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iChat error -8 message

My dad and I both just switched from PC's to Mac's this past week. While I instantly fell in love with my iMac, the iChat is making me want to throw it on the ground and stomp on it!

We have been trying to connect with iChat video and keep getting the error -8 message. While I consider both my dad and myself very computer literate, the technical stuff is a little foreign to us. I spent the better part of last night checking out this forum and read a lot of messages that I frankly don't understand at all. I'm hoping someone can reply in layman terms, as best as they can.

I'm at work so I don't have the error log to post. But a little bit of information. I have iMac, dad has MacBook. We both are online via wireless routers. Both using high speed cable. He's using Cox in Arizona, I'm using Comcast in California. I believe we both are using Netgear for our wireless router. In doing research, I'm thinking that maybe the ports on the router need to be opened (yes, I think I've figured out what a port is.) We both tried last night turning firewall on, then turning firewall back off. Didn't work. We both updated our Quicktime settings. Didn't work. We both changed our network setting to only the ones we were actively using (Bluetooth and Airport). Didn't work. We both are getting the same error on each side.

My dad thought maybe it had something to do with me using an AIM account for video chat versus him using a .mac account. That's another thing that's confusing to me. Some posters say AIM is not video capable, but then people reply and say that they use it. The AIM.com site isn't clear, but something I read on the Apple website said AIM version for Mac's is video capable.

Sorry I don't have error logs. If someone can tell me that maybe I'm heading in the right direction with the Netgear routers, then I'll check it out tonight.

Thanks for the help. The knowledge you guys have is amazing.

Karen

Posted on Mar 27, 2007 9:32 AM

52 replies

MaddeezMom Author

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Mar 28, 2007 8:28 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Ralph,

I have the Netgear Wireless router and a Comcast cable modem. I'm guessing the modem routes because it's what I was connected to before I got the wireless set up. Remember, not too technically savvy on this end...

I'm at work right now, so I can't look up any info at the moment.

Mar 28, 2007 8:40 AM in response to MaddeezMom

Hi,

Well we know the router routes.

The cable modem may not. Sometimes these are in Bridge Mode which is why a router is needed to allow you to have multiple computers connected.

If you go to System Preferences > Network and choose the second drop down you can choose how the Mac is connected to the router and then slect the TCP/IP tab

This should say Using DHCP in a drop down and under that give you the computer's IP (issued by the Netgear)

Connect directly to the Modem with the router disconnected and see what the IP is then.
IS the number now the same as when you go here http://myip.dk/ If so that is your Public IP and thew modem is in Bridge mode.

If the number is different please post the first three parts of the number you do have.

A make and model will be useful as well

4:40 PM Wednesday; March 28, 2007

MaddeezMom Author

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Mar 28, 2007 8:58 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

I will do that tonight along with posting the cable modem info.

Thanks.

MaddeezMom Author

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Mar 28, 2007 5:49 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Ralph,

I did all of that. The number with the modem connected is the same as the number at myip.dk, but different than with my wireless router connected.

The first three parts of that number is 67.169.100

Cable modem is Arris Model No TM402P/110.

Karen

Weps

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Mar 28, 2007 6:34 PM in response to MaddeezMom

When I hard wire my cable modem to my computer I am able to work with iChat with no problems. My problems occur while I am on my wireless router. I have a Buffalo Wireless router (model WHR-G54S). What must I do to rectify this problem?

MaddeezMom Author

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Mar 28, 2007 7:09 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi Ralph,

Okay. Well, when I tried iChat with the modem plugged into the computer it works and I can do video chat with my dad. When it hook it back up going into the Netgear then it doesn't work again.

So it would appear to be the communications with the router and the modem. What's the fix?

Karen

sgtroxtc

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Mar 28, 2007 9:14 PM in response to MaddeezMom

I think this is software problem w/iChat.
Many others are having problems mac-mac, but not mac-pc.
This was working for me recently.
No changes were required at firewall or router.
How do we file a bug w/apple?
Thanks!

Mar 29, 2007 5:31 AM in response to MaddeezMom

Hi MaddeezMom,

OK do you know how to access the Netgear with a Web browser ?

Go to the WAN page in the menu on the left.
IS there a check box for either DOS ofr SPI ?
IS it checked so it is disabled ?
If not then do so and Apply.

Is the a setting /Page for UPnP ?

IS this active ?

1:30 PM Thursday; March 29, 2007

Mar 29, 2007 5:34 AM in response to Weps

Hi Weps,

Does this Buffalo device have UPnP ?

It may be so new as to not appear in this list
http://portforward.com/routers.htm

1:33 PM Thursday; March 29, 2007

Mar 29, 2007 5:41 AM in response to sgtroxtc

Hi,

I don't. There are just too many variables in the software of Modems and routers not to mention what ISPs do with data to claim it is iChat.

The poeple who post here are the ones having problems.

If you read back far enough you will see that there as a ruch pof problems at each OS update - norammly solved by the Combo up date or reinstalling Quicktime.

Error 8 covers so many issues to do with Ports, Networking and the ISP connection (Particularly if they are doing their own VoIP stuff) or the fact you have Vonage or similar to blame the app.

There is a feedback page http://www.apple.com/feedback/ichat.html

I would suggest workinb at it a bit longer.

1:39 PM Thursday; March 29, 2007

MaddeezMom Author

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Mar 29, 2007 7:58 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi Ralph,

Yes I can do that. When I did it a couple of days ago I found that UPnP is enabled. I will check out the other things when I get home from work.

I did a video chat with Defcom this morning. He suggested updating the firmware for the Netgear. It was set up in Dec of 2005 and there is an update in 2006. I will try that also. I will then hook everything up to run back through the Netgear into the cable modem and see if it works.

So far it works just when hooked up to the cable modem.

Karen

Mar 29, 2007 8:12 AM in response to MaddeezMom

Ok, the Firmware should help.

4:12 PM Thursday; March 29, 2007

MaddeezMom Author

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Mar 30, 2007 7:46 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

A quick reply.

Updated firmware on Netgear. Hooked modem back up to Netgear and Netgear into computer. No luck.

Will try Ralph's suggestions tonight after work. Taking it one suggestion at a time and testing each time.

Will post results of Ralph's suggestions.

Thanks for the help.

Karen

LawClerk

Level 1

5 points

Mar 30, 2007 9:09 AM in response to MaddeezMom

I solved this problem on two Linksys routers by upgrading the firmware from the Linksys website.

Here is what I did for linksys:

Go to http://192.168.1.1 - leave the username blank and password is admin (unless you've changed it). Go to the status tab. On the top right, you will see what type of router you have (WRT54G or something similar, and the version # of your firmware). Turn the router itself over and find the Version # of your router (ver 1, 2, etc..)

Go to www.linksys.com and go to download firmware. Find your router and download the .bin file for your specific version. Update the router per linksys instructions. Make sure UPnP is checked on the administration tab (I believe). Reboot the router (unplug it and then plug it back in) and try that.

That one step of updating firmware has solved this issue on 3 different setups so far. Hope it helps.

LC

MaddeezMom Author

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Mar 30, 2007 4:40 PM in response to MaddeezMom

Okay gang. Still no dice with the Netgear plugged in. Can't connect to dad but can connect to the test pages. I noticed the error has changed.

I've updated the firmwear like Defcom suggested. I checked the WAN page and there was a box for SPI which I disabled. UPnP is active. Now I get this error. Still error -8 but different details:

Date/Time: 2007-03-30 16:23:11.639 -0700
OS Version: 10.4.9 (Build 8P2137)
Report Version: 4

iChat Connection Log:
AVChat started with ID 2380733378.
mrstravs1: State change from AVChatNoState to AVChatStateWaiting.
0xf118ec0: State change from AVChatNoState to AVChatStateInvited.
0xf118ec0: State change from AVChatStateInvited to AVChatStateConnecting.
mrstravs1: State change from AVChatStateWaiting to AVChatStateConnecting.
mrstravs1: State change from AVChatStateConnecting to AVChatStateEnded.
Chat ended with error -8
0xf118ec0: State change from AVChatStateConnecting to AVChatStateEnded.
Chat ended with error -8

Video Conference Error Report:

Video Conference Support Report:

Video Conference User Report:

Any suggestions????? Otherwise looks like we'll be hooking up the Netgear only when the kid wants to use the wireless PC or dad is here wanting to use his Mac.

Thanks!
Karen

iChat error -8 message