Setting up your personal HomeBase email account
As a user of Homebase you have been given a single "account". Tied to this account is an email address (or perhaps more than one, especially if you are related to several of the Homebase organisations).
All incoming emails are stored in the inbox of your personal account.
Webmail setup
Webmail is probably the simplest way to reach your emails. Somewhat like HoTMaiL but without advertisements and with fewer spam mails.
The webmail application "IMP" also gives access to change password for your Homebase account.
The website https://mail.homebase.dk/ provides several webmail applications, each with different strengths and weaknesses. It also lists alternative websites also offering webmail access to Homebase accounts.
Recommended setup of local email program
If you have a computer of your own, it is recommended to use a "real" email application instead webmail. It works faster and is more stable. It is also puts less burden on the server.
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Download Mozilla Thunderbird.
(!) Other email programs work too, but Mozilla Thunderbird is considered most reliable, while still both userfriendly and free.
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Create an "imap" account.
(!) The alternative, pop3 (suggest by default in most applications), is less flexible - e.g. does not work well concurrently with webmail access to your emails.
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Use your provided username, and "mail.homebase.dk" as both incoming and outgoing server.
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Enable encryption for incoming mail (either imap or pop3):
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Enable "SSL" connection.
/!\ Avoid "TLS" (also called "secure ''passwords''") - it does not work together with SSL
- Enable encryption for outgoing mail (smtp):
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Enable "SSL" connection.
/!\ Avoid "TLS" (also called "secure ''passwords''") - it does not work together with SSL
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Change port number from the standard 25 to 465
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Enable authentication, using same username and password as for your incoming mail.
When creating your account, you are usually guided by a "wizard". The wizard asks for the account type (imap or pop3), username and server names, but typically do not care about security. So most probably you will have to finish the wizard and afterwards go back into the detailed configuration setup and adjust to enable encryption.
Disk quota
Your account has limited disk space. You will automatically receive warnings if you reach your "quota" limit.
/!\ If you ignore quota warnings, then your account will be locked, causing emails sent to you to be rejected!
Some imap email programs can be configured to show your current quota status:
- Install the Display Quota plugin.
- Choose "Layout" in the top right corner
- Select "Account information" and choose "Add"
- Select "Save"
For info on freeing space to get below the quota limit, see ItDiskQuota.
Special quirks with Apple Mail
You have to take some precautions when using Apple Mail as your mail reader.
If you chose pop3 as mail protocol (or if you didn't choose at all - pop3 is suggested by default), then the default settings is to leave a copy of all emails on the server, also deleted ones.
To avoid filling up the allowed disk space on your account (your "quota") you will need to change that behaviour:
- Open Mail
- Go to Preferences > Accounts > Advanced
- Check √ 'remove copy from server after retrieving a message'
External links
Help texts at riseup.net (whenever "mail.riseup.net" is mentioned, use "mail.homebase.dk" instead):
Avoiding "leave on server" with pop3 for various email programs:
