Using iChat with Google Gmail address

Question

I have a Google Gmail address. So I had my sister create one of her own. She told me what that address was and I added her to the Buddy List, no issues there. I also added my Gmail account under iChat - Preferences - Accounts. I can see that I am available. So can my sister, she sees me on her Buddy List. And I can see her on my Buddy List. So far everything looks like it should just work fine. But when she attempts to invite me to a video chat, I get the popup window from her asking if I want to accept her invite, so I click on Accept. But then it gets hung up on the spinning circle, waiting for her to connect. It will not and just hangs. So I have to simply close the window. I then try and invite her to a video chat, but she for some reason, does NOT see my invite popup window. So I had her check and recheck the settings in iChat - Preferences - Accounts. It matches to what I have set on mine. But I am still wondering why we cannot connect. The only thing we can do is text chat. Am I missing some little detail that I just cannot see ???? I have iChat version 5.0 - Snow Leopard. She has Leopard, I am thinking its version 4 for hers. Please any suggestions will help. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Hi,
So Mac to Mac. (and yes iChat 4 and iChat 5 as stated)
Google ID to Google ID which both can see and presumably Text chat.
This leave the Video and Audio Port along with the Visible Invite port.
The Visible Invite port seems to work.
Or rather calling out on your sister's end gives you the pop up but she is not getting your response.
She on the other hand can not get your Visible Invite.
I would start with checking on the Leopard end that her System Preferences > Sharing does not have Internet Sharing turned On.
This is an issue for iChat 4.x.x
Both ends should also check the Mac OS Firewall
System Preferences > Security Sharing.
In Leopard Allow All is the Firewall Off
Allow Specifics and Allow All will work for iChat but it has to be added to the list if Specifics is used (iChat is NOT an Essential app so that will not do).
In Snow Leopard if the Firewall is ON go to the Advanced Button and Enable Allow Signed apps and add iChat to the List.
Next check your Routing device's settings.
Use UPnP (Universal Plug and play) where you can to allow the ports to be used.
Most will let you call out but not allow things back if the ports are not opened here.
If you have a modem that routes and a router only one should be doing DHCP to the LAN.
9:21 PM Friday; March 26, 2010
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