I can't hear, they can hear, speakers on, ports open.

Question

I've got a little puzzle... Here's the setup:
MacBook, Mac OS 10.4.6, internal iSight, i.8 Ghz Intel Core Duo, 1.25 GB RAM, Using my own 1.5 MBPS wireless network router with Airport Express. Internal Mic on, Check. Speakers on full blast, Check. Quictime streaming, sound prefs, iChat prefs, check.
iMac G5, Mac OS 10.4.6, external iSight, 1.8 Ghz G5, 1.25 GB RAM, Using Neighbor's 1.5 MBPS wireless network (with full permission, of course.) Internal Mic on, Check. Harmon/Kardon Soundsticks on full---well maybe half blast... Check. Quictime streaming, sound prefs, iChat prefs, check.
Opened all ports on my own Actiontec router described from Apples KB in many different configurations. From opening as many ports as possible in different ways using UDP and TCP and both going with AND against Apple's suggestion.
I was able to get through the "Failed to respond" issue (Stupid routers) and I was able to initiate a 4 way conversation (Finally!) Between five different parties, swapping between them, of course. Everyone was using the same iChat, best configuration on their ends. (New Macbooks and G5's, all using iChat 3.1.4 and all settings on as best to their knowledge.)
Myself: I initiated the conference. I could see all three parties.
Party 1: I can see and hear them, they can see and hear me. They are on the same network as I am.
Party 2: I can see them, but I can't hear them. They can't see the conversation, but they can hear the conversation.
Party 3: iMac G5 on neighbor's network, I can see it, and can hear it. It can see the conversation, but can't hear the conversation
Party 4: (switched with Party 2) I can see them, but I can't hear them. They can hear and see the conversation. Both try initiating conversation, 1 on 1 too, same results.
Party 5: 1 on 1 conversation. I can see, and hear them, they can see and hear me. Both try initiating conversation. Same results.
It's mostly an audio problem of me being unable to hear most other parties, even though i have my MacBook speakers up as far as it will go. Why will some parties be able to allow their audio to pass through to me, while others would not? It seems it's coming from my end.
What do I do, how do i fix this, are there any suggestions? Am I doing something wrong that I shouldn't be doing?
This is all my router's fault.

Answer 1

Hi Dustin,
If this is a one computer LAN then Port Forwarding can be used.
This needs just these ports open:
AIM TCP 5190
AIM UDP 5060, 5190, 5678, 16384-16403
Jabber TCP 5220, 5222, 5223
Bonjour TCP 5298
Bonjour UDP 5297, 5298, 5353
This works even ikf you don't specify the "scoop and point" method the Apple Doc lists for more commercial devices.
This will not work for LANs with more than one Mac and as AIM on a PC also uses port 5190 for both logging on and file sending you need to use a method that allows mulitple computers such as Port Triggering or UPnP.
Port Triggering for the AIM side of iChat needs to look like this.
Trigger port 5190 on TCP to Trigger 5190 on Both UDP and TCP
Trigger port 5678 On UDP to trigger 5060, 5678, 16384-16403 on UDP
On some devices you can not specify the trigger in the list of ports as in the second line.
You may have to split into two lines.
Trigger 5678 on UDP to trigger 5060 on UDP
Trigger 5060 on UDP to trigger 16384-16403 on UDP
The Bonjour ports and the Jabber ports ned to be entered as single port entries on the relevant TCP (Jabber and Bonjour's 5298) and UDP protocols.
The AIM application for a PC will need
Trigger Port 5190 on TCP to Trigger ports 1024-5000 on TCP/UDP
Hope this helps.
10:06 PM Tuesday; June 6, 2006