kichat: FAQ 3 - How do I get Video and Audio Chats with PCs ?

How do I get Video and Audio Chats with PCs ? iChat FAQ 3 (Updated 3/4/2009)

Applies to iChat 2.x, iChat 3.x and iChat 4.x to any version of AIM on a PC before AIM 6.1
See bottom section on AIM 6.5 and 6.8 on XP and Vista.

This piece is designed for those trying to connect Mac to PC for Video and Audio chats. Any iChat version Panther and up.

Glossary For This FAQ

This bit is designed for clarity.

Video is the sending and /or receiving of pictures and sound.
Audio is the sending and or receiving of sound only.
One-Way is the ability to start either an Audio or Video chat from one end to a recipient who can not match your capabilities (or Vice Versa)

What is needed

At the Mac end

A Mac running OS 10.3.x and iChat AV ver 2.1 or 10.4 plus iChat 3 or Leopard and iChat 4
A DSL/Cable/Fibre (Broadband) connection of at least an up link speed of 256kbs.
An AIM , @mac.com or MobileMe (@me.com) account name.
(hosting Multiple person Mac to Mac AV chats requires higher specs and broadband uplink speed).

At the PC end

1 PC running windows XP (home or Pro). THIS A MUST
The AIM Standalone Application, currently at ver. 5.9 at this link. AIM (the Site) now call this version Classic and it cannot be Installed On Vista

Note: there is also Trillian which has a Pro version for $25 that can also Video and Audio chat. The Basic version just Texts and Audio Chats (AIM does not Audio chat)



Some need the aimrtc12.exe file from Here Mostly Earlier than XP or Pre Service Pack 2 XP versions of Windows

An AIM account/screen name (AOL or Netscape count as well)
Service Pack 2 info. This info will allow the PC user to enable AIM thorough the XP Firewall. The Windows Firewall did not exist as such before this.

Between both of you.

At least one camera (Mac end works better)
A sound input device (the camera, if it has one is ok)
Your Buddies screen/account name in each others Buddy Lists

Other tweaks

For some people, using AIM on a PC, may also have to make sure their preferences (properties) are set in the AIM Buddy list, for their camera and /or Mic. ( Tuning at Message 570)
This is an icon button lower right on the Buddy List marked "Prefs" (AIM 5.5). This leads to the Preferences. Drop down the list until you read Live Video. Click on this. In the new window that opens click the button that says Tuning Video and Audio. Follow the instructions in the wizard that opens up. Access in AIM 5.9 for this is in the My AIM menu at the top of the Buddy list and then Options

To Start

You should now be able to chat to each other.

If each of you has a camera it can be full Video , as described in the Glossary at the top.
To start from the Mac end, select (highlight) your Buddy with one click. His camera icon should be dark. Click on the icon near his name or the one at the bottom of the Buddy List. (You do not have to start a text chat).
To start from the PC end you need to start a text chat, then select the Video icon at the bottom of the chat window.

If one of you has a camera and the other has a Mic then you will be able to video chat One Way but sound will be both ways.
To start this type of chat from the Mac end you will have to go to the menu item "Buddies" and drop down to the item "Invite to One Way Video Chat"
To start this from a PC follow the directions in the paragraph above. You may need to change the tab to the incoming Video at the back of the two to see the Video. These tabs are added when the Video chat starts and the front one normally states you do not have a camera and shows a connection to buy one.

It is also possible to chat One Way if the other person does not have a Mic: replies will have to be typed in a Text chat.
No Camera and No Mic will cause iChat to End the chat with "No Data Received for 10 Secs"

Summary

PC end gets AIM 5.9 or Trillian Pro.
The PC end allows the app through the XP Firewall.
AIM 5.9 needs "Tuning" to Camera and Mic.

For any sort of sound to a PC using AIM, (Talk in PC or Audio in iChat) the Mac will need a camera. The other person can have a Mic and then live chats with sound both ways and Pictures (Video) One-Way.

NOTE: At This Time It Is NOT Possible to Audio (sound only) between Mac & PC with AIM & iChat
Trillian Basic can Audio. Trillian Pro can Video and has a bigger picture and can do Full Screen.

Another explanation of the set up can be found Here about AIM 5.5 but is transferable to AIM 5.9.
And Also here

My Web Pages particularly all of Page 12: What if your Girlfriend Lives a Long Way Away ? have more information.

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AIM 6.5 and 6.8 On Vista and XP

AIM 5.9 or earlier can not be installed on Vista.
AIM 6.5 and 6.8 use a new video codec with a description of "Real Time IM"
AIM have an FAQ page about this
Below the pics is this quote

What do I need to use Real-Time IM?

You and your buddy need to be using AIM® 6.8 or higher to use Real-Time IM. Unfortunately, Real-Time IM does not yet work with older AIM clients, iChat®, or AIM® for Mac®.

See items 5 through 13 on this page for alternatives including Web Browser based ones.



I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.


This is the 2nd version of this tip. It was submitted on Saturday; April 4, 2009, 9:52 PM by Ralph Jonhs (UK).