putty at http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html is a nice telnet alternative for vista, and can be used for checking pop servers, but not always. It is important to try port 23, or switch putty to telnet and it will use port 23 for a true telnet style pop server test.

I am using Pegasus v 4.52.Vista Home version.

After a couple of years pretty well trouble free I am now having a problem sending mail.It is intermittent but from happening about once a day it is now happening almost always when I try to send.

When I move to the Queue window and press the send key I get the usual  foot of the screen message:

          SMTP Connecting to smtp.talktalk.net

Followed by :

      Pegasus error Screen message:

                 "network error occurred during connection to the host"

                "TRACE:    "15: Peer connect failure (the host has refused the connection)."

Also the "stop Pegasus current internet sessions " 
      Button at foot of screen also turns RED.

Receiving messages is OK
I am not aware of having made any changes  --but always a possibility!
Can  anyone help me with this .Thanks

There are several thread on this forum on the topic that indicate causes including the port being blocked, possibly by a

firewall/AV product (Comodo did this to me years ago after an update

installed a new "feature"), a change by TalkTalk in port or authentication, a configuration issue in the SMTP host configuration in Pegasus

Mail.

matches the current TalkTalk SMTP connection requirements (server, port,

authentication).  If those look correct then try making a telnet

connection.  To do this use Start | Run or open a

command window and enter "telnet smtp.talktalk.net 25" (or whatever port

TalkTalk uses for SMTP).  If you can

make the connection then something is blocking Pegasus or there is a configuration issue in Pegasus. 

If not then there is a problem accessing smtp.talktalk.net. 

Thanks Brian.

Unfortunately telnet is not a recognisable procedure !

I'll get back to my ISP and check out the protocol.

Veblen

[quote user="veblen"]

Unfortunately telnet is not a recognisable procedure ![/quote]

The telnet client isn't installed in Vista Home Premium by default.  If you would like to install it I found these instruction at http://help.wugnet.com/vista/Telnet-comand-Vista-ftopict106322.html

Click the Start button , click Control Panel, click Programs and Features,

and then click Turn Windows features on or off. If you are prompted for

an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

In the Windows Features dialog box, select the Telnet Client check box.

Click OK. The installation might take several minutes.

Email now working Ok

Thanks to all who offerred me help.Much appreciated.

Veblen