Times out when setting up email settings

[SpacePsych]

Mail Sending: phpMail functions
Mail Fetching: Gmail
Apache ver. 2.2.19 (Unix)
PHP version 5.2.*
MySQL ver. 5.1

I use a free host 000webhost.com, unfortunately they do not allow SSL which I think it causing my issues.
I cannot get my system to fetch emails from gmail. The page just seems to time out after inputting all the pop settings. I've tried pop, IMAP, different ports, a non-SSL port, all still times out.

Any help, any suggestions for a non-SSL pop email? Anyone work with this host before.

Thank you!

[SpacePsych]

On Chrome, it outputs this error:
"Error 324 (net::ERR_EMPTY_RESPONSE): The server closed the connection without sending any data."

I'm lost of how to get this to work...

[ntozier]

Do you have command line access to the server that OST resides on?

Have you tried telnetting to your email host or running a traceroute and see what happens. If your server cannot get there then chances are there is a fire wall blocking you, a routing issue, or your servers IP has been blacklisted.

[SpacePsych]

From the host:

I am sorry, we do not support SSL here, but you can always upgrade your account at http://www.000webhost.com/upgrade to have this feature enabled.

Hello,

Unfortunately, ports can only be opened for upgraded accounts. You can upgrade your account at http://www.000webhost.com/upgrade

Unfortunately they are no help.

Do you have command line access to the server that OST resides on?

Have you tried telnetting to your email host or running a traceroute and see what happens. If your server cannot get there then chances are there is a fire wall blocking you, a routing issue, or your servers IP has been blacklisted.

I do not believe I have access to the command line. I would not know how to do that unfortunately. In the control panel, I can do ping and trace route, but it seems to time out when I attempt this.

I probably just need to look into getting another host which I can unblock it. I just can't justify paying this host just for that feature.

If anyone has other ideas, let me know! thank you.