connection problem or something else?

[TFT]

Hi.

I use Messenger as a way to keep in touch with my gf in the States (as I am
in Europe for the moment...)
We experience some problems though...
Sometimes when I 'invite' her to an audio or video conversation she does not
get that invitation...
Same happens when I send a file or photo...
This does not happen all the time, but enough to be irritating...

When she invites me to a video or audio conversation, somtimes my computer
freezes for a few seconds, but after that it seems to work fine... But at
other times the video conversation or audio conversation just cannot seem to
make the connection, and it cancels automatically because it times out...

We both use the last version of Messenger (7)...

So my question is: what could be the problem?
I have a router and firewall, she only has a router...
I have turned the firewall off, but this does not seem to improve the
chances of a succesfull connection...
Both use windows XP...

Thanks in advance for the help///

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings,

Sadly, the "don't see the invitation" issue happens to a number of people (including me) and
it is -highly- irritating.

If Messenger can't make a direct connection between you and your contact, it may make use a
relay server (which may or may not work). Instead to improve your reliability with
Messenger, your router(s) need to support Universal Plug and Play (UPnP). A wide of variety
of NATs (like routers) support UPnP now, but you may need to turn it on in the configuration
for the device/router or obtain a newer firmware release from the device manufacturer that
does support UPnP (or at least makes it use UPnP properly).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2005 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.

 

[TFT]

Greetings,

Sadly, the "don't see the invitation" issue happens to a number of people (including me) and
it is -highly- irritating.

If Messenger can't make a direct connection between you and your contact, it may make use a
relay server (which may or may not work). Instead to improve your reliability with
Messenger, your router(s) need to support Universal Plug and Play (UPnP). A wide of variety
of NATs (like routers) support UPnP now, but you may need to turn it on in the configuration
for the device/router or obtain a newer firmware release from the device manufacturer that
does support UPnP (or at least makes it use UPnP properly).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2005 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.

Again, many thanks Jonathan!

Marco

 

[TFT]

Greetings,

Sadly, the "don't see the invitation" issue happens to a number of people (including me) and
it is -highly- irritating.

If Messenger can't make a direct connection between you and your contact, it may make use a
relay server (which may or may not work). Instead to improve your reliability with
Messenger, your router(s) need to support Universal Plug and Play (UPnP). A wide of variety
of NATs (like routers) support UPnP now, but you may need to turn it on in the configuration
for the device/router or obtain a newer firmware release from the device manufacturer that
does support UPnP (or at least makes it use UPnP properly).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2005 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.

Ok, but what if we both have UPnP enabled?
Shouldn't that have solved the problem?
Both of us have the latest firmware...

The problem solves itself when we reboot...
Only for so long though...

Marco

 

[Derek N]

TFT,
My son was experiencing a similar problem with his gf in US; he has now
installed a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) programme, PC-to-PC is free
and PC-to-Phone is cheaper than normal commercial networks. The
transmission is better than both Messengers (without distortion, delays or
interruptions) He downloaded his system from www.skype.com and hasn't
regretted his conversion to VoIP.
Derek N

 

[TFT]

TFT,
My son was experiencing a similar problem with his gf in US; he has now
installed a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) programme, PC-to-PC is free
and PC-to-Phone is cheaper than normal commercial networks. The
transmission is better than both Messengers (without distortion, delays or
interruptions) He downloaded his system from www.skype.com and hasn't
regretted his conversion to VoIP.
Derek N

Hi Derek,

Thanks for the tip.

TFT