Starting From Scratch -- How Complicated is This Going To Be?

Question

I am starting from scratch with iChat (and with any video chatting for that matter).
By next week I have to either figure it out and make a video call or find a local set up I can use or fly ot the meeting which I'd really rather not do!
Looking at this forum I see lots of people with problems sharing huge complex error messages. These errors make me wonder if getting going will be too complicated.
What do I need to do? Are there resources / hints / tips / traps / ... people can suggest?
I have a G5 iMac without the built in camera but we do have an old cheap logitech webcam (or I could buy a better camera if needed). And I guess the iMac has a built in mic.
I'm running Tiger 10.4.11 and I believe my iChat is version 3.1.9
My internet connection is a high speed DSL
The call I have to make will just be between two points -- if I'm set up with iChat what do they need to do on their end. They have a professional set up.
At our end we would be three people -- will it be silly the three of us huddled around one computer?
With my first quick look it seems that one either needs to be a .mac or an AOL member -- is that right or are there other options?
If I'm starting from scratch is it worth the trouble to use iChat? Is this the excuse to upgrade to Leopard? Or should I forget iChat and try Skype?
Bla Bla Bla I can go on but I think you get the drift.
Can I do this? Will it work? What is critical? Should I bother?
Thanks
James

Answer 1

Hi,
Start at Ryan's Pages
My Version
The Built-in camera an Mic work.
It is better if the background is uncomplicated and that you are better lit from the front than the Background is (Setting the Screen to something light can also help with this)
You System Preferences > Quicktime > Streaming is almost certainly going to need to be changed to 1.5Mpbs.
If you change this whilst iChat is Open Restart iChat to see the new speed.
Depending on your modem and any router you have they may need to have ports opened as iChat uses ports above the ones that are open by default (And allow Web Browsers and Mail to work) much like an On-line Game.
There are test accounts and real people willing to test with
iChat can Video chat to other iChat users whether they have a camera or not.
Some people can have success with Video Chats to AIM on a PC.
Names
You can use the AIM Buddy list with either a AIM or @mac name
There is also a Jabber List which you can use a Jabber ID or a GoogleMail/Google Talk ID with
If you are connecting to PCs then Looking into MeBeam is a better option at present.
Uses a Web Browser and Flash to allow use of your Camera and Mic.
As far as the number of people around one camera goes it may pay to use two or more cameras as this creates a Drop down in iChat in the Preferences > Video section where one person could switch between the cameras.
Alternatively if this is iChat to iChat then up to 4 computers could be connected in the chat (providing you have the Bandwidth at one end of the connection as it will count and 4 chats)
The Critical bit is understanding your LAN
iChat does not like it when it can see two or more Subnets (or Parallels or being wired and wireless at the same time)
A Company LAN is not likely to use two DHCP servers but it is a common mistake on home LANs as web browsing and Mail still work due to the way the ports are opened.
The Logs you see posted are seen in the Pop up at the time of a failed chat if you open it and they are stored in You Home Folder/Library/Logs/iChatConnectionErrors
They can be somewhat interpreted and point you in the right direction at times.
On the whole people keep posting all of the log but the bit below where it says +Binary Images+ is rarely useful and does not need to be posted.
I hope this helps.
Summary.
Get name.
Test to Test accounts.
Test with real people
Post back any info and about Modem, Router and LAN set up.
+NOTE. With Tiger/iChat 3 you may possibly have issues with an ISP blocking port 5060 for use with their Own VoIP service+
Ask again.
I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my link to my website.
10:06 PM Friday; March 28, 2008