I can't find an IM client that works with my internet connection...

[Voidness]

... and it's very frustrating, especially after 8 months of using my iBook as my main machine.

I've been looking for an IM client (mainly for using MSN) that works behind a school proxy/firewall, because it's my only internet connection. I've tried using almost everything that I'm aware of (Microsoft Messenger, Adium, Fire, aMSN, Proteus, and others), and they all don't work. Previously, older versions of MSN Messenger for Windows also didn’t work, but since version 6, it works fine.

So any ideas?

 

[Le Big Mac]

... and it's very frustrating, especially after 8 months of using my iBook as my main machine.

I've been looking for an IM client (mainly for using MSN) that works behind a school proxy/firewall, because it's my only internet connection. I've tried using almost everything that I'm aware of (Microsoft Messenger, Adium, Fire, aMSN, Proteus, and others), and they all don't work. Previously, older versions of MSN Messenger for Windows also didn’t work, but since version 6, it works fine.

So any ideas?

Why not call the network admin and find out what settings you need to tweak in order to use an IM program. It may well be they block access, in which case you'll need to use one of the online versions. Or it may be they can tell you what settings to use and solve your problem.

 

[GimmeSlack12]

Try changing the port. In the preferences just change the port number to anything else. That is how I got around my AIM problem.

 

[MacNeXT]

Try Adium and use the "HTTP Connect method", under MSN preferences. This enabled me to use MSN behind a firewall. Apparently, the Windows version of MSN Messenger switches over to HTTP connect automatically, whereas the Mac version of MSN Messenger does not implement it. Adium and I believe aMSN too, implement it but don't use it automatically if the regular method fails. Hope this helps.

 

[Voidness]

Try Adium and use the "HTTP Connect method", under MSN preferences. This enabled me to use MSN behind a firewall. Apparently, the Windows version of MSN Messenger switches over to HTTP connect automatically, whereas the Mac version of MSN Messenger does not implement it. Adium and I believe aMSN too, implement it but don't use it automatically if the regular method fails. Hope this helps.

I tried that before with no luck (and I just tried it now too).

Try changing the port. In the preferences just change the port number to anything else. That is how I got around my AIM problem.

I would try that if I knew which ports are used by MSN on Windows. I tried to figure them out from netstat on Windows, i tried all the ports that seem to connect to MSN servers, but none of them worked.

Why not call the network admin and find out what settings you need to tweak in order to use an IM program. It may well be they block access, in which case you'll need to use one of the online versions. Or it may be they can tell you what settings to use and solve your problem.

But if the Windows version of MSN works, there must be a way to make it work on my Mac. If nothing helps at all, I might try to contact the network admins.

 

[rebhaf]

... and it's very frustrating, especially after 8 months of using my iBook as my main machine.

I've been looking for an IM client (mainly for using MSN) that works behind a school proxy/firewall, because it's my only internet connection. I've tried using almost everything that I'm aware of (Microsoft Messenger, Adium, Fire, aMSN, Proteus, and others), and they all don't work. Previously, older versions of MSN Messenger for Windows also didn’t work, but since version 6, it works fine.

So any ideas?

Years ago I was trying to use AIM at work and my company's firewall was blocking it. I'm really tech-stupid, so I just called AOL (that was my provider then) and one of their support people walked me through what to do, step by step. Worked fine after that.

 

[GimmeSlack12]

I would try that if I knew which ports are used by MSN on Windows. I tried to figure them out from netstat on Windows, i tried all the ports that seem to connect to MSN servers, but none of them worked.

That is what I'm talking about. Change to any random port. It's worth a shot.
The known ports for MSN are probably blocked.

 

[tag]

You could always use a web based client like e-messanger. I haven't used thier MSN webclient (as I don't have an MSN account) but thier AIM one works well. (Just to note I did have some trouble using e-messanger with Safari(it kept crashing Safari), though it worked perfectly with Netscape and Camino).

 

[Voidness]

That is what I'm talking about. Change to any random port. It's worth a shot.
The known ports for MSN are probably blocked.

Yeah, I tried using random ports too, didn't work.

You could always use a web based client like e-messanger. I haven't used thier MSN webclient (as I don't have an MSN account) but thier AIM one works well. (Just to note I did have some trouble using e-messanger with Safari(it kept crashing Safari), though it worked perfectly with Netscape and Camino).

I'm aware of that site, but I don't really trust them with my account (call me paranoid). But right now I'm using one of my MSN accounts just to try it out.

 

[calebjohnston]

I would just call the tech nerds for your school, and ask them to help you - there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to use an instant messsenging client.

 

[Voidness]

Any other ideas?