How I Got iChat to Work

Question

I finally got my iChat to work after a lot of research, especially from reading this forum. I want to thank Ralph John (Great website), Tony defcom1 (netgear suggestions), and RJ in WI (for testing my iChat connection). I want to share with the readers of this forum what I did so that it might help you. I basically had to implement practically every suggestion I found.
My equipment: mac mini with core duo and 1 GB of ram, OSX 10.4.7 connected wirelessly to a Netgear WRG614v6 router which is connected to a SBV5120 Motorola VOIP cable modem. My broadband speeds are 12Mbps download and 1.7 Mbps upload. I'm using iChat with AIM.
Quicktime preferences, streaming: changed speed to 1.5Mbps
iChat preferences, accounts, server settings: changed port from 5190 to 443. Note that you have to be logged out of AIM to change this. I did this before I learned about port forwarding so I could log into AIM.
System preferences, sharing, firewall: off. It also works with firewall on but with the correct ports opened. Click on New...select other, TCP port numbers: 5190, UDP port numbers: 5190, 5060, 5678, 16384-16403, and description: iChat. For the UDP ports, there needs to be a space after each comma.
Set up static IP addresses:
Step 1: Gather the information you'll need. You have to access your router directly via Safari by entering in the router's IP address, name and password. For the WGR614v6 it is http://192.168.1.1, name: admin, password: admin. Note: you can't change the name. The default password is admin, but you should change it.
Click Router status in the menu on the left side and write down the Domain Name server IP addresses. There are two.
Step 2: Back in my mac: System preferences, network: click Configure, click TCP/IP. For Configure IPv4, select Manually. IP Address: 192.168.1.22, Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0, Router: 192.168.1.1, DNS servers: The two you got in Step 1.
Note: I used 192.168.1.22 for my mac mini, 23 and 24 for two other PCs on the network and 100 for my network printer. Other numbers will also work.
Step 3: Back in the Netgear router settings: Click on LAN IP Settings: Uncheck Use Router as DHCP server.
At this point, check to see that you still have internet access. Otherwise, recheck your settings. If all else fails, press the reset button on your router to return to the factory settings.
Set up Port forwarding: Back in the Netgear Router settings: Click on Port Forwarding/Port Triggering.
1. Click on Add Custom Service. Service Name: iChat1, Service type: TCP/UDP, Starting port: 5190, Ending port: 5190, Server IP Address: 192.168.1.22. Note this is the same as the IP Address for your mac with iChat. Click Apply.
2. Click on Add Custom Service: Service Name: iChat2, Service type: UDP, Starting Address: 5060, Ending Address: 5060, IP Address: 192.168.1.22. Click Apply.
3. Click on Add Custom Service: Service Name: iChat3, Service type: UDP, Starting Address: 5678, Ending Address: 5678, IP Address: 192.168.1.22. Click Apply.
4. Click on Add Custom Service: Service Name: iChat4, Service type: UDP, Starting Address: 16384, Ending Address: 16403, IP Address: 192.168.1.22. Click Apply.
Adjust UPnP settings: In Netgear router settings: click on UPnP. Leave UPnP on. Change Advertisement period to 5 and Advertisement time to live to 2. Note: UPnP by itself did not work for me.
Logout off you router.
Start iChat. Make sure you can connect to the Apple testers, AIM appleu3test01, appleu3test02, appleu3test03.
Hope this works for you. I used to get -8 errors most every time. Now I am error free.
Intel Mac Mini Core Duo   Mac OS X (10.4.7)   Apple BT Mouse & Keyboard

Answer 1

Hi Eric,
Welcome to the Apple Discussion Pages.
It does seem that iChat regards the fact that a PC with no Mic and no camera is not sending any data and regards this as a fault and ends the chats, normally, with the 10 sec error.
Glad you found a solution.
Ralph