Can't see buddy

Hi

if you still on 10.5

Try logging on to AIM on port 443 rather than port 5190.

Go to IChat in the menu bar > Preferences > Accounts.
Log out of AIM and then use the Server Settings tab
Set the port to 443.
Log back in again.

try

Go to sys prefs/security/firewall and check the 3rd one down and then click on the + and add iChat.

Restart iChat.

Interesting one.

At iChat 4 in Leopard (10.5.x) or higher a Buddy (Or you ) can set them selves to Invisible.

Sending your details to your Buddy should eliminate this if he has his Own regular Buddy List Open as he would still s"see" himself as Off Line.

Next is you may have added him as An AIM Name when he is @mac. com or @me.com as you have to choose when adding a Buddy in iChat 4

Now as above as he can "See" himself in your Buddy List this does not seem to apply.

Nor would if you had Blocked him in iChat > Preferences > Accounts > Block Specific People > Block list or the two Allow Buddy List Only or Allow Specific People as these setting are passed to the AIM servers and those Buddies are Flagged so that they work when you log in somewhere else (as passing your details over has done).

Now iChat does login to the aIM servers on port 5190 using the TCP Protocol by default.
iChat also uses this port on the UDP Protocol, mainly for File Sharing and Group chats but also for Some Buddy List feedback.
Changing the port to get around some routing devices that don't like using the port Twice will only work if port 5190 is Open on the UDP Protocol if its is open and the PRotocol has to be Specified in any Routing device.

Defcom is right that the Mac Firewall is the logical place to Start making sure iChat is allowed through any and all firewall settings.

It is in System Preferences > Security > Firewall
Allow All and Allow Specific apps with iChat added to the list are the ones that work. (iChat is NOT an Essential App).
(In the Advanced Button, Stealth should not be On as it interferes with A/V chats)

In the Airport Extreme (Accessed with Airport Utility in Applications/Utilities) the Internet pane has a NAT Tab.
In here is Port Mapping Protocol.
This should be ON/Enabled.

I would ask if your Modem routes ?
If so is the Extreme set to Bridge (Off) Mode in the Internet Pane so that the Extreme is just a Wireless access Point to the LAN created by the Modem ?



9:40 PM Friday; January 29, 2010

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

Ahh, the old "I made the window smaller once and forgot".

There are variations on this.

You can drag the window to the bottom of the Screen.
As long as you have the header visible, some of it will "go Off Screen"
However when you Restart the computer and launch iChat it remembers where the Header was and displays to the bottom of the Screen, shortening the Buddy list as it does so.

If you Hide the Dock and place windows at the bottom to look like tabs then it can be difficult to launch the app involved as the Dock will display before you get a hold on the Window top/tab



7:57 PM Saturday; January 30, 2010

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"