problems with iChat AV

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problems with iChat AV

ok, I have been doing my homework and I see that many are having similar problems: you are invited to a video chat and an error comes up etc. But perhaps I have an interesting twist:

My Mom, My brother, and I all have the exact same iMac purchased within months of each other, we all have jabber accounts and a built in isight etc. and we are all in the U.S.

We were able to connect twice all together, and my Mom and my Brother can connect to each other still but I can't connect to anyone right now. These are the things I have done, and each one will work (I can "video chat" with the apple test buddy) until I then try to connect with my Mom, and then I can no longer connect with her or the test.

*I have changed the streaming in my quicktime to 1.5
*I have opened the ports mentioned in previous articles, and my mother has opened these ports as well
*I have contacted the maker of my wireless router and they have disabled the firewall on their end

what gives?

And by the time it stops working again, 1-800-APL-CARE closes for the evening. sigh

Any other things I can try?

iMac Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Jan 12, 2007 7:19 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 13, 2007 8:27 AM in response to ali8780

Hi ali8780,

Welcome to the Apple Discussions

I take it you have done the Ports in the Mac Firewall as you talk about your ISP having a firewall ?

These include the Jabber ports 5220, 5222 and 5223 ? On TCP

The AIM ports needed are:
5190 on TCP
5190, 5060, 5678, 16384-16403 on UDP to login and A/V chat.
These ports (or some of them) are invoked when A/V chatting from a Jabber name to another iChat user.

Knowing the error log number may help.
If it is error 8 and all parties are using a NAT based way of opening the ports in their modems then it could be the methods of NAT are not liked by the other end (There are about six main ways this is achieved).

This page may help
http://www.ralphjohnsuk.dsl.pipex.com/page15.html#CertainBuddy

4:30 PM Saturday; January 13, 2007

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Answer 2

ali8780 Author

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Jan 13, 2007 1:43 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Ralph,

Thanks, there were a few ports you mentioned that I hadn't opened, so I opened them. Funny thing is, before I did that, I was able to videochat with the test buddy again. ?? Is this the type of thing that just works sometimes and not other times?

and it is error number 8. as far as the NAT goes, I don't know I'd have to check that out. I'll read the link you posted...

Thanks

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Answer 3

Jan 13, 2007 2:08 PM in response to ali8780

Hi ail8780,

There are differences between calling out, particularly to a fast Buddy like the test sites are.

It is even more of an issue where Port Forwarding or other NAT based port opening method is used at both ends. (I don't think the test sites are)

So yes it can look intermittent.

10:10 PM Saturday; January 13, 2007

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Answer 4

SkeetNYC

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115 points

Jan 14, 2007 8:08 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

I'm assuming I too have port problems with iChat AV. I also suspect this same problem is responsible for iTunes crashing every time I try to preview a song.

So my question is, how do I know which ports are open/closed, and how do I open those that need to be open? (Note: using Airport Express as my router and connecting to it via Airport, not Ethernet.)

Thanks.

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Answer 5

Jan 14, 2007 8:28 AM in response to SkeetNYC

Hi SkeetNYC,

It sounds like you have two problems.

If you tell what modem and model number itr is we should be able to tell what to do.

On the iTunes front if you tell more we maybe able to tell if it is related (probably fonts) but if not then point you in the right direction.

4:31 PM Sunday; January 14, 2007

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Answer 6

SkeetNYC

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115 points

Jan 14, 2007 8:34 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi Ralph:

The modem is a Motorola SBC5220 SURFBoard Cable Modem. Note: I never had any problem with iTunes or iChat AV with my previous Westell Wirespeed DSL modem. Many thanks!

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Answer 7

Jan 14, 2007 8:40 AM in response to SkeetNYC

Hi,

I could still do with knowing what the IP is when you connect to the Modem directly.

This will tell us if the Device is in Bridge Mode.
If it is not then we can change things on the Airport.

4:42 PM Sunday; January 14, 2007

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Answer 8

SkeetNYC

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115 points

Jan 14, 2007 8:56 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

When I connect via Ethernet directly my IP address is
24.193.47.85

Is that what you're looking for?

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Answer 9

Jan 14, 2007 9:07 AM in response to SkeetNYC

Hi SkeetNYC,

Yes. That proves the Modem is in Bridge Mode and Not doing NAT as all the ports are open.

OK.
In Applications/Utilities is Airport Admin Utility
Open this and login to your Airport (you will have to connect it up again).
In the Network tab Does it Say Distributing Address is active ?

5:10 PM Sunday; January 14, 2007

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Answer 10

SkeetNYC

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115 points

Jan 14, 2007 9:14 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Yes, "Distribute IP addresses" is checked. So is "Share a single IP address (using DHCP and NAT)" and drop-down menu beneath says "Use 10.0.1.1 addressing". Everything else is unchecked.

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Answer 11

SkeetNYC

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Jan 14, 2007 9:16 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Ralph:

Gotta run out but will be back in about 3-4 hrs. Looking forward to your next instruction.

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Answer 12

Jan 14, 2007 9:34 AM in response to SkeetNYC

Hi SkeetNYC,

In System Preferences > Quicktime > Streaming have you set the drop down to 1.5Mbps/T1/LAN and restarted iChat ?

From what you have told me so far it is not a Port Problem.

When you try to chat what error message do you get ?

5:37 PM Sunday; January 14, 2007

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Answer 13

SkeetNYC

Level 1

115 points

Jan 14, 2007 3:33 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Just changed QuickTime Streaming setting from Automatic to 1.5Mbps/T1/LAN. After launching iChat AV my Buddy list opens. Then it immediately quits. Same thing w/ iTunes when I try to preview a song from the iTunes Store.

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Answer 14

Jan 14, 2007 3:36 PM in response to SkeetNYC

Hi SkeetNYC,

Open Font Book and check you have the font Helvetica active.
Several Apple Apps require this font to display things properly.

After that try the Combo Install.
Here http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/ In date order.

11:39 PM Sunday; January 14, 2007

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Answer 15

SkeetNYC

Level 1

115 points

Jan 14, 2007 3:46 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Helvetica is active. Downloading OS 10.4.8 Combo update. Will re-install and then see what happens.

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