"insufficient bandwidth" error

Question

"insufficient bandwidth" error

I just tried a video iChat with my father yesterday. The video chats always failed (no matter who was doing the inviting) with an "insufficient bandwidth" error

He's got a Mac PowerBook G4 (not sure of the OS or the iChat version) and a cable modem with good speed (he checked it with the test at http://www.theedge.ca/myspeed/ and got the typical cable modem listed results). He's also got a wireless system running, but I don't have any information about that.

I've got a MacBook Pro with DSL and good speed (I checked it with the test at http://www.theedge.ca/myspeed/ and got the typical DSL listed results). I've got a wireless system in my house, but have always been able to video chat with my mother (on her iBook) and sister (on her PC) with no problems.

Any tips on correcting this problem?

I found a thread ( http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2415810&#2415810) that gave this as a fix for that error:

Set Quicktime preferences.
Goto System Preferences / Quicktime / Streaming and change streaming speed to your download speed (don't go higher than 1.5 mbps, get your down load speed from the test at the web site: http://www.theedge.ca/myspeed/).

Then goto iChat's prefences / video / bandwidth limit and change to NONE.

Does that look like the right fix.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Dec 24, 2006 3:38 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 24, 2006 4:02 PM in response to James Elliott1

Looks like the right fix.

Do it on both ends and restart iChat to see the new speed.

This is the fix for Error 22 in the log. Open the Details with the Reveal triangle to see it in a failed chat.

They are also stored in /Users/(your account)/Library/Logs/iChatConnectionErrors and can be picked out by date/time.

The Connection Doctor (In the Video menu of iChat) will show the Error number, if iChat has not been shut down, in the Errors tab.

12:05 AM Monday; December 25, 2006

Merry Christmas

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Answer 2

Dec 24, 2006 4:37 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Thanks Ralph.

That's the error I saw in the Connection Doctor. I'll have my dad give it a try. I'll also make the change on my end. Though I'm not sure I should since my video chats with my mom (on her iBook) and my sister (on her PC via Trillian Pro) and friend (on his PC via AIM) have all been successful.

Thanks again.

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Answer 3

Dec 24, 2006 10:36 PM in response to James Elliott1

I checked the settings for System Preferences > Quicktime > Streaming and found it set to "automatic."

It seems like that's a sensible setting and since I've gotten other video chat's to work (with my mom on her iBook, my sister on her PC via Trillian and a friend on his PC via AIM) it seems like that works for me. For now I'll leave it the same and see if changing it on my dad's end make a difference. If he changes things and it doesn't work, I'll change mine.

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Answer 4

Defcom-UK

Level 6

15,494 points

Dec 25, 2006 2:32 AM in response to James Elliott1

Dont use "automatic" as iChat will see a bandwidth of zero, set to 1.5mbps.

Tony

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Answer 5

Dec 25, 2006 11:18 PM in response to James Elliott1

This morning I video chatted with my sister (my MacBook Pro/iChat to her PC/Trillian pro). I've successfully chatted with her previously. However, this morning I got the "insufficient bandwith" error when we tried. Then I made the Quicktime streaming preferences fix: set it to "1 Mpbs Cable" since my download speed is about 1.2 Mbps and my upload speed is about 300 Kpbs (similar numbers were reported in the Connection Doctor for the Apple Video Test bitrate: 1000 Kbps, and my bitrate: 150 kpbs). Then restarted iChat and successfully chatted with her for about 45 minutes.

On a side note, I had been able to video chat with the Apple video test "channels" as well as the "iChat Test channel" both before and after the video chat wtih my sister.

Later in the day I tried video chatting with my dad (my MacBook Pro/iChat to his PowerBook G4 (10.4.8)/iChat). The fix for my Quicktime streaming preferences was still in place. However, we still got the "insufficient bandwith" error 22 problem. My dad hadn't made the Quicktime streaming preferences fix yet, so he did, restarted iChat and we still couldn't get things to work. He tried an Apple video test channel and couldn't successfully make the connection.

Over text IM I told him about the ports for iChat (5190, 5060, 5297, 5298, 1024-65535) that needed to be open and they opened them on their firewall. He was eventually able to get a video connection to one of the Apple video test channels. We then tried to video chat, but still got the "insufficient bandwidth" error.

Any suggestions on what to try next?

Thanks.

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Answer 6

Tribal61

Level 1

5 points

Dec 26, 2006 9:11 AM in response to James Elliott1

I'm having the same error since i' ve switched to a new MB C2D and a Belkin wireless Modem router. Ports required are open and bandwith is ok, but
since two months now I got my iChat working randomly.
In fact if I delete all iChat's preferences in my user Library, and restart the router sometimes it works. I've already changed the settings in QT and reinstalled several times iChat and all the frameworks required with Pacifist.
When I start iChat it takes minutes to show me the online status and the buddies list.
The insufficient bandwith error has become my worst nightmare.
I' ve never ever had a problem like this in three years using my G5 Dual 1,8
and just can't see any solution for the moment.
Just wondering why all other videochat apps (Skype, iVisit) are still working
and iChat started to S...K!!!

Macbook C2D, 2GHZ, 2GB RAM Mac OS X (10.4.8)

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Answer 7

Defcom-UK

Level 6

15,494 points

Dec 26, 2006 9:38 AM in response to Tribal61

Hi tribal61

After you reinstalled iChat did you install the 10.4.8combo to bring iChat back upto date.

Tony

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Answer 8

Tribal61

Level 1

5 points

Dec 26, 2006 10:44 AM in response to Defcom-UK

I tried but I wasn't able because the version that came with the Macbook was more recent and I just couldn't select the HD and continue the installation

T. Y. aniway...

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Answer 9

Dec 26, 2006 1:53 PM in response to James Elliott1

Hi James,

5060, 5190, 5297, 5298, 5353, 5678, 16384-16403

These are the iChat, iChat AV and Bonjour ports

5220, 5222, 5223 are needed for Jabber in iChat 3

9:56 PM Tuesday; December 26, 2006

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Answer 10

Dec 26, 2006 2:09 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Ralph, thanks for the additional ports. I've opened them and tried an Apple test video which worked. I'll tell my dad to open them too.

So I'm guessing that my video chats with my sister (my Mac/iChatv3.1.5 to her PC/Trillian Pro) and with my mom (my Mac/iCatv3.1.5 to her iBook/10.3.0/iChatv2.x) don't use Jabber and that's why they worked without the Jabber ports being open, so Jabber wasn't used during those chats.

With video chats to my dad (my Mac/iCatv3.1.5 to his PowerBook/iChatv3.x) we're using Jabber, so those ports must be opened.

Is any of that correct?

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Answer 11

Dec 26, 2006 2:29 PM in response to James Elliott1

HI James,

Ok. iChat 3 or 3 to a PC on AIM or Trillian is going to nee the iChat login and text ports (5190 on TCP and UDP if specified) and the AV ports (5060, 5678, 16384-16403 on UDP were specified)

The same is true of iChat 3 to iChat 2.

iChat 3 can do AIM based chats over AIM logins (Main Buddy List) or it can use Jabber if you set it up (Jabber Buddy List). If you use the Jabber side then the ports will be needed as well (5220, 5222, 5223 on TCP were specified).

10:31 PM Tuesday; December 26, 2006

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Answer 12

Dec 27, 2006 6:56 PM in response to James Elliott1

Ralph, You have some great information. But how are you guys doing the Apple Test Video. I went to Video and Connection Doctor and didn't see anything like that. I looked all around. I have AV 3.1.5(Version436). I had to use theedge.ca to check my up and down links. And promtly jumped on my ISP. Anwya, Apple Video Test?
LA Sculler.
PS and thanks for the good info.

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Answer 13

Dec 28, 2006 9:43 AM in response to LA Sculler

Hi LA Sculler,

Welcome to the Apple Discussions

If you mean the appleu3test account names ?
I don't and nor do any of the other regular posters and will testers run those accounts.

They are in fact run by Apple and have been set up to Autorespond to Video invites.

Table 1 is Autoresponders
Table 2 are "Real People" in that you will get a human response even if that is not their real name.
http://www.ralphjohnsuk.dsl.pipex.com/ContactTesters.html

IF you mean when you look at the iChat Demo Video that Apple show ?
Then you will get that sort of Picture with a Firewire DV CamCorder for many machines. You will similar Pictures with an iSight if you have one of the faster processor machines.

In the end the picture quality you see will depend on Lighting, camera, processor and internet connection.

iChat will make quicker connections to someone you have just been connected to - so in that sense the video could have been manipulated to show the connection happening in a better light than you might experience every day.
You also have to remember that Apple are likely to be using the best connection speeds to the internet you can have as well.

G5 Dual and Quad processors are the ones that can get 30 frames a sec out of iChat/iSights. Lesser machines will have slower framerates. Everything from there down will get Quicktime making compromises for the H264 codec of frames over quality.

5:42 PM Thursday; December 28, 2006

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Answer 14

Dec 28, 2006 6:25 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Ralph,
Thanks for you help and your website. I will be reading it for sometime.
LA Sculler

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Answer 15

Jan 2, 2007 2:39 PM in response to LA Sculler

I'm at my inlaws house. They have a cable modem with DL speeds of 3.5 to 4.0 Mbps and UL speeds of around 1 Mbps. They don't have any security set up, so that you can join the net work. I can join and get a decent signal (the speeds above are via wireless).

When I start iChat I can send text messages, but when I try the Apple Video tests I get the "inusfficient bandwidth" error and iChat logs me off, it sets me to "Offline" and I momentarily lose my wireless connection.

I haven't checked the router's opened ports and port forwarding and so forth, but would that cause the "insufficient bandwidth" error?

I never had this particular error before when things failed, why is it popping up now?

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