[360] NAT problems

So I'm trying to play MW3 but it takes ages to join a game and it says my NAT is strict. I should know what that means but I don't. All I know is that I've looked everywhere to find a way to un-strict-ify it but to no avail. Even on the BT website where the guide is simple it wasn't any help (it involved MAC addresses in the device list but my xbox wasn't listed). So, I'm asking you guys for help!

My setup probably isn't helping with matter. My 360 is connected via wifi to a router, this router is connected to a network hub with a wire, which is then connected to the BT Home Hub via another wire. All I know is that I've scoured settings in both wireless routers and checked everything I can think of and still nothing!

 

This is all 'I think...' - I haven't tested this myself so if it doesn't work I apologise. Before tinkering make sure you back up the configurations for both your BT router and your Wireless Access Point...

Your Xbox won't be appearing in your list of connected devices when looking at the BT router because your Xbox isn't technically connected to the BT router. As far as your BT router is concerned the only connected device is the wireless access point you've got daisy-chained to it and whatever else connects directly to the BT router.

You first off need to assign your Wireless Access Point a static IP address which is outside the DHCP scope of your BT router, probably 192.168.1.5 will do, I think the DHCP scope on BT routers typically excludes the IP addresses between 1-10.

You then need to do the same for your Xbox - Ok, I just found a guide for giving the 360 it's own IP > http://portforward.com/networking/staticip-xbox360.htm

Once that is done you need to edit the Firewall / NAT / Port Forward options on your BT router and tell it to either (if changing firewall settings) just let the traffic on the MW3 ports through or (using Port Forwarding / NAT) forward that specific port traffic to your Xbox's IP address.

It's hard to give a precise answer as I don't know what your Wireless Access Point is doing in terms of it's configuration...

A list of ports used by many applications (inc MW3) can be found here > http://portforward.com/cports.htm

 

I got thinking...

How does this stuff work?

NAT / Port Forwarding

First of all, a bit of background -

Computers communicate with each other using different ports (TCP / UDP). There are 65535 possible ports some of which are standard (port 0 - 1023), some are registered with the IANA (governing body, if you like - 1024-49151) and some are dynamic / unassigned (49152-65535).

Some examples of port numbers and their uses are:

80 - Http (general web browsing)
443 - Https (SSL / the secure padlock on amazon por ejemplo)
110 - POP (generally incoming mail)
25 - SMTP (outgoing mail)

Most routers are configured to allow all outbound traffic but only allow inbound traffic on certain (read - commonly used) ports and block everything else as that is what helps keep your devices secure (this way your router acts as a separate firewall).

Port forwarding / NAT is a method of allowing traffic on specific ports through your firewall to a specific destination (typically an IP address) which you set within your router's interface. This is why your Xbox needs a static IP address, if the IP address changes then your Port forwarding is going to try to route to a different destination.

If anyone can add / correct what I've typed then go for it, just trying to give a little detail for clarity.

 

That's too many damn routers and stuff, I'm surprised you don't get more problems. Why do you have all that?

Normal people have a wireless router (that also accepts wired). Incoming internet goes into that, then your computer, xbox, porn server, etc run off that

As to what Jedi_Matt said about port forwarding, I've never heard of having to do that with an Xbox. Setting up a static IP is usually for torrents, or if you need to run a web site from home. Setting it up with one router can be a pain, setting up with your spaghetti system would be maddening.

Again, not sure why you have all that hooked up. What is BT Home? I know you are in Latveria or something, but if I saw that in America, my advice would be to invest $20-$50 in a modern wireless/wired router, rewire and reconfigure so its all running off of that one thing.

 

Flare,

We're both in the UK, BT (British Telecom) are an ISP.

Yeah, I agree about the setup being odd, that's why I wasn't sure my idea would work straight off the bat

 

So is it just a cable connection for the incoming internetwebs?

Cuz it sounds like she has all these routers and hubs in order to get a wired and wireless network working so all the devices work.

I'm thinking that she mis-posted her description a bit. She didn't mention a modem and might have confused the terminology with router/hub.

 

The BT Home Hub is just an ISP-branded modem/router.

 

Are you sure its a router? Our ISP modems over here are just modems, you need a separate router to connect other stuff. Does it have outputs?

 

Yes I'm sure. It also has a VoIP phone.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BT_Home_Hub#Technical_specifications

 

Yeah, the Home Hub is the modem and it has built in network stuffs for wired and wireless networking. The reason why I have so much stuff is because my room is on the opposite side of the house and there's an external wall, several internal walls, and a separating wall (our house was two semi-detached houses). I have a wire from the Home Hub up to my room and because my wi-fi router is just wi-fi I need the wired router in there too so I can have my computer hooked up as well. Unless I get something that does both wired and and wi-fi in my room this is the easiest way of doing it. I'll ask my brother tomorrow but I don't think he has anything spare.

 

Why can't you use WiFi?

If the signal is too crap I recommend using a Ethernet over Power solution.

Still though if all those routers are transparent I don't see what the NAT problem is. You could try switching them to bridge mode.

 

I know what EoP is but I'm not sure how it'd help. As far as I can tell it'd replace the CAT5 cable I use now with two boxes that would use the house wiring instead.

 

4 port switch in your room, plug laptop and Xbox into that.

Other one plugged into BT Home Hub.

 

Exactly right Elk, and you'll also have twice the theoretical speed compared to wifi.

You buy a pair, plug one in the wall near your router and run a cat 5 cable from the router to the EoP box, then plug the other in near your xbox and run a cat 5 cable from your xbox to the EoP box.

There are kits available that will transmit data at 500mb+/sec but the 360 doesn't have gigabit ethernet so it's a bit of a waste.

If you have to get more cables then get them online, we use the brand CablesToGo in our offices without any issue and you can get a 3m booted cable for £2.50 as opposed to 15 quid from Currys.

 

Netgear switches come with a lifetime warranty and that puppy can be picked up for around £40

 

So you reckon I should use the wired connection for my 360? My 360 is so close to the wi-fi router thingumy that signal strength is not going to be an issue. I also don't know if I have any spare cables lying around. Will it make any noticeable difference? Or will I spend half an hour putting the wire in only to go 'well that doesn't seem worth it'?

 

In my experience, wired is always faster than wireless, even if the cable you use is longer than the actual distance to the router. WiFi just cannot compete with fibreoptic cables for speed. And it is usually noticeably faster as well.

 

Wired connections are consistent, whereas wifi may have dips due to interference or other latency issues.

The speed also depends on the wifi 'grade' of your wireless devices. There are the 802.11a, b, g and n standards, your wireless devices will probably offer g or n across the board.

G offers speeds of up to 54mb/s, while N is much faster, up to 600mb/s theoretical.

I would still go with wired even if I had wireless 'N'.

StarWarsFanboy, there isn't any fiber involved unfortunately, purely Cat 5. You can't fiber-up an Xbox anyway can you?

 

I don't pretend to be an expert on these things. I'm sure there's fiberoptics involved somewhere. But whatever.

Also to save on typing in the future, just call me Fanboy. The joys of long usernames. "Which bit to I abbreviate?"

 

Lol no worries. AFAIK the digital audio output may use fiber(?).

Fiber is too pricey and can be a bit snarky if you've got lots of bends in the cable, but I would design the layout of my house around fiber if I had loads of money

 

Yes, digital audio tends to be fibre optic, but I don't use that. The only other fibre optics involved would be if I had fibre optic broadband, which I don't, so it's all regular wiring here. I will be getting a different router thingumy which I'll set up when I get it. Hopefully my Home Hub will then be able to see my 360, or something.

 

By 'different router' do you mean something to replace the BT home hub or just your wireless thingy at the moment that your Xbox currently connects to or both?

If you are just looking at replacing the existing wireless access point then I'd really suggest just having the BT Home Hub as the only router and have the EoP solution with a network switch in the room with your xbox / other goodies.

Even though the netgear switch in my earlier post supports 4 devices, this doesn't divide the speed by 4, so don't let that worry you.

If you are going to get another wireless access point, check out linksys / netgear / draytek.

 

Just what I have in my room. It'll be far easier to manage that way, and the wi-fi signal just doesn't reach my room from the Hume Hub. I did look at the Netgear link but I do actually need wi-fi as well as wired. I often use my laptop in my room and it's far easier to have a wi-fi connection that have wires trailing around.

 

Ok cool, fair enough. How about bringing the home hub through to your room? It'd be some telephone extension but it'd do the trick!

 

I'd move it closer if I could but then the signal wouldn't get anywhere else in the house and it's not just me living here. Would be good if I could though. Maybe when I have my own place I'll set it up so it's all close together.