Thunderbird won't send emails

[MibunoOokami]

I'm currently travelling abroad can receive emails in TB but for some reason it refuses to send them. It basically hangs there saying connecting to smtp doesn't ask for my password like it normally does and eventually says failed to send, check settings are correct.

I've checked the settings I can't see anything wrong with them, I've been using TB for years now even overseas and never encountered this problem before. FWIW I'm using wired connection not wi-fi.

If anyone has a solution that would be great.

[PartisanEntity]

Have you checked the advice on this page?
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Cannot_send_mail

[MibunoOokami]

I have now. So basically it could be the ISP's firewall and no way round it.

[PartisanEntity]

That's one possibility. If you have the option, you could try tunneling through a VPN.

[MibunoOokami]

I'll look into that, I haven't the faintest idea how to go about that

[PartisanEntity]

I am not familiar with any free VPN services, but I personally use two methods.

One is a private vpn setup using openvpn on the home router.

The other is to use a service like Witopia for example. (This one is a paid service, so of course it may not be worth it for you if this problem you are now facing with Thunderbird rarely happens).

[MibunoOokami]

I've not been successful with the VPN thing, but have come to learn that gmail can be used, so I'll set up a gmail account and give that a go.
Thanks for the advice.

Edit: That is, gmail can be sent and received through TB on the network I'm currently using, whilst pretty much every other email provider has been blocked.