fsockopen error 110

[HenryCan]

I'm trying to write a little PHP program to send an announcement to a low-volume newsgroup once or twice a month to notify people about meetings of my bookclub. I googled and found a couple of articles describing the techniques. Here they are:

 

1. http://docstore.mik.ua/orelly/webprog/pcook/ch17_05.htm - this one describes the code for a news server that doesn't require a login

2. http://www.joe0.com/2010/12/11/using-php-and-nntp-to-post-new-message-to-usenet/ - this one describes the code for a news server that DOES require a login

 

I have access to my target newsgroup via both types of news servers and I've tried the code given in both the examples after substituting the appropriate values but neither one works. I can access the newsgroups perfectly well in my newsreaders so I know the settings I'm using are correct. But php's fsockopen keeps getting error 110, which is apparently a connection timeout.

 

How do I get around this? I'm guessing that I have to adjust a setting in my router or in Windows to enable the connection. I'm running Windows XP (SP3).

 

I'm not including my code because it is just what you see in the examples I've cited; I'm quite sure I haven't made any typos in providing my newsgroup name, etc. but if you absolutely must see my code anyway, just say so and I'll provide it.