Question

How to video chat between Macintosh running iChat to PC running AIM.

Asked by: g1bbonsj

Hi there.  I use a Mac and am able to iChat with other Mac users, for example my mother in law in France.
However, I am unable to chat with my parents in England, who use AIM.  I'm pretty sure they are using at least AIM 5.5 - we redownloaded from the AIM website last weekend.
Issue plays out as follows:
0. We can text chat just fine.
1. I can add them as a buddy, but they do not have a video icon, and so I can't video chat them.
2. they can add me and initiate a video chat.  I then get notified that "James G." (my dad) is trying to chat me.  I accept his chat.  Then a few seconds later, I get a message saying unable to start chat session because "John G." failed to respond: John G. is me, not my parents.

I am running iMac G5 with non-built-in iSight.  I use a wireless router (not apple's) to connect to RoadRunner cable service.  My parents use DSL in england - I think AOL is their ISP.

I haven't found any useful documentation on the internet describing this problem.  Can anyone help?

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Asked On
2006-02-19 at 17:03:22ID21743199
Tags

ichat

,

pc

,

chat

,

video

,

aim

Topic

Networking Hardware for Macintosh

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Answers

 

by: walsellersPosted on 2006-02-21 at 07:43:21ID: 16009522

Its possible that your router is blocking a port needed for video chat?

I'm pretty sure text chat through AIM is accomplished via AOL's servers.  ie. Your iChat sends text to AOL,  AOL sends that text to your buddy.  The buddy list works this way too. You both log into AIM service, AIM service sends notification to each that the buddy is logged in.

However, the video service works directly between the computers.  AOL's AIM only serves to give you the IP address to start the video connection.

 

by: g1bbonsjPosted on 2006-02-21 at 08:12:40ID: 16009845

That's conceivable - my router (a Siemens SpeedStream 2624) has a built-in firewall.  How do I fix it?

 

by: Dave_WatkinPosted on 2006-02-21 at 08:53:08ID: 16010298

It's either a firewall port that needs opening or it's the NAT translation on the router. It's frustrating as well, isn't it?! I had so much trouble with my ADSL router I went out and bought another one and it worked first time!

It's explained pretty comprehensively here:- http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93208

 

by: g1bbonsjPosted on 2006-02-22 at 17:22:10ID: 16025265

I tried opening all ports on my router (I did this by creating a "2 Special Applications" one which opened ports 1024-65534 udp mapped to internal ports 1024-65534 udp and another which opened ports 1024-65534 TCP and mapped to internal ports 1024-65534 TCP) and disabling the firewall on mac (Sharing/Firewall/Stop).  No joy.

How can I go about getting diagnostics for this ... does iChat or AIM produce a log of any sort? or any intermediate component e.g. firewall or whatever.

 

by: jimjo95Posted on 2006-03-13 at 06:36:14ID: 16174312

Are you using a Firewire webcam or a USB webcam? if USB, you'll need to install a patch, like:
http://www.ioxperts.com/products/webcamx.html

I've also heard this app. works if you want to video chat with a PC user:
http://www.trillian.cc/

 

by: jeffrey1344Posted on 2006-04-13 at 12:33:52ID: 16448804

I have a iBook G4 running OS 10.4.6 with iSight. Trying to establish a video/audio chat with a Dell PC. The new AIM has "trident" which supposedly interferes with the ability to do the video connection. MSN cannot cross platforms. Skype's FAQs say they can't either. Does anyone know how to solve this problem?

 

by: VenabiliPosted on 2006-04-14 at 05:30:53ID: 16452809

jeffrey1344,

Please post your own question and do not spam the questions of the other posters. Thanks

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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