updated: 20/12/2014
further investigation has revealed that Verizon blocks inquiries from unknown ip addresses. This is the problem, not the firmwares fault.
problem using both secure and non secure "open" network.
Verizon is(POP3) pushing us into Secured connection using SSL, but the old ports still work. I am not sure which port settings were giving me the message "unable to connect to server" though I bet it was non SSL. will have to get back to you on that.
security off ports 110,25 incoming, outgoing
security on SSL 995,465
thanks for checking back..