Cant connect with a PC please help trying to do Christmas CHAT.

Question

Mac is set up with ISIGHT/ICHAT
PC is set up with LOGICTECH Quickcam Fusion/AOL Instant messenger.
So we can text message and we can even do an audio chat. But when it comes to Video it does not go through. When I(the mac) invite the PC, the PC sees the invitation and will accept. My window will even say that it has started the video chat but I cant see them, only myself.
When they invite me I never get the invitation and they just sit on there side.
They are in a hotel...could this be a factor with some firewall.
Any ideas. Please help. We are trying to set this up to video chat with my father for Christmas. four days to go.
thanks jack

Answer 1

Hi bibbo,
Ok Networking basics 101
DHCP. Dynamic hosting by a networking device.
This can be the ISP server, your modem or a router if you have one as well. As both Macs and PCs can "Share this internet Connection" then technically then can be (do this) as well.
Lets presume that you have just a modem and your computer.
Lets presume you Mac is in default settings where it expects to use - or have sent to it - an IP from a DHCP server.
You can look this up on a Mac.
Go to System Preferences > Network.
In the second drop down select the connection method you are using to the modem (built in Ethernet or Airport for wireless).
Then click on the TCP/IP tab.
This should have a drop down that will confirm it is "Using DHCP"
This will mean that it is.
The type of IP shown under that will say if the modem is in bridge mode (by showing a Public IP) or a local private IP.
How to tell ?
Local devices start with certain numbers
192.168.xxx.xxx
10.xxx.xxx.xxx
172.16.xxx.xxx - 172.32.xxx.xxx
Further down the same info screen is the DNS server info if added
And the "router" IP.
This "Router" IP is the IP of the modem if it fits in to one of those three groups above.
If it shows the same number at the top spot as when you go here then the device is in Bridge mode and it is allowing the ISP issued IP to come through to your computer.
Tell us the info you see in this part of System preferences.
<hr>
Next.
The "ROUTER" IP if in a Local number as shown above is likely to be the default for accessing it's set up pages in a web browser.
A Linksys modem is likely to be 192.168.1.1
A Netgear is likely to be 192.168.0.1
This page is likely to be helpful if you device is listed.
IF it is click on it.
On the next page click on iChat.
This will tell you the defaults (if they have not been changed) to use.
It will go on to ell you how to set Port Forwarding.
DO NOT DO THAT AT THIS STAGE.
Tell us what you can find out.
Is there anything in the Port Forward settings ?
Does the device have UPnP in any of the menus ? and is it Enabled ?
Does it have Port Triggering as an option and is anything set there ?
<hr>
Re 1)
Back on the Mac go to System Preferences > Sharing
In here you will find the Firewall tab.
Click on It.
Does it say it is on ?
In the list are the Presets which may have ticks next to them (Even if the Firewall is Off) due to thinks set in the Services tab.
There is no Preset for the iChat login port, the AV ports or the Jabber ports. (there is a hangover preset from panther for Bonjour but the ports are on the wrong protocol and it misses one)
If the Firewall is On and you have not set the ports then you will need to.
The Instructions are here at the second pic.
Re NAT.
NAT is Network Address Translation.
It is the way your modem tells what data goes to which IP that is in use on the LAN it is controlling if it is the DHCP server. (it can also do it if you are Static i.e. No DHCP server and Manually given IPs).
Some devices like an Apple Airport Base Station NAT all data and do not require you to point it anywhere.
Most devices require that you point the data in some sort of way.
Port Forwarding is the oldest and most common.
This requires that you state which port the data should arrive on from the ISP side and which port is should go to on the LAN side listing an IP do go as well.
Generally this means that a port (say 5190 for iChat) can only be open for one IP (hopefully your computer).
Port Triggering also uses NAT.
DMZ (Demiltarised Zone) is an extreme form of Port Forwading that opens all the ports to one IP address but still uses NAT.
UPnP (Universal Plug and Play does not use NAT.
Read the whole of my page 4 for more info and guides on where to look.
10:41 PM Wednesday; December 27, 2006