Ichat screen sharing - "slow network"

Hi
I am trying to use screen sharing between an intel imac and a mac book pro over the internet. Both running latest versions of Leopard. The enable screen sharing menu item is greyed out. Connection doctor has a red cross next to "share my screen" with the message "(slow network)". Same for host multiperson video. Share remote screen has a green tick.
I have enable upnp on my router as recommended elsewhere. No change. Similarly, I have also set Quick Time streaming speed to 1.5 Mbps. No change.
I have tested by internet speeds at www.auditmypc.com:
download: 9782Kbps
upload: 526.4 Kbps
Is the upload speed causing the problem? Any tips on how to fix this pls (Virgin Media cable broadband)?
Thanks

QT is still on 1.5Mps, which I had set before trying the tips suggested here. iChat video still has the 500Kbps setting I gave it as advised.
Oddly, screen sharing is now available even though I am back on wireless not ethernet. This all seems a bit unpredictable and unreliable for something which is supposed to be 'easy' screen sharing!
Thanks again for the help people have given which has (hopefully) fixed this.

Similar Messages

Ichat Screen Sharing will not work no matter what I try...

I have read all the forums and can't find an answer. Something that should be so simple such as screen sharing through iChat (as advertised) is virtually impossible. This I can not explain. Especially since video chat works!
Both computers in question here are macbooks, both have leopard, both are or wireless networks. Is the router blocking the connection and if so, why will it allow video chat but not screen sharing?
There is either something real simple that I am missing here, or this is not possible at all.
some things that i have tried:
disabling stealth mode
on the firewall, enabling incoming traffic from ichat
made sure screen sharing is enabled in ichat
made sure the settings were the same on the remote apple computer
tried unchecking everything in the sys pref "sharing"
Both of the parties involved are using the same ISP, this really is mind boggling.
Is this a bug that is being fixed or what? I am not trying to perform a miracle here, but this is getting ridiculous.
If this is a router issue, apple should release some documentation on how to configure ichat screen sharing through your router.
If anyone has had this problem and has a fix, I would love to hear it. Keep in mind I have googled this many times and tried just about every piece of advice that I could find on this.
Thanks

iChat Screen sharing does not as such for the screen bit use the Video/Audio port.
The Documentation was lacking last time I looked.
This one tells you the port changes in Leopard http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306688 compared to Tiger
Tiger is linked in the first to here http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93208 where most of the other ports are.
However Screen sharing was not part of iChat 3.
If you do a Quick Look at the .plist(s) you will see the reference to ARD which is Apple Remote Desktop which is what the screen ending part is based on.
This Doc will tell you which ports ARD is likely to use
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106439
(It says 5900 and 5988)
This should be allowed through the use of UPnP in your routing device or specifically opened.
Now the not so good news.
I run Little Snitch, A utility that tells you ports and IPs of incoming and outgoing network connections by any app you have.
This has told me that in fact the Screen port seems almost completely random normally in the 50000 range of ports
It may not be all you wnat to hear but I hope it helps.
9:57 PM Tuesday; February 12, 2008

IChat screen sharing does not work on my Mac Pro

I have a weird iChat screen sharing problem that i can't seem to resolve on my Mac Pro. Ever since i got my Mac Pro in early 2008, using the screen sharing feature in iChat has always been flaky. I have never gotten to the point of getting it consistently working. Lately, i have not been able to get it to work at all.
Most of the time, when i choose to share my chat target's screen (or when i share my screen), i would be able to see my chat target's screen and use the mouse for several seconds before the shared screen session is ended. The errors that i am getting are:
+"Disconnected from Screen Sharing because:+
+No data has been received for the last 10 s..."+
+"There was a communication error during your chat.+
+No data has been received for the last 10 seconds. You can send+
+details about this problem to Apple to help improve future versions of+
iChat."
On other occasions (mostly when i am trying to troubleshoot this issue by testing in the same network with my Powerbook, which is on 10.5.6 as well), i get this error:
+"Disconnected from Screen Sharing because:+
+Screen sharing could not be established."+
I have tried to do screen sharing via iChat with other Macs in the same network and also on the internet but with the same problems.
Initially, i thought this may be router related. But the fact that iChat screen sharing on my Powerbook works perfectly both in intranet and internet eliminates my router as the culprit.
I have also tried disabling the OSX Firewall but the outcome was the same.
I read some posts that there may be issue with using the external iSight web cam. I unplugged it, cleaning up all the iChat-related caches and preferences and tried again but with the same result.
I have also tried connecting to iChat using several different account types (mobileme, .mac and AIM) but the end result is the same.
I run a Ubuntu VMWare fusion VM on my Mac Pro as my webserver. I thought that may be the problem. Shutting down the Ubuntu VM also does not help.
Applecare support personnel also instructed me to re-install iChat but that did not help as well.
One interesting error i noticed in the system.log (seen via the Console app) that is generated everytime iChat screen sharing fails on my Mac Pro:
+12/23/08 12:32:00 AM /Applications/iChat.app/Contents/MacOS/iChat[507] error getting server version+
I am really running out of ideas on what else i can do to get this resolved.
Thanks in advance for any suggestion.
Message was edited by: Changren Yong
The audio and video chat portions of iChat work fine.

I managed to make some headway in my attempts to troubleshoot this problem. I did a fresh Leopard install on one of the drives in my Mac Pro. I then proceeded to update it to 10.5.6. After that, i launched iChat and attempted screen sharing with my Powerbook. The first few attempts failed, with the following symptoms:
- i would be able to see and control the Powerbook's screen
- after 5 seconds, my screen sharing session is disconnected
I then unplugged my external iSight. After i relaunched iChat, i managed do screen sharing in iChat without being disconnected!!! When i connected the iSight back into the ACD, with iSight off, i attempted to screen share again. This time, it failed after about 5 seconds, just like earlier. I then turned iSight on. This time round, the screen sharing session was not disconnected!!
So in addition to the iSight issue, something in my original Leopard startup disk is causing iChat screen sharing to fail because even when screen sharing was failing on my fresh Leopard install, i do not see this error:
/Applications/iChat.app/Contents/MacOS/iChat(507) error getting server version
So if i can figure out what is causing this error to show up in system.log, then i can manage the iSight issue.

IChat Screen Sharing will not work when VNC will?

I am finding it impossible to get Screen Sharing working via iChat. I'm not surprised, as iChat seems extraordinarily balky at doing anything other than text chat. However, what confuses me most about this is that the Connection Doctor 'Capabilities' tab suggests that the net connection for my family members (1024/128) is "too slow" for Screen Sharing - yet I have been using OSX VNC for two years perfectly successfully to do so?
Does using Screen Sharing directly have the same limitations?

Hi,
In System Preferences > Quicktime > Streaming change the Speed to 1.5Mbps
This should change what iChat sees as being Capable off once you restart iChat.
The VNC app Screen Sharing that Opens form the Finder > Go > Go to Server VNC:// does not include a Audio component.
This uses less bandwidth than the iChat Screen Sharing which does include an Audio stream.
Also the Screen Sharing is done on a separate port to the Audio part and from testing seems to be a random choice.
For this reason we have been suggesting using UPnP in any modem or router to allow ports.
Apple have not said what ports it uses
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1507?viewlocale=en_US Tiger A/V ports and Bonjour and Jabber
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2282?viewlocale=en_US Leopard A/V ports (It should say but does not that you still need the Jabber and Bonjour ones if using them).
This doc http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2020?viewlocale=en_US says you need iChat to see at least a connection speed of 128K UP and Down for Screen Sharing.
It is known that iChat Screen Sharing is based on Apple Remote Desktop but it does not use the same ports (5900 and 5988).
2:06 PM Saturday; January 10, 2009

Does Ichat screen sharing work properly with Lion OSX?

Hello, I am planning to install the new OS Lion soon. However, I was wondering if the Ichat screen sharing works properly with Lion. I use the screen sharing quite a lot to communicate with my co-workers, so it's a deal breaker if the app crashes when using the screen sharing option. Thank you!

Hi,
I have not seen a post where it has been reported to be a problem.
9:12 PM Friday; August 12, 2011
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb( 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

IChat Screen Sharing: Audio works but video is a white screen.

I am having a problem using iChat screen sharing with a specific computer. We are both running OS 10.7.4. I have a Mac Book Pro (fall 2011) and he has a iMac one to two years old. We have tried contacting apple support but no luck yet. We tried setting up a test user to see if the problem was user specific but encountered the same problem. Again, video and text chat work fine. He can share my screen with no issues. Only when I ask to share his screen do I get a blank white screen. Audio works and I can manipulate his curser but all I have is a white screen. I have tried changing the resolution on his iMac but this has not helped. Also we are both using Google Talk as the chat server.

Hi,
Historically iChat Updates came in OS updates.
Not every OS update had an iChat update but that was the way they were delivered.
Only twice during the lifetime of iChat 3 have there ever been standalone Updates outside of this.
Most Updates are now through the App Store but Software Update can still be used (I have mine set on Daily despite Apple's Updates normally coming on Tuesdays)
One person stated he thought there had been a change with OS 10.8.1 saying the Build number of Messages had changed.
In my experience it has not and when Apple do update something the build Number and Version number change.
It is widely know that Apple send Developers and others advance copies of the OS to try out.
Those people sign NDAs (Non Disclosure Agreements) so you will not see any discussion of any up and coming stuff on this site.
8:55 PM Thursday; September 6, 2012
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"
 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

A refinement for iChat screen sharing

Leopard's iChat screen sharing is a great feature, and I'm teaching various of my relatives how to use it so I can help them more readily. However, there is one refinement that could be added to it that would increase its already great utility: the ability to rapidly switch from sharing one screen to sharing the other, in a two-participant session. To do this now, as far as I know, the session must be terminated and restarted, and this is inconvenient.
One way I can imagine this working is to have a third option: share both screens; the initiator is thereafter allowed to switch back and forth between the two screens, making the chosen one visible to both parties.
And while I'm posting, I'd like to say that the continuing interference by Comcast in iChat Video Chatting that I and many others have reported on over the past year or two seems not to arise in screen sharing. Let us count our blessings in that regard, and hope for a resolution of the overall problem.
Tom DeBoni
Oakland, CA

Hi,
Change the resolution on the Older OS.
It is the only workaround we have found at the moment.
9:05 PM Wednesday; October 17, 2012
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"
 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Fix for iChat Screen Sharing Problem I was Having

Okay, I just thought I'd chime in and try to help some people from going through the frustration that I recently went through with iChat in Leopard. Here's my story.
iChat screen sharing used to work for me and suddenly one day it stopped working correctly... lemme explain. I would let someone share my screen, and it would start working and they would wave their mouse around and 10 seconds later, it will freeze and lose connection with a timeout.
At first I thought it was a firewall issue but, after thinking about it.... I thought, how could it be if it was working for 10 seconds and suddenly stopped? If it was a firewall issue, it wouldn't work at all. Then I thought maybe my iChat app got corrupted, so I used Time Machine (yay!) to restore iChat from one of the first days I got Leopard. That didn't work. So then I figured my preferences got corrupt, so I deleted my com.apple.ichat.plist file and still didn't work. I was so mad that Apple made this feature basically useless for me until I had a crazy hunch.
After an hour if pulling out my hair, I finally had an idea of what might be causing the crash... I noticed I had my old iSight plugged in (the external firewire iSight) into my Apple Cinema Display. I unplugged it and iChat screen sharing worked PERFECTLY. You should also know that I don't have problems with my iSight, it works well on Video Chat and Audio Chat and even presentation mode but, it screwed up screen sharing.
In conclusion, if you're experiencing sudden connection losses with iChat screen sharing, check to see if you have an iSight plugged into your Mac and unplug it.
Also, you're welcome.

Thomson-Alcatel 780 modem.
Unfortunately this is going to needs a new modem (or Bridge this one and have a router)
Read this section http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/page4a.html#_text
Although the SIP Binding to port 5060 in this device could be UnBound in Version 4 firmware it has not been fully Unbound in Version 5 or 6 (Despite the version 5/6 instructions further down that section).
The problem can make the iChat issue look intermittent with it working with some Buddies and not others.
Getting a new modem that does not have SIP binding is the only realistic way around the issue (Or setting the device to Bridge and having another router)
11:00 PM Friday; April 25, 2008

IChat Screen Sharing Stops when Switching Between Displays

Hi. Have been doing iChat quite nicely with my Dad for years and now I have a problem. Running current Snow Leopard 10.6.2 on both Macs, iChat 5.0.1. I usually hop onto his screen to help him solve problems, answer questions, do updates, etc. Until very recently, I have been able to switch between his desktop and mine by clicking on the small alternate display window. I could work on his computer and mine by simply switching between them in this manner. Now, suddenly, iChat screen sharing stops when I click on my display in the small window. This action returns me to my display, but the screen sharing session ends and I need to request it again. Any idea what might be going on here? I'm stumped. Thanks.

Hi,
Is there any chance you are clicking on the top left hand corner (where the red blob would be) as this will Quit Screen Sharing ?
10:13 PM Friday; January 15, 2010
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

IChat Screen Sharing mouse problems

I just bought a new iMac 20" for my mom for xmas with the thought that the iChat screen sharing will help me to remotely configure her system.
I am finding that once I have initiated the screen share I am have erratic mouse behavior. When I am sharing her screen and moving the mouse the cursor will jump around the screen. this happens even worse if I am click-dragging a window around.
Is there any way to improve this performance? At work I use Windows remote desktop with no issues such as this, and I would expect the same performance from OSX.
Thanks

My first thought is that your mother is also trying to control the mouse.
I presume though you have exclude this.
iChat Screen Sharing does include an Audio component so the computer is doing an Audio chat at the same time effectively. This will have a impact on the processor usage particularly over the way iChat A/V chats use the processor. (they tend to dip in and out to spread the load and not hog the processor).
10:11 PM Friday; January 9, 2009

IChat Screen Sharing - I can share my screen, but Dad can't share his

Hi all,
Last week I used iChat screen sharing to help my Dad with his iMac, and although it froze and dropped out frequently, it was working.
This week, for some reason we can only share my screen, but not his. On both sides, the option to share his screen is disabled (greyed out). Also the Video > Screen Sharing Enabled menu item is also disabled on his Mac, but mine is enabled and turned on.
Both of us have Screen Sharing turned on in System Preferences > Sharing, and both have set to allow access to anyone.
He restarted his Mac a couple of times, but no luck.
Has anyone had the same problem, and is there a solution? Any idea why it would work last week but not this week?
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
Will.

Hi,
You can come back and change the marking of the answered or not so that is not a problem.
What it should help is stop other people joining in (an effectively loading you with email alerts when they do).
A good specific title like your should also help.
9:00 PM Tuesday; November 27, 2007

Screen Sharing slows down dramatically after RDP upgrade from 2 to 3

For some reason once we upgraded from RDP 2 to RDP 3 our Screen Sharing has gotten increasingly slow. We are using it in a school environment where the teacher will share their screen with the students, and as we add more students to the share the sharing slows down to become unusable. This problem is intermittent (otherwise I would go though the logs and run a control test), and has only started upon upgrading to RDP 3. Anyone else experience this behavior? I believe we are all running 10.5.x on the OS side.

I also know someone that is having this issue; it was fine with the previous ARD version they were using in the computer lab, but after upgrading screen sharing have slowed down. It's not really that of an issue when its just one computer, but when they put all 30 computers the FPS drops down.
Keep in mind that they were not having the issues before upgrading. I've also been told that, currently, they got a 5 MB connection. I ran a network test and everything seemed fine (or more like I didn't know what was going to tell me that something was wrong, but all the numbers were very low).

IChat screen sharing - beat head against wall

Been going at this for hours to try and solve my attempt to have my dad share his screen with me. I'll try to list all relevant info for assistance. I have read many of Ralph Jones' posts, but I haven't resolved my situation. I am trying to use screen sharing with my Dad.
I recently moved 12 miles, keeping the same ISP Frontier with dsl and they gave me a different modem. Went from the Westell A90 - 750045 - 07 to the Netgear B90 - 7550044 - 07. Software interface is the same. The other change this week was I "upgraded" my Dad to an iMac G4 1.25 with 10.5, gaining screen sharing in iChat. He had a older iMac with 10.4 before the upgrade. I have a MacBookPro with 10.6.8. Also, part of the new move I started using the OBi110 voip device for Google Voice free phone calls. I worked on this problem with the device plugged in and removed from router. My screen sharing issue continued both ways. May be an issue, don't know. Port conflict? Issue continues when it's unplugged.
We can video chat and audio chat and text. After failing to screen share with the new Netgear, I switched back to the Westel. Screen sharing working for 1-2 seconds then stopped. I believe with both routers I got 'Screen sharing failed to start because" An unknown connection error occurred." '
After messing with port forwarding on the Westel with no success, out of frustration I switched back to the Netgear and here I am hoping to get this to work. It SEEMS that port forwarding is the issue talked about the most, so I'll explain the best I was able to do with this. Here is a screen shot of my port forwarding.
Also, connection doctor says this for both modems.
My dad's connection doctor does not have the Network status option (older version of iChat), so I can't isolate the problem to him or me, except that I believe it is with me.
I think I told you all the info and I have found is trying to solve this. I would GREATLY appreciate any help.

Hi,
1) My name is Ralph JOHNS
2) The first posts does not show me pics from some reason.
3) the second post pic has nothing to do with iChat or Messages Screen Sharing. It is about a stand alone app that can also be used.
4) forget Port Forwarding.
Screen Sharing in iChat or Messages is a Audio Only chats with a VNC connection alongside.
The VNC part is on a random port and therefore cannot be set up in Port Forwarding or Port Triggering.
You should use UPnP.
Most Netgears (when using their Own Software) tend to have a menu item for UPnP and it is also ON by Default.
However I think the Netgear you list is a branded software option for the ISP you have.
Undo any Port Forwarding settings.
Turn On any UPnP setting (Should be a simple Enabled/Disable check box).
If the Google Voice is a piece of Hardware make sure it is on it's own port.
A Company called Vonage do somethings similar but the instructions are to put it in line between the router and the computer.
This causes problems as it then tends to "suck" all SIP data and try and send it to the phone whereas iChat and Messages use the same SIP Protocol to initiate calls.
(SIP = Session Intiation Protocol)
9:32 PM Friday; June 21, 2013
 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.4)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

IChat screen sharing problem with AIM

Hi,
I have two laptops - one is a MacBook and the other is a PowerBook. Both are running Leopard. At first, when I had tried using the screen sharing feature of iChat, it had worked flawlessly on both the Bonjour network as well as the AIM network.
Now, for some reason, I cannot get screen sharing to work using the AIM network. I am able to conduct text chats, audio chats and video chats, but no screen sharing over AIM. Screen sharing over the Bonjour network continues to work without a problem.
Any advice?

For some reason ichat does not work when internet sharing is on.
Therefore that might be the problem with your screen sharing since you seem to not be able to get it to work (audio is part of the feature and if you have recently relocated you might not realize that internet sharing is on).

Double-NAT when iChat "Screen Sharing"

I have a weird situation, wondering if all you super-network geniuses could offer an opinion...
My current setup:
-DSL Modem hooked up to a Time Capsule.
-Time Capsule in Ethernet Mode & "Share Public IP Address: NAT & DHCP Enabled."
-Time Capsule has a wireless 5Gz "N-Only" network.
-2PC's, and an Airport Express connected to N Network wirelessly.
-Airport Express "Extends network" via ethernet cable to Slingbox & TiVo (via switch.)
-Airport Extreme wired to Time Capsule.
-Airport Extreme in Bridge Mode.
-Airport Extreme has a wireless "G" network & USB Printer.
-Airport Extreme network for "iPhones & G computer."
-Only Port Mapping is for slingbox, ports 5001,5001.
O.k. Everything works PERFECTLY! Except when I start a "Screen Sharing" session in iChat AV.
When I click "Ask to share xxx's screen" It says "Waiting on xxx" and then Airport Utility pops up, saying that the Time Capsule has an error - "Double NAT" and I'm off the internet. All I have to do is select "Restart Time Capsule" and after a reboot, I'm back in business, and all is well again. I can screen share, chat, etc. However, if I try and start "Screen Sharing" again, same thing - Double NAT.
Do I need to enable a Port Mapping for iChat?
Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. I thought I finally had the network thing down, but this one little thing keeps making me reset my router. (Doesn't seem like the Apple way.)
Thanks.

I have the Time Capsule set up as the DHCP server, distributing a shared IP address.
The Express is set up to "Join and existing network."
I only have 1 Extreme and it is set to "Bridge Mode."
The Time Capsule is the router hooked directly to the DSL modem. It is in "Ethernet" mode, and I'm not quite sure how to check the little DSL modem's settings.
It's so strange, that only this one little request, "Ask to share xxx's screen" does this error occur.
Looking at more settings on the Time Capsule, under NAT settings, I do NOT have the "Enable default host at:" option checked, and the "Enable NAT Port Mapping Protocol" IS checked. Under Port Mappings, 5001,5001 is the only item for Slingbox.

Ichat screen sharing - "slow network"

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