Messages keeps saying "Your message could not be sent..."

Question

I am sick to death with this problem in Messages. I thought it was specific to one colleague, but now I just had it happen to another.
I will get messages just fine. I can respond a few times (around 3) without problem, and then it simply refuses to send any more beyond that. Instead, I get the small red "!" and when I click on it, I get the above message. I have also confirmed that my messages are not being recieved on the other side. If I click "resend" they usually fail as well.
I am using an AppleID for some cloud services on this Mac, but have unchecked "iMessages" in the menu--I am NOT trying to link to any of my other devices. I am simply trying to use AIM as a simple IM client. I am using my AIM credentials that I have had for years.
I am super tired of getting up and delivering my IMs by sneaker-net. Does anyone have any idea how to fix this?
I have quit and restarted Messages. I have tried using a different client (Adium, which fails silently). I have tried force quitting the Imagent process in Activity Monitor.
The account is "open" on a sleeping (likely logged out of AIM) Lion machine at home. That fails to connect sometimes and I have to do the use-SSL-toggle-trick to get it to finally make me online. But, I don't usually have failed messages at home.
I have tried the use-SSL-toggle-trick and it doesn't fix it reliably either.
I get this error in syslog:
  AIMIm::OnHostError: buddy=foo, error=(code=3, subcode=0, category=7, url="", message="")
(where "foo" is my buddy)
Thoughts?
thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,
QUit Messages.
Launch Terminal (Applications/Utilities)
Copy and Paste in to Terminal the bold text below.
/Applications/Messages.app/Contents/MacOS/Messages -errorLogLevel 7
This will cause the app to launch but at the same time create a long Log in Terminal.
It will start like this:-
Ralphs-iMac:~ ralph$ /Applications/Messages.app/Contents/MacOS/Messages -errorLogLevel 7
203415.154327 -registerForHardwareNotification: 1 devices
203415.156199 ER_AddFilter (0): Adding [[email protected]]->[0]
203415.156242 setLocalUserName: [email protected]
203415.158333 Default video size is (640 x 480)
203415.158948 H264: (640 x 480) @ 30 fps
203415.159253 H264: (320 x 240) @ 30 fps
203415.159592 H263: (352 x 288) @ 30 fps
203415.159751 H263: (176 x 144) @ 30 fps
203415.159846 ######################################
203415.159852 # SoundDec_Create(16000 --> 3) #
203415.159856 ######################################
At the point when the Buddy Lists have logged in but before any Messaging  it will pause and look like this
203422.760081 SNATMAP Configuration: snatmap.apple.com:5678
203432.839240 Comm reporting flags: 000000D0
203432.936179 CommNAT result:
External IP: 1XX.XXX.XX.XX
External Ports: 16403, 16403, 16403
CNAT_BADTEST ....... 0
CNAT_ISFULLCONE .... 0
CNAT_ISPAT ......... 0
CNAT_ISPATHOST ..... 0
CNAT_TRYPRESERVE ... 1
CNAT_PATINORDER .... 0
CNAT_BLOCKIP ....... 1
CNAT_BLOCKPORT ..... 1
CNAT_LOOPBACK ...... 0
It should try to connect to Apple (in prep for Video and Audio Chats) on port 5678
It will list the extrernal IP.
0s are Negative and 1s are "True"
It may report Blocked IP  and Ports depending on th type of method used in your router.
I use UPnP which will only open the ports when the app needs them.
Much of the info in between the top section and the bottom is the app testing for Internet Speed and whether you have a camera and Mic.
203420.324121 BWD: GotBandwidth: 9019735/44891640 (up/down) @[16.0.168.192:0.255.255.255]
203420.324134 BWD bandwidth: 9019 kbits up, 44891 kbits down.
203420.324138 videoNetworkCapable: 1 -- 3 max participants.
203420.324142 audioNetworkCapable: 1 -- 9 max participants.
In this bit your LAN IP is shown in reverse.
(yep that is 40Mb download)
The log will continue when you do certain things.
The obvious one is starting a Video or Audio Chat.
It is less responsive if just sending Text (as this is on a port you have already logged in on).
Can you show me the top, the bottom (IP and COMMNAT results) as I have called it, along with the Bandwidth Results ?
I don't need the camera and Mic status unless you think something is particularly crazy.
You may or may not get anything whilst sending text (even if you add a Pic or File)
If you do get something can you post this.
The app will work normally (well as normally as yours seems to).
Once you have either past or experienced  your issue you can Quit Messages and then Quit Terminal.
8:57 pm      Friday; May 16, 2014
​  iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 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