Screen sharing problem

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Level 2

180 points

Screen sharing problem

posted this on a different thread, but it was in a related question that was solved. this particular question is its own problem though. any thoughts would help.

i have one friend that i cannot screen share with.
we are both in japan, about an hour and a half away from each other by train. we are both on leopard of course, 10.5.1. he has a new macbook and i have a Powerbook G4.
i have tried to send him an invite to share my screen and to share his screen.
he has tried to send me an invite to share his screen and to share my screen. all attempts have failed.
i dont think it is a port issue because we successfully use video chatting with ichat.

could it be a setting that i need to change? i have noticed posts about the sharing panel, and i made sure that he and i have the same things checked, but screensharing still didnt work...
streaming in QT is full blast, no bandwidth limits on the ichat preferences for video....

i really want to connect with this friend cause i need to screen share with him to teach him the mac way. it is his first mac and i wanna just SHOW him how it works...

i am wondering if it is router/modem related. we video chat fine, but sometimes his video is slow then spurts ahead at an advanced pace to catch up with the audio. could that be why?

thx in advance...

PowerBook G41.5 GHz2 GB DDR SDRAM, Mac OS X (10.5.1), 40GB B/W iPod - iScroll - Chax - iSight - Inquisitor - Live Dictionary

Posted on Nov 24, 2007 5:18 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 24, 2007 11:22 AM in response to Erich Meatleg

Hi Erich,

In com.apple.ichatAgent.plist there is a reference to an iChatARD setting - so it does use the Apple Remote Desktop features of the OS and I would think some may happen on those ports.

The description you give of the Buffering kicking in as his Internet Connection varies I am sure plays a part.

Limiting his iChat Bandwidth to 500k may help there particularly if he is on FiOS

7:21 PM Saturday; November 24, 2007

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Answer 2

Erich Meatleg Author

Level 2

180 points

Dec 7, 2007 11:11 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

tried all band width settings on both computers...
we both tried 100, 200, 500, 1 and 2
still didnt work....
strange... and dissappointing

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Answer 3

Dec 8, 2007 12:46 PM in response to Erich Meatleg

Get him to try this
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307035

I know it says Video and the lowest PPC Mac for Leopard but it may help.

8:45 PM Saturday; December 8, 2007

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Answer 4

Erich Meatleg Author

Level 2

180 points

Dec 8, 2007 8:19 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

ill try that.
think the problem could be his router? i can video chat with him just fine, and when we try to video conference the process starts, so far as we can hear each other on the audio chat just for a second, but then it fails....
after that we video call each other again and the video chat is just fine...

i also have Chax on mine and i may un install that and "conference recorder" to eliminate those as variables... cant remember if i already did that or not.

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Answer 5

Dec 9, 2007 4:25 AM in response to Erich Meatleg

It does seem strange.

Further research shows iChat screen sharing is on the same port as the Video chat hence the Video chat being cut.

It also shows up in Connection Doctor at about twice what a Audio Only chat would use (which is much less than a Video Chat).

It is hard to think that it is the router.

In the States one of the ISPs (Verizon I think) is blocking this Screen Sharing "for Security reasons"

12:25 PM Sunday; December 9, 2007

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Answer 6

Erich Meatleg Author

Level 2

180 points

Dec 28, 2007 6:00 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

ok, this problem is still bothering me.

i am now at my friends house. his name is richard.

i can screen share with him through the screensharing built into the os, but i cannot screen share though bonjour or ichat. one variable that may be compromising my tests is that i am currently using my airport to access the internet through his ethernet cable (he has internet sharing turned on). not sure if this will invalidate any success i have when i go back home.

tried deleting his playlists for ichat, tried creating a new user, no dice....
i have about 24 hours before i have to go home, any suggestions before then would be much appreciated.

thanks!

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Answer 7

Dec 29, 2007 10:54 AM in response to Erich Meatleg

ok.

New Info.

Screen Sharing in iChat 4 uses two random ports for the Screen Sharing part plus a the normal 16402 for the Audio.

iChat 4 will not connect via A/V chats whilst it itself is Internet Sharing.
This will probably preclude your Buddies end from working.

His set up though seems to suggest that he does not have a router which would get around the random port issue (better with UPnP in a router).

Sorry about the delay on this one I seem not to get an Email Alert for every thread that has new posts.

6:53 PM Saturday; December 29, 2007

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Answer 8

Erich Meatleg Author

Level 2

180 points

Dec 29, 2007 12:27 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

ok, i resynced our address book cards too to make sure we had exactly the same info on each other so maybe that will help now that i am outside his lan again.
thx again...

PS - you should start an iChat podcast....

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Answer 9

Dec 29, 2007 1:05 PM in response to Erich Meatleg

You mean in addition to

http://web.mac.com/ralphjohnsuk2/iChat4/iChat_4_Blog/iChat_4Blog.html
And http://www.ralphjohnsuk.dsl.pipex.com/

And
Pic here http://flickr.com/photos/90943061@N00/?saved=1

You've been talking to EZ Jim haven't you.

He is always suggesting more work.

9:05 PM Saturday; December 29, 2007

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Answer 10

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Dec 29, 2007 2:56 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

LOL, Ralph!

I just had another great idea, but I guess it can wait for another time. 😉

Cheers,
Jim

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Answer 11

Dec 30, 2007 6:35 AM in response to EZ Jim

Tease.

You know I can't resist.

2:35 PM Sunday; December 30, 2007

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Answer 12

Erich Meatleg Author

Level 2

180 points

Jan 19, 2008 8:12 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

is it possible to use the Screensharing application from a distance? IE, not in the same place and not connected by "Back to my Mac"?
thanks...

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Answer 13

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Jan 25, 2008 7:34 AM in response to Erich Meatleg

Yes, Erich, (if I understand your question.)

The "Screensharing" being discussed here is an integral part of iChat 4 that comes with Leopard. Neither dot Mac nor "Back to my Mac" is required. This "screensharing" works between any two Leopard Macs connected via iChat. See iChat > Help on your Mac or this web-based help page to get started.

Cheers,
EZ

Jim

PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.11) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5.1) External iSight

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Answer 14

Erich Meatleg Author

Level 2

180 points

Jan 25, 2008 9:25 PM in response to EZ Jim

the "Screensharing" application that i referred to in my last question is the application built into the finder that is outiside of ichat.

i was trying to get around the problems that i was having sharing with this +one person+ so i thought i would ask about the non-ichat Screensharing app....

i have been using the ichat screensharing a lot, but it only fails with one person.

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Answer 15

Erich Meatleg Author

Level 2

180 points

Jan 25, 2008 9:28 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

so, on tiger i followed you pages advice and i was able to open ports for better iChat AVing.

can you open ports the same way in leopard though? if so, how?
i dont remember seeing that...

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