Connecting to AOL

Question

Level 4

1,836 points

Connecting to AOL

OK, first let me say I'm not that knowledgeable about internet access or the ports involved, most of the time this is automatic in programs.

I tried to connect to AOL via AOL Software OSX version. It won't connect, no matter what I've tried on setup, nothing. This is a DSL line set up long before I got here and I have Bring Your Own ISP service with AOL (I can connect at home just fine).

I called AOL they said I have to configure the router to open port 5190.

Now, this is at work, there is no network Administrator, whoever set it up the first time is long gone and forgotten and they are not going to call someone in just to set up a port for me. I've been getting by using Firebird for email and Safari to go in and use the message boards, but I'm sick of it, I want AOL software.

What I find odd is that AOL Communicator has no trouble connecting.

So, with the idea that there is no one but me and my G4 Quicksilver to do this how do I open port 5190 to connect to AOL?

Quicksilver dual 1.5 gig, Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Posted on Apr 17, 2006 5:52 PM

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Answer 1

Tim Haigh

Level 7

24,198 points

Apr 17, 2006 6:43 PM in response to Kevin Horn

what is the make and model of your router/modem?

btw AOL is known as Always Off Line by network admins. I really don't understand why people use proprietary software for internet connections.

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Answer 2

Kevin Horn Author

Level 4

1,836 points

Apr 17, 2006 8:21 PM in response to Tim Haigh

I have no idea what router it is or even where it is in the building.

And it's not my connection, DSL at work, cable modem at home. Started using AOL way back in the day when the only things available were AOL and Compuserve, isp's didn't exist.

I'd have given it up long ago except my wife likes it and is easily confused by new technology, and by that I mean Thunderbird as an email client.

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Answer 3

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Apr 17, 2006 9:58 PM in response to Kevin Horn

To use AOL as your ISP, you need the network address of the router as well as the admin login/password in order to turn on this port.

Don't have it/can't get it?
You could possibly use AOL thru your office network.

You can add a broadband connection or change your connection method to broadband, quickly and easily.

To add a cable, DSL, or other TCP/IP connection using AOL 9.0 or AOL 9.0 SE/LE:
1. On the Sign On screen, click the Sign On Options button.
2. Click the Add Location button.
3. In the Location Name box, type the name of your ISP, then click the Next button. (Type whatever you want. This is so you can identify this specific connection)
4. In the Select a device box, choose the (Manually add a connection device) option by clicking it, then click the Next button.
5. In the Select a device box, choose the Broadband (High-Speed Cable, DSL or Other ISP) option by clicking it, then click the Next button. If you are connecting via a dial-up ISP, select Other Dial-up ISP or LAN.
6. Under Connection Options, click the Automatically reconnect me and ignore interruptions when using this location box to place a check mark in it, then click the Next button.
7. Click the Next button.
8. Click the Sign On to AOL Now button.

To add a dial-up connection using AOL 9.0 Security Edition:
1. On the Sign On screen, click the Sign On button.
2. The AOL software will automatically detect the broadband connection and connect you.

To add a dial-up connection using AOL 6.0, AOL 7.0 or AOL 8.0:
1. On the Sign On screen, click the Setup button.
2. On the Edit America Online Setup window, click the Expert Setup button.
3. Click the Devices (modems, etc.) tab.
4. Select TCP/IP: LAN or ISP (Internet Service Provider), then click the Set Default button.
5. Click the Close button.

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Answer 4

Kevin Horn Author

Level 4

1,836 points

Apr 17, 2006 10:36 PM in response to Chris CA

Chris:

I appreciate your efforts, but I don't want AOL as my isp, I'm connected to the internet via broadband dsl. I merely want to use the AOL software which requires port 5190, which I don't seem to have.

I can read AOL mail with Thunderbird or AOL Communicator, and I can get on the message boards and use most other services with any browser. What I can't do is sign on to my account with AOL's own software, which is what I want to use. Believe it or not AOL's software is the best email client around, I'd use it over Apple's Mail for my other accounts if I could (it's actually more Mac-like than Mac's mail client) and AOL software navigates around AOL far better than a web browser.

And AOL 9 is Windows, AOL 5 was the last OSX incarnation, after which they just started calling it AOL for OSX 10.2.8 or whatever the most recent OSX is. And I've already tried every possible setup in Location I could think of, none work. In fact, I have a Windows box right next to my Mac and it can connect to AOL just fine over the dsl connection. Apparently it's just Macs that need port 5190.

They just came up with a beta called AOL Connect so I downloaded that and tried it but it cannot even find my broadband connection, it defaults to a dialup modem which I have, came with the G4, but have never used and is not plugged into anything. And the software says it searches for every kind of connection possible, even Bluetooth, but it can't find the internet connection I use every day.

So AOL software needs port 5190 to function. I just need to know how to open that port without a network administrator and not even knowing where the router is.

Nor is it my computer, there's another Mac in the office and that can't connect to AOL either even though all the Windows machines can.

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Answer 5

Brian C.

Level 2

299 points

Apr 17, 2006 10:59 PM in response to Kevin Horn

Keven: If you want to set port 5190 to open, try this:
Go to System Preferences/Sharing/Firewall.
Click on New. Click on the drop down menu (it might say CVS).
Go to other. type in 5190 in the TCP and UDP slot and name it AOL. Click on ok.

Brian

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Answer 6

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Apr 17, 2006 11:13 PM in response to Kevin Horn

I don't want AOL as my isp, I'm connected to the internet via broadband dsl. I merely want to use the AOL software
Which is exactly what the description above accomplishes.
You use a connection other than AOL. In your case, it is your office LAN.
You simply use the AOL software, which communicates over your existing connection.

But yes, you are correct in that it needs to have port 5190 open.
It should be blocked because this way of connecting to AOL with a LAN connection is very unsecure and you are opening big holes for hackers.

Apparently it's just Macs that need port 5190.
No, the AOL software needs the port on any machine.
The Windows firewall does not block that port by default.

Mac OS X blocks everything that is not needed. You have to specifically tell it to open ports beyond "normal".
The average user will have to really try to make it unsecure.
It just works. 🙂

Go to System prefs -> Sharing.
Select Firewall.
There are a few already set up and configured.
Click New.
Select Other and put in TCP Port Number 5190 and AOL in the description.
Make sure you check it to enable it.

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Answer 7

Kevin Horn Author

Level 4

1,836 points

Apr 18, 2006 10:49 PM in response to Chris CA

I added in the port number, fairly easy. Unfortunately it didn't solve anything, AOL will still not sign on. I even removed AOL, downloaded a fresh one and reinstalled then rebooted. Still didn't work.

And Chris I disagree, I've used AOL for years. Just counting OSX I've used this very same machine at two different companies and merely plugged in the ethernet cable and signed on. Did the same thing at two homes with cable modems, never a problem before now.

Thanks for the help but I hope you've got another idea.

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Answer 8

terryfff

Level 1

0 points

Jun 6, 2006 12:32 PM in response to Kevin Horn

i have a diffrent problem,
i can connect to aol and i hear the welcome, but i cant browse with the aol browser, i keep getting timed out operation,

i tested the same configuration on windows xp and its working

can any1 help me?

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Answer 9

Kevin Horn Author

Level 4

1,836 points

Jun 6, 2006 12:34 PM in response to terryfff

Look at the date on mine, no one's been able to answer me since April.

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Answer 10

Jun 7, 2006 5:20 AM in response to Kevin Horn

Hi Kevin.
1) You say you can connect to AOL using their software at home with this Mac?
2) You try from work and cannot connect using their software.
3) It's been determined that AOL needs port 5190 open.
4) You say that there's a firewall, but no one at the jobsite knows how to administer it? (not too bright, eh?)

Anyway...during all your trials have you ever turned off the Mac firewall altogether to test your AOL?

I will reserve my opinions of AOL software and their email client, other than it sounds like a waste of $15/mo for even the bring-your-own-ISP level of "service".

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Answer 11

Kevin Horn Author

Level 4

1,836 points

Jun 7, 2006 7:27 AM in response to Rick Van Vliet

Hi Kevin.
1) You say you can connect to AOL using their
software at home with this Mac?

Yeah I have identical Macs at home and at the office and the home mac has no problems. The work Mac also connected just fine before I moved into this building. And it was not working through Jaguar, Panther and Tiger, so it is not a Tiger issue.

2) You try from work and cannot connect using their
software.

Right. I even installed new software called AOL Connect which is supposed to force an AOL connection and it can't even see my internet connection, it keeps wanting to connect with the built in modem which is not plugged in to anything.

3) It's been determined that AOL needs port 5190
open.

That's what an AOL tech told me. However, I have a Windows box sitting right next to it on the same network that connects just fine and someone said Windows needs 5190 too.

4) You say that there's a firewall, but no one at the
jobsite knows how to administer it? (not too bright,
eh?)

I'm just assuming there's a firewall in the router because there always is. It's a small place without too many needs so they just had someone set up the network and internet connection and haven't needed anything else since then.

Anyway...during all your trials have you ever turned
off the Mac firewall altogether to test your
AOL?

No, but it shouldn't matter, firewall on at home and was on before moving into this building and it never interfered with anything.

I will reserve my opinions of AOL software and their
email client, other than it sounds like a waste of
$15/mo for even the bring-your-own-ISP level of
"service".

Only costs me $10 because it's part of my Time/Warner Roadrunner package deal. But when we first signed up AOL was the Cat's Meow, the best thing around. Only other email/isp service at that time was Compuserve and I had just gotten my state-of-the-art 2400 baud modem.

I would cancel it though if my wife didn't like it. I tried to get her using Thunderbird but it really upset her. Despite genius level IQ and our having a Mac at home for 15 years she is still confused and intimidated by computers. It's just easier to spend the $10 a month than try to educate her about alternatives.

Don't even need to connect at work any more because I switched the email group I'm on to a Google mail account, and Gmail really rocks. For work I have .mac and Mac Mail, which is also great.

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Answer 12

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Jun 7, 2006 9:29 AM in response to terryfff

Hi terryfff! And Welcome To Discussions!

As your problem is different than than Kevin's, please start a new Topic of your own, as it will get more attention.

On this page Getting Online & Networking, click on Post New Topic.

Type a title for the thread in the Subject field.
And insert your post in the Message field.

Post as much information, relating to your system, configuration, and the situation, as possible.
Such as how you connect; internal or external modem, DSL, Broadband, router, etc,

I will watch for your post.

Good Luck!

ali b

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Answer 13

Jun 7, 2006 10:23 AM in response to Kevin Horn

OK. Thanks for your completeness.
1) Then this is not the same machine ("with this Mac"), as I asked. Identical is not the same 😉
You then say you were connecting fine before you moved into the new bldg. It seems specific to the location.
Then you finish up by saying that you don't even need to use it at work anymore, since you're using some other email.
So now, I'm confused as to why we're continuing this discussion, except that you responded to a newcomer that you haven't gotten an answer since April.

And as long as your wife is fine with AOL at home ...(excellent price, by the way...I wouldn't drop it, either 🙂...
then the rest of this discussion is moot.
You don't need it at work, and it works where you need it-at home for your wife.

Wish we had an answer, but despite the fact that those evil PC's can get AOL software to run in the office, it sounds like your issue is resolved.

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Answer 14

sheuerma

Level 1

0 points

Aug 20, 2006 11:17 AM in response to Kevin Horn

I had the same problem. Did chat with AOL help and found out that AOL software software is not compatible with my Netgear Wireless Router. They said it should work with D-Link or Linksys.

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