xbox live - NAT help???

Tony G · #1 01-06-2008, 09:54 PM

This is a question for all you xbox live guys that know what you are doing. I just got a 360 finally, and on the test screen my NAT is coming up moderate. I am using a Netgear wireless router which is supposed to be xbox live certified. I am not very good with this stuff, so any help you could give me explained as simple as possible would be greatly appreciated.

Atoz · #2 01-06-2008, 10:39 PM

Make sure the following ports are open in your router (you might have to do this manually):

UDP 88
UDP 3074
TCP 3074

Another thing you can do is to try and disable Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) from your router if it's enabled, or enable it if it's disabled. I know it's strange, but it sometimes works.

Tony G · #3 01-07-2008, 06:18 AM

Thanks Atoz, I'll give it a try. Anybody have any other suggestions, or is this pretty much my best answer?

**WillPlay4Food** · #4 01-07-2008, 07:27 AM

I use Linksys, but basically all I've done is I have UPnP active and let everything else set up automagically. If you do decide to dmz your 360, turn off UPnp.

Also, XB Live has been a crapshoot the last week or two. I wouldn't worry about what the network test says unless it repeatedly gives you the same 'moderate' over time or you cannot join matches.

Tony G · #5 01-07-2008, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillPlay4Food

I use Linksys, but basically all I've done is I have UPnP active and let everything else set up automagically. If you do decide to dmz your 360, turn off UPnp.

Also, XB Live has been a crapshoot the last week or two. I wouldn't worry about what the network test says unless it repeatedly gives you the same 'moderate' over time or you cannot join matches.

Thanks, but "dmz" is a little over my head. What does that mean? Yeah, I know xbox live hasn't been working right lately. I've seen the articles, as well as experienced it first hand. I haven't had too much trouble joining matches, but there are times when it can be really slow to get things going. The problem is that I don't know if it is on my end or on their end half the time.

Fontaine · #6 01-07-2008, 09:11 AM

the only thing i saw wrong was that it wasnt a ps3

Tony G · #7 01-07-2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fontaine

the only thing i saw wrong was that it wasnt a ps3

I have nothing against the ps3, but I'm a Halo fan through and through. In fact, Halo 3 is the only game I own for my 360, other than the cheezey games that come with the system. It may sound like a lot of money spent to only play one game, but I'll likely log enough hours playing Halo on xbox live to make it more than worth the price.

Humblerumble · #8 01-07-2008, 09:32 AM

Hey Tony,

Why are you asking? I mean are you having a particular issue? I believe that it is telling you that you have Moderate Security on your NAT settings. I am not at home where I can pull up my 360 and check it out, but I wouldn't be concerned if everything is working fine. By the way NAT is Network Address Translation and basically means it is hiding your xbox 360 behind your router.

Tony G · #9 01-07-2008, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humblerumble

Hey Tony,

Why are you asking? I mean are you having a particular issue? I believe that it is telling you that you have Moderate Security on your NAT settings. I am not at home where I can pull up my 360 and check it out, but I wouldn't be concerned if everything is working fine. By the way NAT is Network Address Translation and basically means it is hiding your xbox 360 behind your router.

I'm not having any real problems, but sometimes it can be very slow to match me to games. It isn't intolerable, but I was wondering if I could make things faster by getting my NAT to open, if that makes sense (and I'm not sure it does).

Humblerumble · #10 01-07-2008, 10:03 AM

Ok. The tighter you have the wireless locked down can slow it down. Usually wireless routers have different levels of security. If there is nothing you are worried about exposing you could make it OPEN. I don't play online much so I am not sure what type of difference it would make. I used to have my wireless open when I lived in the middle of nowhere, but if you live in an area where you have neighbors they could use your internet and possibly access your computers.

Tony G · #11 01-07-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humblerumble

Ok. The tighter you have the wireless locked down can slow it down. Usually wireless routers have different levels of security. If there is nothing you are worried about exposing you could make it OPEN. I don't play online much so I am not sure what type of difference it would make. I used to have my wireless open when I lived in the middle of nowhere, but if you live in an area where you have neighbors they could use your internet and possibly access your computers.

I live in a town house in a neighborhood that is very tightly spaced. I would guess I should just leave things alone then?

Humblerumble · #12 01-07-2008, 10:12 AM

I probably would. I used to do computer consulting for small businesses (still do some) and you would be amazed at the small businesses that would have their wireless wide open. One was a financial company! I was in the office above them in the building booted up my laptop and it showed up unsecured. I told the owner but he acted like I was trying to give him a sales call, I said ok, just wanted to make sure you knew.

Tony G · #13 01-07-2008, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humblerumble

I probably would. I used to do computer consulting for small businesses (still do some) and you would be amazed at the small businesses that would have their wireless wide open. One was a financial company! I was in the office above them in the building booted up my laptop and it showed up unsecured. I told the owner but he acted like I was trying to give him a sales call, I said ok, just wanted to make sure you knew.

Sounds good. Thanks for the advice.

Humblerumble · #14 01-07-2008, 03:20 PM

Glad to help.

srh · #15 01-07-2008, 03:23 PM

i dont know if this has anything to do with it, but I know for me and everybody around me, xbox live hasnt been working right since about christmas time.

Tony G · #16 01-07-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srh

i dont know if this has anything to do with it, but I know for me and everybody around me, xbox live hasnt been working right since about christmas time.

Yes, that seems to be the case for everybody. In fact, I just read about some people starting a law suit over it.

srh · #17 01-07-2008, 04:09 PM

thats crazy, did you hear about xbox live coming out with a free downloadable xbox live game because of it?