First message I send every time in Mac iMessages always fails.

HI,

I would try a PRAM reset.

Shut down the computer.

Restart it holding down Apple/CMD ( or ⌘)+ALT( ⌥)+P+R Keys until you have heard three Start Up Bongs.

10:01 PM Tuesday; January 29, 2013

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

I get this too - in fact I've had it forever (well, ever since imessages for mac appeared). Always the same behaviour - first message of a new session fails with a normal "try again" message (below) - Always works on the resend. Tried all the normal things - PRAM reset, clearing down the messages prefs on the mac, setting them back up again, logging out/on again etc etc.....this is the most annoying thing - I'm baffled.

G

HI riley88166,

for the Points

I have seen posts that suggests only "Two Bongs"

I have heard of people running it two or three times in a row to ensure it clears the settings it is supposed to.

8:50 PM Wednesday; January 30, 2013

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Hi d00w0p,

Have you added a Public DNS server to the System Preferences > Network > Advanced Button > DNS tab ?

8:55 PM Wednesday; January 30, 2013

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Hi riley88166,

That would tend to point me in the direction of network settings again as I suggested for d00w0p.

Does your router list any DNS servers ? (Normally there are two supplied by your ISP)

Do these appear to be "copied across" to the Mac ?

They would appear in System Preferences > Network > Advanced button > DNS tab as greyed out IP addresses.

If you have something that starts 192.168 or 172.16 (through .32) or 10.x.x.x then this will be the router itself, which in turn is mostly used for Local IDs for other computer and devices on your LAN.

It could be that one of the ISP's DNS servers is going Off line now and then.

It also seems that some ISP DNS Servers "can't find" the iMessages Servers for some reason where as Public DNS servers seem to do a better job.

Another thing maybe "micro breaks" in your wifi service if you are using WiFi.

A Web Browser only uses the Internet when it asks to go to a new page.

The odd delay now and then is hardly noticed.

The same is true of the Mail app which also only uses the internet now and then.

In the past people have reported that iChat "dropped" connections with various servers. The AIM servers seem to be more sensitive than the Jabber ones.

This may be over-simplifying it as many people hold GoogleTalk accounts and that can also be used in a Browser so there maybe a built-in delay or wait period before your are logged out.

8:56 PM Saturday; February 2, 2013

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Thanks for all the advice - I think that things are working now, I have reset the PRAM (several times) and included the google public DNS servers in my network settings. All is well...thanks folks.

Good to hear.

7:34 PM Sunday; February 3, 2013

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Spoke too soon...back to the original problem.

Hi,

Try booting in Safe Mode and when it has done that try Messages.

You will need to restart normally after the test.

8:24 PM Monday; February 4, 2013

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Hi,

Yes you should get the ISP numbers pulled through if your router lists them.

Sometimes you get the IP of the router itself as it applies it's Own DNS to Local devices.

Good to hear it seems to have sorted itself.

7:40 PM Tuesday; February 5, 2013

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously