Who is blocking my smtp connection

From: * Tong * (sun_tong_at_users.sourceforge.net)
Date: 10/24/05 

Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2005 19:05:14 -0400

Hi,

I get "connection time out" error to all the major email sites' smtp port.
E.g.,

telnet mx4.mail.yahoo.com smtp
telnet mx2.mail.yahoo.com smtp

or hotmail/gmail.

whereas normal telnet (to normal telent sites) can go through.

I'm suspecting that my ISP is blocking all its clients' smtp connection.
How can I prove that?

I want to find it out myself before calling them up, 'cause I suspect that
my ISP's helpdesk knows what an smtp port is.

thanks 

-- 
Tong (remove underscore(s) to reply)
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