No firewall and still no iChat

Question

I've been without iChat since I upgraded to 10.4.3. I've read many posts on how to fix the problem and virtually every post discusses ports behind firewalls. Now being an impatient person, I decided to turn off the Firewall and see if I could then get iChat to work. The result - I still can't get iChat to work! So my question is - can anyone tell me the simplest way to get iChat to work WITHOUT THE FIREWALL? I can get that far then perhaps I can sort out getting it to work behind the firewall. Any help or comments would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Hello Frank.
Please clarify: ... since I upgraded to 10.4.3.versus your posted system info that shows Mac OS X (10.2.x). Do you mean text chat only with Jaguar's non-AV iChat? Also, is your problem with several chat buddies or only with one? With both of your listed Macs or only one?
If you have really upgraded to Tiger, my best suggestions are in Help for iChat AV 3 Problems.
However, if you are just attempting to deal with port configuration in a router or wireless setup, I suggest you take ALL your wireless equipment, routers, firewalls, and any other internet connected devices like VOIP or game boxes out of the loop and connect your Mac directly to your modem (or other Mac for Rendezvous or Bonjour messaging) via Ethernet cable. Run directly wired until you get your iChat AV connection working.
If your modem connects via telephone cable or USB, that may well be your problem. Be sure you have adequate broadband service. Then, if you are using a USB modem, get a modem that connects via Ethernet and try again.
Once you get iChat AV working reliably, you can reconnect your necessary additional equipment, one item at a time, to see whether the problem returns. If adding one item back makes the problem reappear, remove the item again and reinstall it again to be SURE that this specific problem/fix is repeatable. Then you will KNOW that individual component is at least one of your problems. Leaving the newly tested item disconnected for the remainder of the test, repeat this process for EACH additional removed component, ALWAYS one item at a time. When finished, you will know every component that is a problem.
When you have identified EVERY problem item in the communications loop, you can apply the info from your equipment's documentation or customer support sites or the above links to fix the problem.
If you have a laptop, it is particularly simple to try to connect from another ISP locations (internet cafes, university, work, libraries, hotels, or other places that offer internet access). That will let you know whether your problem is related to your ISP service or connection.
Jim