Messages.app: Strange Latency

Message.app is connection dependent. Maybe your network has some firewall rules or strange behaviour with iMessage data stream. Try make some adjusting on your network settings.

HI,

Since Messages beta in Lion there has been a difference in the responses of iMessages and sync messages on the Mac version compared to the iOS version.

It seems they are somewhat slower to appear on the Mac. ( I have had one as late as 24 hours - I had arrived home spoken to the wife and slept and worked again before it appeared).

A conversations started on a iPhone and then having a Mac Messages app started up will show the Conversation Syncing. It will play out a bit like a speeded up chat.

New iMessages arrive Instantly and will appear "out of order" if from the same Contact as the sync conversation.

As you say if you iPhone, iPad and Mac in close proximity the iPad and iPhone will sound almost together for new messages arriving but the Mac version will not always do so.

Bonjour should change the behaviour as it is Local Data Traffic only and does not go Off site.

It may pay to list a Public DNS server in the settings or the router/server you are using.

9:47 PM Monday; March 25, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
 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,

As a side note these are the listed ports for both FaceTime and iMessages.

It makes no distinction between the Mac versions and the iOS versions.

The document also does not tell you that the Messages app on the Mac also needs all the "iChat Ports" as well.

To get other Macs to appear in the Finder's Side Bar as Shares needs port 5353 to be open to local traffic.

In Addition to that Bonjour Chats use ports 5297 and 5298 on the UDP protocol and port 5298 on the TCP protocol.

AIM accounts login on port 443 nowadays and File Transfers are on port 5190 on the UDP Protocol.

Jabber Logins depend on whether you are doing SSL (as for most including GoogleTalk) or not.

This uses 5223 for SSL connection and 5222 for non SSL (TCP Protocol)

The A/V part uses port 5678 for the Visible Invite and then uses one from 16393-16402 for Audio Only, Video or Screen Sharing.

In addition Screen Sharing uses a random port that can only be open by using UPnP in your router (or Port Mapping Protocol in Apple Base Stations).

Other Checks.

Mac Firewall.

Check it is allowing Signed Software if ON and that Messages and IMAgent are in the list of Allowed Apps.

DNS Servers

I would tend to list some Public DNS servers in System Preferences > Network > Advanced Button > DNS tab.

Currently I am using the 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 from Google

As you can "register" Macs for iMessage and eventually receive the iMessages I don't think it is going to be your Hosts file.

You also don't seem to be describing issues related to missing Serial Numbers.

(it would only effect very few as it involves replacement Logic boards from repairs and refurbishments.)

8:02 PM Wednesday; March 27, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
 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,

With the time spaces in the OS X 10.8 updates so far I would expect it to be longer than a month 😟.

Broadly speaking I am aware from the tone of some of the posts that the Mac version does seems to be slower to sync and will appear to be generally behind the iOS devices when sending iMessages.

During version 7 (OS X 10.8 and 10.8.1) it did seem that the "registration" from Macs had difficulty in finding the iMessages server and that was why I suggested the DNS server "Fix"

The Hosts file is related to DNS but if Apple or Versign are listed it acts as a Complete block to these domains. (therefore I don't think this is going to be it).

There is a settings in Messages Menu > Preferences > Video Section > Bandwidth Limit.

If set to NONE then Messages will try to login to AIM and Jabber based accounts as fast as the portion of the bandwidth that computer is getting.

This would normally be used for Audio Only and Video chats although in theory it could effect the overall speed of Messages.

When the app is started up it checks the speed it can see.

This is then written to the com.apple.iChat.plist (Yes Messages still uses the iChat ones).

Now if you had a whole bunch on Macs starting up at the same time and also starting their Messages apps you could get distorted figures as it is spot check and written once per session.

I tend to use this setting at the 500kbps setting as this also smooths out variances in the ISP's service (it is fast enough for 4 way Video chats if needed)

It may pay to look at the amount of local data traffic.

8:39 PM Wednesday; March 27, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
 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,

First Mac starts at 7:30am, the second at 8:15am and the third starts at 9am. There is enough time for the network/server.

I was thinking of several people starting at around 9.00 and then all turning their computers on "at the same time".

I tend to come home from work and turn on three computers after I have eaten.

Later my son will start up his X-Box 360

If I happen to be starting up Messages when that happens I can get distorted figures.

However three Macs spread out like you say should not be an issue.

The issue might be related to the My Card in the Contacts App.

iChat used to have issues if the Address Book did not identify the My Card properly.

This would also be an issue for the Bonjour Buddy list as it calls on the Contacts > My Card as the Buddy name for your computer (the same on the Others to be your "Buddies").

Now I have issues with iCloud, Mail, FaceTime, Language Settings, App Store, Shared Devices, Messages, …

This could be a Font Issue.

Use Font Book to check.

Certain Fonts are needed by the app to function.

In Tiger iChat would not start if Helvetica and Lucida Grande were missing or turned Off (or corrupt).

Helvetica is needed to display the title of the Window.

Lucida Grand is the Font for the Group titles in a Buddy list.

I am not fully up to date with which Fonts Mountain Lion may be using for these things - Menu Bar and titles of windows look as they have always done and the Buddy list seems to be the same with regard to Group Titles.

There have been conflicts in the past with Helvetica Fractions being installed.

9:38 PM Wednesday; March 27, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
 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,

Nope.

Bonjour Buddies are added automatically.

However it does have to have their Contacts/Address Book > My Card filled in with their Details.

Your see your "Buddies" as their My Card has their Name.

In some large companies where Updates are via generic roll outs there may not be a personal Address Book/Contacts and the My card will have generic info.

As this is the same for all computers the Buddy list for Bonjour cannot display them.

Lets say you, me and fransco are the three computer at your work.

In your Contacts App you call yourself Sun Trop, I call myself Ralph Johns and we will say Fracsco From-Roma is the other name.

In your buddy list you will see Ralph Johns and Fransco From-Roma as your Buddies.

I see you and Fransco and he see you and me.

On two of my computers I am "Ralph Johns" in the Address Book or Contacts list.

On my G4 I am "Ralph G4".

As the Computer Name in System Preferences > Sharing also plays a part you can sometimes get away with the two "Ralph Johns" scenario but it is best to avoid it if possible.

Father and sons who have the same names can be an issue (J-R Ewing for example)

10:01 PM Wednesday; March 27, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
 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,

Is Bonjour On in that case ?

Do any of the other computers show in the Finder's Side Bar as Shares ?

See this Apple Article from a while ago.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3789

I am also not so familiar with running a Server based Contacts List as opposed to a local one on each Mac.

Do you actually have a "My Card" ?

If Bonjour (mDNS) is Off then this might effect the other DNS functions of the OS as detailed in the Article.

7:43 PM Thursday; March 28, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
 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,

At least you have some sort of answer.

A known issue that has been duplicated tends to mean it has been raised to the point where some engineer(s) is/(are) looking in to it.

How soon that makes it's way in to developers having test versions of the next update is anybody's guess.

8:19 PM Monday; April 1, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
 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