Can't Send Files To Other iChat 4.0 User!

Question

Level 2

290 points

Can't Send Files To Other iChat 4.0 User!

Hi,

I can't send files to another iChat 4.0. I drag a JPG image into the text chat window, which should start a file transfer. But if I look at the actual File Transfers window it says Preparing... And it never stops Preparing... It just gets stuck on it, and never actually starts sending the file to my buddy.

Does anyone know why this is? We're both using Leopard, iChat 4.0 and Google Talk accounts.

17" iMac 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Jan 1, 2008 5:36 AM

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Answer 1

drdocument

Level 4

3,019 points

Jan 1, 2008 5:50 AM in response to Reuben Feffer

Is there a size limitation somewhere (Google Talk?) that might be interfering?

Are you dragging the JPG image from iPhoto or from the Finder?

Is the JPG image from within your own user account?

No permissions issues, right?

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Answer 2

Reuben Feffer Author

Level 2

290 points

Jan 1, 2008 5:54 AM in response to drdocument

Hi,

I don't think google talk has a size limitation, 'cos I've tested this with another Google Talk user in the same house. And EVERYTHING in iChat worked just fine that way. The problem I'm having is with getting iChat to be fully functional with a friend half way around the World, but using the same kit as me (Leopard, iChat 4.0, Google Talk account).

I'm dragging the image straight from the Desktop.

The image is in my own user account, sure. No permissions issues this time 🙂

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Answer 3

Jan 1, 2008 11:19 AM in response to Reuben Feffer

Have you tried dropping it on his name in the Buddy List ?

Also have you tried it with the AIM Buddy list ?

Click on his name in the Buddy List and then do a Get Info (Apple Key (Cmd ) and I together) and see if he has File Sharing capabilities.

7:19 PM Tuesday; January 1, 2008

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Answer 4

Reuben Feffer Author

Level 2

290 points

Jan 1, 2008 12:03 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Yep, we both have the full set of iChat capabilities.

Dragging an image into a text entry box still doesn't work over the Internet but works just fine at home on the local WiFi network.

Also, dragging the image straight onto the Buddy's name works fine over the local network, but not over the Internet to a person in another Country/Town.

Is that a bug with Leopard, or do you have to fine tune the Internet/Firewall settings just like you would if you were on a PC?

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Answer 5

Jan 1, 2008 12:14 PM in response to Reuben Feffer

Hi Reuben

The Firewall does and doesn't need fine tuning.

In 10.5 it was not implemented properly and the 10.5.1 update was supposed to care of that.

It allowed everything in no matter what setting you chose.

It is best then that if you set Allow Specifics before the update that you clear the list and set it back to Allow All before going back and Resetting the Allow Specifics and adding apps back.

It may pay to check ports in a modem or router.

GoogleTalk logs in on port 5223 and uses an SSL login to do so.

Jabber also uses port 5220 for most other things.
These are both TCP

8:14 PM Tuesday; January 1, 2008

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Answer 6

Reuben Feffer Author

Level 2

290 points

Jan 1, 2008 2:33 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Thanks,

I've got my Leopard Firewall set to "allow all incoming connections".

Is it really necessary to manually configure my WiFi Router in order to get iChat to work properly? Everything else to do with the Internet works fine, just not these iChat file transfers.

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Answer 7

Jan 1, 2008 3:12 PM in response to Reuben Feffer

Depend son the router.

Most have ports below 1024 open all the time which allows Mail and Web browsing no matter how you string devices together.

iChat uses port above this and they have to be allowed or opened.

An Airport Base Station is about the only real exception.

11:12 PM Tuesday; January 1, 2008

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Answer 8

Reuben Feffer Author

Level 2

290 points

Jan 1, 2008 3:19 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Ok, thanks. So, even if the iChat Connection Doctor has green ticks for EVERYTHING, I still need to manually set the ports on my WiFi Router?

The router I have is a Netgear DG834PN. If I check its Firewall Rules, "Open IM Ports (IM ports are open by default) is selected. Is this acceptable for iChat or do I still need to manually set the ports?

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Answer 9

Jan 2, 2008 11:11 AM in response to Reuben Feffer

By Default the Netgear will have UPnP already enabled so no this one does not need set up on that front.

What it does have is some Protection in the WAN page of it's set up.
This will be called DOS or SPI depending on the model.
The Checkbox needs a tick in it.

If your device is a Modem and my DG834 is then the other item of "Respond to Internet Pings" also needs the box to be checked.

7:11 PM Wednesday; January 2, 2008

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Answer 10

Reuben Feffer Author

Level 2

290 points

Jan 2, 2008 1:58 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Thanks for your detailed reply

On the WAN Setup page of my DG834PN RangeMax™ ADSL Modem Wireless Router, it lists the following options:

Connect Automatically, as Required
Disable Port Scan and DOS Protection
Default DMZ Server ...
Respond to Ping on Internet WAN Port
MTU Size (in bytes)
Disable SIP ALG

Are you saying I should disable the Port Scan and DOS Protection? Netgear themselves suggest against doing that:

Disable Port Scan and DOS Protection - The Firewall protects your LAN against Port Scans and Denial of Service (DOS) attacks. This should be disabled only in special circumstances.

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Answer 11

Jan 2, 2008 2:09 PM in response to Reuben Feffer

iChat is a Special Circumstance.

The Setting works on a threshold basis.
If some data or requests come at your LAN in a +Too Much Too Quickly+ sort of way then the protection kicks in.

iChat can exceed this threshold.
In Fact Video streaming at Internet/LAN Speeds in the (Leopard) Quicktime setting if you Internet Connection is fast enough will also do it.

The Disable SIP ALG is probably for the best.

The DMZ should not be enabled which is what I think you are telling me.

10:09 PM Wednesday; January 2, 2008

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Answer 12

Reuben Feffer Author

Level 2

290 points

Jan 10, 2008 4:42 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

I disabled the SIP ALG at my end, but the problem remains. I can't send files to this other iChat 4.0 user! This is really frustrating.

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Answer 13

Jan 10, 2008 12:52 PM in response to Reuben Feffer

I know this may seem weird.

Shut down the computer (with the Airport card shut down as well if Wireless)
Disconnect any ethernet lead from the computer or modem (theave the modem connected to the Internet)
Restart the computer
Restart iChat

Plug-in or turn on Airport card.
Log in to AIM

8:52 PM Thursday; January 10, 2008

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Answer 14

Reuben Feffer Author

Level 2

290 points

Jan 13, 2008 3:27 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Nope. That didn't work. I regularly turn off my iMac and restart the WiFi router.

If I look at my File Transfers list when trying to send a file, it says "Preparing..." with diagonal lines moving through the bar. But it never gets any further than that.

Like I said before, iChat works just fine within our house, on the local network. But as soon as I try to send a file to someone elsewhere, in another Country, the file transfers don't work.

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Answer 15

Defcom-UK

Level 6

15,494 points

Jan 13, 2008 3:37 AM in response to Reuben Feffer

Hi

Whats the firmware version of the netgear.

I'm using 1.01.06 http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/DG834N.asp

Tony

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