I want to use the videoconferencing ability built into Yahoo Messenger
to videoconference with my mom via the intel USB webcams that we have,
both of us on Windows XP.  But I connect to my SBC DSL via a DI-704
(D-Link) DSL gateway/router which does NAT, and I can't seem to make
the videoconferencing work through that; I get an error about it not
working through firewalls, even if I set the DI-704 to open up all
ports.
How can I videoconference with my mom over my setup?

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Clarification of Question by tmorrowus-ga on 24 Jan 2003 20:58 PST

I should also mention that I've tried microsoft netmeeting and the
Intel VideoPhone software that came with the cameras, and those didn't
connect either due to this problem.  I also get the firewall problem
with I try to use voice chat with Yahoo Messenger on various yahoo
groups that I am part of.   I think the problem is due to the NAT
network address translation function of my DI-704.  There is no way to
turn that off.

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Request for Question Clarification by nishka-ga on 24 Jan 2003 22:06 PST

Hi there,

I'd be happy to help you with your question.  I just have a few
clarification questions:

1.  Would a satisfactory answer involve only getting this set up to
work with the yahoo product, or can I find an alternative product for
you?

2.  Have you set up the DI-704 as a DMZ?  I'm assuming that's what you
meant by 'opening all ports.'  In my experience opening up the DMZ is
usually the best way to get these sorts of applications working behind
a firewall.

3.  Is your mother behind any sort of firewall?  If not, what ISP is
she using?  There are ISP's that will have trouble routing these sorts
of protocols.

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Clarification of Question by tmorrowus-ga on 25 Jan 2003 12:54 PST

Hi.

I'd really prefer to get this working with yahoo messenger, because I
want to use yahoo messenger to voice chat with the various groups that
I'm a part of as well.

I'm not sure what DMZ means, and I can't remember exactly what I did
when I "opened all ports"; I will have to look when I have more time
(right now I've just got a couple minutes).  I will note that right
now in the setup screen of the 704 it says:
  IP Address of DMZ Host 192.168.0.124   (Checked) Enable 

My mother isn't behind any firewall to my knowledge; she is on dialup
AOL.

With MSN vidoeconferencing (eg. MS Portrait) the person in the
firewall needs to be the one initiating the call, which, in that case,
means the other person invites the firewalled user, who then calls out
using the supplied IP address from the non-firewalled user. You can't
generally get around 2 firewalls though.
Also, are you port-forwarding to your machine? There is a difference
between ports on the router being open and them being accessible by
your PC.

I ended up deciding to just use public webcam software instead...
ww.com has a fairly easy to use system where I install the software
and then my mom can see my webcam image at myuserid.ww.com.  It works
over proxy systems with no additional setup by using "post" mode and I
get a few frames per second over my DSL line.