IChat loses connection upon startup.

Question

iChat loses connection every time I start it up. It'll connect after a few seconds, but it always throws me off. It also crashes the wireless router itself, and whatever is using the internet is booted off. I'm thinking it could be strictly wireless router related, but I'm wondering if it could possibly be the iChat application. I know not all wi-fi routers are compatible with MacBooks completely (or so I've read), but is it normal for only ONE application to mess up? I can connect with Skype, MSN, or any other programs that require the internet on first try.. just not iChat.

Answer 1

Hi,
I know of some routers or DLS Modem (they also tend to route) that I would not want if I wanted to continue to iChat.
It is not so much that they are incompatible with the Mac but incompatible with th way iChat works..
This means you can access the set up pages with a Mac but the bits you cannot not change from those pages are sometimes "features" that do not help iChat. (mostly to do with how they handle SIP data)
Even if you had such a device iChat is unlikely to make it Crash/Lose Internet/Reboot in the way you describe.
So the device you have is capable of Wifi but you are Ethernet to it ?
Are you also doing a Wifi Connection to it ?
If you are this can cause iChat problems in Video/Audio chats.
Again it is not likely to to cause the issue you describe.
I have a Sagem Fast2405 Modem that is also a Wifi able router.
I have reduced the DHCP range to just 3 IPs for WiFi able phones.
I have two Macs one of which is WiFi but can be Ethernetted, 2 PC towers that are hard wired (Ethernet), a PC Laptop, 1 X-Box 360's that are all Set with Static IPs (there was another 360 at one stage and another Tower and Window Laptop but my daughter moved out).
I mention this to highlight the need to check the IPs of each computer and possibly the methods it has of connecting.
A Ethernet Card in your computer and the Wifi card have what are called Media Access Card (MAC) addresses (numbers).
for each MAC address the modem or router will assign a Different IP. So a computer set to "Using DHCP" in System Preferences > Network will get two IPs if connected by Wifi and Ethernet.
However it if you assign the IPS Manually (Apple's Name for Static routing that needs DHCP turned Off in the router) then it is possible to allocate the Same IP to either different connection methods or to different computers/Game Stations.
This last may cause the symptoms you describe in some routers.
It will tend to show up in those Apps that are very specific about the "path" to the internet such as iChat (Skype is less fussy as it has "Fall back" ports that rely on Web Browsing and Mail ports).
I doubt it is a faulty unit but it still remains a possibility.
I hope this helps.
9:17 PM Wednesday; September 15, 2010
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