Opening Your NAT settings for Xbox Live

[VballChick PMS]

So my dad's computer is stupid, its windows 2000 and we have a Linksys Router. I can't seem to open up the NAT settings and it really frustrates me because I have strict NAT settings on Xbox Live and it wont let me join some peoples rooms on COD4 or Halo 3 or hear some people on games like Rainbow Six Vegas 2. PLEASE someone help me. :mvpmsh2o:

[Retro1]

VballChick I use to have the same problems when I started on live. But mine was closed NAT, would drive me nuts. Found out it was my modem. So I went and bought a new one, and kicked my old one on to the road. I was hoping a car would run over it, but the stupid thing is still with me, its stronger then a rhino.

[H2O Omega X]

http://www.xboxlivetheguide.co.uk/XBoxLiveTheGuide3.php?title=My%20NAT%20Setting%20i s%20Strict/Moderate%20what%20can%20I%20do

visit this link, it has instructions on how to change your NAT settings to open for most routers, as i had the same problem last week and have fixed it now. I think for the linksys brand it suggests to download the updated firmware for your router and reset your router to factory settings, as that brand has had trouble with NAT for a while.

Hope this helps, if not let me know i might be able to help some more.

EDIT : http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_CASupport_C1&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1166859841396&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper&lid=4139637314B03&displaypage=download

link to the list of wireless routers, and it has the appropriate firmware for your router model. (If your router is wired should be on a different page)

[PHiNiX]

ok. your nat ( network address translation ) of your router.i believe this is the way your router communicates with other networks (in your case xboxs)

1.run a network test if the bottom test shows open then you are fine/ if it shows somthing other then that
closed/moderate then you need to fix that

2. there are a couple ways you can fix it one is to see if your router has a DMZ which is basicallly a setting in your router that tells a certain port on the back to not have the nat rules applied to it

- to fix the dmz settings find the default ip and username/password (usually admin or some version of that)

-then you will need to locate the securities tab (normally were dmz is located, may be somewere else)

-you will need to find the ip that your xbox is using (its in the network tab of your xbox 360 settings)

-then you will need to apply that ip to the DMZ zone on your router hit apply. and it should be fine

3. buy a gaming/vista ready router. its made for this kind of thing

((if you need more help my gamertag is "PHiNiX 08" or you can im me at "phinix08@hotmail.com" i would be more then happy to help

[H2O Omega X]

a new router is not really needed, just upgrade the firmware and reset the router to default, not tried the DMZ option before so can't comment on that one.

[VballChick PMS]

my router is a BEFW11S4 Linksys Router and I tried port fowarding and all that all i need to do is manually set it up on my xbox but it keeps saying failed

[H2O Omega X]

i tried searching again for some more tips, all i found was that the linksys routers are plagued with that trouble so the only solutions are; upgrade your firmware on the linksys site and reset the router to default settings

[TechIsCool]

you all have not asked the correct question who is you ISP or internet Service Provider

Nat is a simple thing to explain
http://techiscool.com/Pictures/h2o/WhatisNat.png
when you have a internet connection you are given an external ip address. so everything that you send and receive is sent through this external ip address. now this is fine when you have one computer or one xbox because it talk directly to the outside world. but when you have more than one person send and receiving data on your network then it turns into NAT where it lets everyone that would like to talk to the outside world talk through this one external ip address
Easy way to explain it is call the internet the Mail delivery man he drops of mail in you mail box if there is only one person living there then you know all the mail is your but if not you go around to your people that live in your house and drop off the mail that's what NAT does

[PMS Xena]

Another thing I've found that works for opening up the NAT, is to enable Universal Plug n' Play on your router. If it has it, it'll be in one of the settings.

[TechIsCool]

correct but UnPn does not allow external and internal to talk seamlessly without having more than one external ip address port forwarding should work but you need to forward the correct ports