Can't conference

Question

Hi all,
I have the newest version of ichat av and my mac is a mac os x 10.4.8 and i still can't conference video chat with more than one person. i have tried downloading new programs but they say its for 10.3 or something like that. i don't know much about computers, but it says on the mac website that i have the system requirements... any ideas to why the conferences aren't working? it says when i try to do one that there is already a conference in session. HELP PLEASE!
Jordan

Answer 1

Hi,
Your upload speed, from the speed test report, (79mbps) is not sufficient for multi video chat (officialy not even for 2 way). I have noticed your bandwidth fluctuates from very low to good.. You are connected with an ethernet cable to a university network, I could chat with you nicely and connection never failed. Your MacBook Pro is one of the few Macs on the network that cannot do multi person Chats.
The ability to host or participate in a multi-way (multi-person, such as 4-way) iChat conference is based on these factors and requirements:
Your computer's capabilities
Buddy's computer's capabilities
Available bandwidth
If you have buddies in your buddy list that don't meet the requirements for mutil-way conferencing, they won't appear in your Buddy List with a multi-way icon. Similarly, if your computer and bandwidth do not meet the requirements to host and/or participate in a multi-way conference, you will not appear in others' Buddy Lists as capable of doing so.
How does iChat determine if you are capable of joining or hosting a multiperson chat?
When iChat is opened, it performs a series of tests to determine if multi-person chats are supported with available bandwidth (the specifics are documented here).
iChat also checks the file "com.apple.ichat.plist" in ~/Library/Preferences/ to detemine if defaut values have been set for bwdup and bwddown. It checks to see if the IP address stored in bwdid is the same as the current IP address of the computer, or if the settings are older than three days.
If any of these conditions are not met, iChat performs a .Mac bandwidth detection test to see if .Mac network bandwidth is fast enough to support a multi-way connection.
If the test succeeds, then multi-way chat is enabled.
Things to try if multiperson chat isn't enabled but system requirements are met
The network connection may not currently support the minimum bandwidth requirements. Work with your ISP or system administrator to examine the situation.
A firewall may be blocking iChat's ability to complete the test--see "Using iChat AV with a firewall or NAT router". If a firewall blocks the bandwidth test, iChat will check the QuickTime streaming settings in QuickTime preferences. If it has been manually set to 256 kbps DSL/Cable or lower, multi-way will be disabled. In some cases, if this value is set to Automatic, multiway may also be disabled. You should set this value to one that matches your network connection.
Does anyony one know how to solve this problem, I think it can only be bandwidth. But she's the only Mac that can't apparently. I have no idea,
The case is described in the first alinea.
TIA,
JP
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304486