iChat connection problems
 

I searched for iChat on the boards and did not find an answer, but if there is a thread, please point me towards it.

I recently bought a MacBook and it's going pretty well. I have been having trouble with iChat, though. My internet service in my apartment is through Comcast and I have a Netgear WGR614 router. I have turned on network security.

I have tried to initiate video chats with a colleague with no success. Even if I use two computers in my apartment on the same wireless network, no luck. One can make the invitation ,but even if the person accepts, the initiator gets a message that the other person failed to respond.

I was at my colleague's place the other day an iChat works there (not Comcast and using an AirPort router). iChat also works at my in-laws place (Hawking router and Verizon DSL service).

I have a list of blocked ports from Comcast:
67
68
135
137
138
139
445
512
520
1080

Did a web search and tried opening these ports:
5060
5190
5220
5222
5298
5353
5678

Still not working (though I have to reboot the router)

Does anyone have suggestions? I figure there have to be a few people using iChat to stay in tough with loved ones on the road!

Text chat works in iChat, but video and audio chats do not.

Thanks in advance...

fuzz

Fuzz,
It sounds like you've taken most of the correct steps.
Just a few questions...
did you forward those ports as UDP or TCP?
Most of not all of them should be UDP I believe. However, if you are on the same LAN it shouldn't make a different at all. Try using bonjor messaging when you are on the same LAN, see if that helps. You can enable it from iChat's preferences.

I've had problems with iChat traversing NAT routing, but I've never had a problem when both parties are on the same lan.

Also, drop me a PM if you need someone to test with you...I can point my camera out the window and set it to auto accept chats and you can try all you like.

Doesn't the mac do uPnp? I know on my Windows box MSN messenger will,which saves a lot of hassle when it comes to opening ports...

I tried turning on upnp on my router last evening with no luck. Maybe I needed to reboot the router afterwards, though.

I chose the UDP/TCP option. Was that the wrong choice?

fuzz

Have you checked the firewall settings in os x?

iChat does uPnP, bet Netgear's implementation is really buggy. According to a post in the Apple message boards, this works:

1. Open the Netgear SmartWizard router manager in your browser

2. In the Advanced menu select 'Port Forwarding/Port Triggering'

3. Select service type by clicking on the 'Port Forwarding' button

4. In the 'Service Name' pull down menu select: AIM
The following should already be entered in the table: Service #1: Service Name: AIM, Start Port: 5190, End Port: 5190, Server IP Address: Your Server IP Address: e.g. 192.168.1.2
Click on the 'Add Custom Service' button and input the following:

5. Service #2: Service Name: ichat 1, Start Port: 5060, End Port: 5060, Server IP Address: Your Server IP Address: e.g. 192.168.1.2

6. Service #3: Service Name: ichat 2, Start Port:16384, End Port: 16403, Server IP Address: Your Server IP Address: e.g. 192.168.1.2

I cannot think of anything more unsafe than UPNP....
Seems like a pretty bad idea from a security standpoint to me.

That worked! I undid all I had done last night, then took the steps you outlined with success. Thanks so much!

fuzz