Hi Gena17,
OK.
Two things.
It seems there was some sort of Outage on the AIM servers yesterday. I could not get iChat to stay on-line in several version of the OS.
As to Error 8 it can cover several things.
1) Once in a while it does relate to the Quicktime not being done.
2) most often it is about ports not being open in
a) the Mac Firewall if it is ON or
b) the modem or routing device.
3) It can be they way you have set up your LAN
If you use a modem and a router - and the modem and the router are both doing DHCP then the computer can be getting an IP from each device and iChat will not know "Where" it is
4) The way the ports are opened in two devices can also play a part.
Most devices will at least do Port Forwarding
If both device do this or Port Triggering or DMZ (Any method that relies on NAT) and also combos of these will cause problems for iChat.
(iChat is not the only AIM based IM app that has problems with NAT transversal)
5) Some people use VoIP equipment to use there phone over the internet (Vonage or similar adapters)
These are sensitive to the SIP Data and presume all SIP is for the phone and "Strip" it out of the the data flow.
Placing the adapter on a port on a router like it was another computer sorts this.
6) Some Modems are SIP aware.
Depending on make and model you can do something about some of these.
7) Some ISPs run VoIP services and block port 5060(-5063) expecting people to pay for the service (Stops people going to Vonage or similar).
Or it is about losing out to "free" long range calls and trying to make money form that.
If your ISP does do 7) then you do not need to use a phone (VoIP specific or landline with and adapter) to be blocked for iChat.
With 7) it does seem that if you point out that your ISP never said there were changing their service and have blocked port 5060 without telling that they will unblock it for you.
You do of course need to be sure of the small print in their original paperwork or anything they have sent to you since.
Summary.
Has the Quicktime setting been done.
Is the Mac firewall On and if so have the ports been set ?
Have the ports been set or allowed in the Modem ?
Do you have two devices on your LAN doing DHCP ?
If so stop one of them at least.
(Static routing on your LAN or turning the Modem into Bridge Mode or the Router into and Access Point)
Are both devices doing a NAT based port opening method ?
If so how is you LAN set up ?
Can you use UPnP in at least one of the devices ?
Do you have any VoIP aware equipment or devices ?
Restructure you LAN for Adapters.
Post back with modem or router details for further advice if it is the Modem or router.
Does the ISP offer a VoIP service ?
Ask them.
Check if you can ping a friend or know IP on port 5060-5063 (Use Network Utility in Applications/Utilities)
Then ask the ISP to unblock it.
The error 8 log can help - to some extent - point you to where you need to start
8:20 PM Thursday; March 15, 2007
