they originally recommended, it is now up and running again. I asked if Gmail was being used, but they said no.

Interestingly, I couldn't get Gmail credentials to work on the DS2, using a new App-generated Password. This does work with the Chowmain Driver, so I'm not sure why it won't with the DS2.

But regardless, I now have 2 options to use here, and my problems did not originate with anything Control4-related. Purely my webhost.