IChat AIM Can Not Communicate

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Level 1

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IChat AIM Can Not Communicate

I have read many different variations of this problem on this site but none of them have fixed my problem.

I have a IMAC 24" Core 2 Duo w/2MB, MAC OS X 10.5.1. My daughter has a Dell Laptop running Vista with AIM 6 loaded. We both have AIM screen names and we both in the same LAN using Cox Internet through my Netgear Router.

When she initiates a Video call (Dell computer) I get the invitation (IMAC) and accept it. However; the Dell register a timeout on the response. When I initiate the Video call (IMAC) and she accepts it I get an error message that asks me to send to the error Apple.

I have played with the settings in both IChat and Quicktime on the IMAC and AIM on the Dell with no luck. Can I get a straight forward answer/fix for this problem on this site?

IMAC 24" Core 2 Duo, 2 MB, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Jan 5, 2008 6:19 PM

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Answer 1

eherbold

Level 1

0 points

Jan 6, 2008 7:04 AM in response to asmithba

I am experiencing the same problem with a very similar configuration on both ends. Appreciate any help.

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Answer 2

sgtroxtc

Level 1

5 points

Jan 6, 2008 7:58 AM in response to asmithba

I recently had a breakthrough success with getting video to work. Previously it has worked only sporadically. I had success & failure at home & work, on & off VPN. All my accounts, jabber, google & aim, were intermittent. Rebooting sometimes allowed a video connection to start working.

Yesterday, I changed Preferences | Audio/Video | Bandwidth Limit from none to 500k. My contact did the same. We were immediately able to establish a video conference.

We then, one at a time, bumped Bandwidth Limit back to None & were able to successfully establish a video conference each time.

Interestingly, the day before, we were able to get 3 macs working from 2 locations, but the 4th mac would not connect. The next day, none of the macs could connect. That's when we tried changing the Bandwidth Limit.

I seem to vaguely recall that SIP negotiations generally start out with the maximum media capabilities available, then negotiate downward if necessary. I wonder if adding the bandwidth limit pulls the negotiation within 'acceptable limits'? It's been a few years since I talked about SIP, so feel free to reply with technical corrections!

Haven't had a chance to replicate this, so ymmv.

Good luck!

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Answer 3

adrugrep

Level 1

8 points

Jan 6, 2008 3:13 PM in response to asmithba

I have iMac 20" with netgear wgr614, my family have linksys and we all use cable modems from varying companies, Time-Warner, ComCast, and Charter. We have tried everything possible to change and adjust; I've opened ports; I have communicated with people from the discussion room. I tried the bandwidth change also and didn't get anywhere. I get a SIPConnect IPPORTfailed. But, explain this-- I can video with a chatter in England and my daughter can chat with him and then she and I can chat by being in a chat with him! If I could get someone-netgear, cable co., or Apple- to tell me something that would help. Quite frankly I don't know what else to do. What I can't understand is that I do not know why Apple hasn't picked up on this as the discussions are full of this and my genius bar says that they don't know what to do other than contact with the engineers!

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Answer 4

asmithba Author

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Jan 7, 2008 5:13 PM in response to adrugrep

Thanks for chiming in. I agree with you that Apple should pick up on this thread and offers some sage advice. I feel that many people would think better about switching to Apple if they see that communicating via video, "Through IChat", was easier than IM.

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Answer 5

asmithba Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 7, 2008 6:20 PM in response to eherbold

GOOD NEWS: I found this sight helpful:

http://www.mvldesign.com/videoconferencetutorial.html#fw

I was able to get my two computers to at least start the video conference. I Found my IMAC's Firewall setting set too high. Set your firewall to "Set access for specific services and applications": Go to System Preference > Security > Firewall

I still have problems with the video quality but I believe it is a setting on one or the other computer. My IMAC have few settings that can be adjusted and I have change most of them with some interesting results.

Let me know if this helps you..

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Answer 6

asmithba Author

Level 1

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Jan 20, 2008 7:20 PM in response to asmithba

I am closing this thread, although I am not completely satisfied with my results. I can bring up the video in ICHAT with IM and AIM, but the picture is choppy and the video drops every two to three minutes.

I hope some other threaded discussion can answer these questions: How can we clear up the video picture? How can I keep the session active?

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Answer 7

Defcom-UK

Level 6

15,488 points

Jan 21, 2008 6:01 AM in response to asmithba

Hi

First have you set the Quicktime streaming setting, goto sys prefs/quicktime/streaming/streaming speed, set to 1.5mbps

In ichats prefs click on video and change bandwidth limit to NONE(if comcast, verizon user use 500).

Restart iChat.

Tony

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