jeffpn
Well-known member
First, if you have configuration issues you'd like to discuss, please start another thread. Post screenshots there of an ipconfig dump, and your router's port forwarding page. Continue reading this post for some tips on that. Also post both your modem and router model numbers. This thread has it's own purpose. We'll help you in your thread.
To join or host a multiplayer session, you must forward ports through your router and/or modem. This topic has been done to death, but there are a few things I'd like to do here. The ports listed in the instructions pertain to G5 only. Ports for G4 are 61234-61250 UDP and 61300-61316 UDP. Ports for G3 are 6073 TCP and 2300-2400 UDP. These instructions can still be used for previous versions of RF, substituting the correct port ranges for your version of RF where appropriate. The following descriptions assume that you are using a modem that is also a router. If you have a router plugged into your modem, these instructions will work only if your modem is not doing NAT translation, but rather passing the outside IP address to your router.
First, open a command prompt. This can be done by typing 'cmd' (yes without the quotes) in the 'Run' box. See picture 1.
Type 'ipconfig' where the cursor is blinking. You'll see an output like picture 1. There are only 2 line items to be concerned with, IPv4 address, and Default Gateway. If you are using XP, the output may look different, but the 2 items will be there. Write both of these down.
Open up your browser, and where you would type a web address, type the default gateway address. In my case, it'd be 192.168.1.254. This is how you log into your modem or router. You'll have a login window pop up. I can't help you with what needs to be put in there, you should know it, though. If you don't, consult your manual, there is a default.
This is where things will look quite different, due to different router models. Mine is for AT&T Uverse, with a model number of 3800HGV-B Gateway. Go to the firewall section, which may take some poking around to find.
You'll probably find a place to add a user defined definition, as shown in picture 2. In my case, I must have already selected the computer to host the application before I select adding the definition; other routers will make that setting later. Go to the screen to add a user definition. Mine looks like the third picture. You'll have to name the definition, which can be anything you like. Then plug in the port ranges, 61234-61241. Select UDP, not TCP. In my case, I left the Map to Host Port blank, but if you have to put something, put 61234. Make sure you add your IPv4 address to the computer name/IP address field, if that's how your screen is set up; mine is not like that. If your computer's IP address changes, you'll need to reset the IP address in the port forwarding page to match. If you have that problem, (I don't) set a static IP address through the network settings of your computer. If you need help with that, I'll make another post here.
Once you've added the new profile, save the settings, and then disconnect the power from the router, and turn off your computer. Turn on the router, and let the lights come back on. This could take a couple minutes. Then turn on your computer, and go to a web page to see if the router is ready. If you can get a web page, then go try to join a RF session. You may get a pop behind window that Windows firewall has blocked Radio Control Simulator. You must allow it.
This may not be the neatest sweetest way to get the job done, but it will work for the vast majority of users. If you have internet security software, you may need to create an exception in it as well.
If you have tried the above advice without success, you may have a router connected to a NAT-enabled modem. If this is the case, port forwarding is different. To test the theory, plug your RF machine directly into your modem. You must reboot your computer to receive an IP address from your modem. Look at your IPv4 address as described earlier. If it is in the range of
10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255
172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255
192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255
and as of July 2001
169.254.0.0 to 169.254.255.255
then your modem has NAT enabled. The best thing to do is replace your router with a switch. Of course, if your wireless feature comes from your router, you wouldn't want to do that (and the modem must be doing NAT to allocate an IP address for a device). I have had success putting my modem in bridged mode, allowing the router to negotiate the connection.
Now, what I'm going to ask others to do, is to post the page that they use to enter in port forwarding information for other modems or routers that may not be listed here. That way, we can get a collection of screen captures that other people can refer to. If you post a screenshot, please include the model name of the router or modem, so it can be found with a search.
To join or host a multiplayer session, you must forward ports through your router and/or modem. This topic has been done to death, but there are a few things I'd like to do here. The ports listed in the instructions pertain to G5 only. Ports for G4 are 61234-61250 UDP and 61300-61316 UDP. Ports for G3 are 6073 TCP and 2300-2400 UDP. These instructions can still be used for previous versions of RF, substituting the correct port ranges for your version of RF where appropriate. The following descriptions assume that you are using a modem that is also a router. If you have a router plugged into your modem, these instructions will work only if your modem is not doing NAT translation, but rather passing the outside IP address to your router.
First, open a command prompt. This can be done by typing 'cmd' (yes without the quotes) in the 'Run' box. See picture 1.
Type 'ipconfig' where the cursor is blinking. You'll see an output like picture 1. There are only 2 line items to be concerned with, IPv4 address, and Default Gateway. If you are using XP, the output may look different, but the 2 items will be there. Write both of these down.
Open up your browser, and where you would type a web address, type the default gateway address. In my case, it'd be 192.168.1.254. This is how you log into your modem or router. You'll have a login window pop up. I can't help you with what needs to be put in there, you should know it, though. If you don't, consult your manual, there is a default.
This is where things will look quite different, due to different router models. Mine is for AT&T Uverse, with a model number of 3800HGV-B Gateway. Go to the firewall section, which may take some poking around to find.
You'll probably find a place to add a user defined definition, as shown in picture 2. In my case, I must have already selected the computer to host the application before I select adding the definition; other routers will make that setting later. Go to the screen to add a user definition. Mine looks like the third picture. You'll have to name the definition, which can be anything you like. Then plug in the port ranges, 61234-61241. Select UDP, not TCP. In my case, I left the Map to Host Port blank, but if you have to put something, put 61234. Make sure you add your IPv4 address to the computer name/IP address field, if that's how your screen is set up; mine is not like that. If your computer's IP address changes, you'll need to reset the IP address in the port forwarding page to match. If you have that problem, (I don't) set a static IP address through the network settings of your computer. If you need help with that, I'll make another post here.
Once you've added the new profile, save the settings, and then disconnect the power from the router, and turn off your computer. Turn on the router, and let the lights come back on. This could take a couple minutes. Then turn on your computer, and go to a web page to see if the router is ready. If you can get a web page, then go try to join a RF session. You may get a pop behind window that Windows firewall has blocked Radio Control Simulator. You must allow it.
This may not be the neatest sweetest way to get the job done, but it will work for the vast majority of users. If you have internet security software, you may need to create an exception in it as well.
If you have tried the above advice without success, you may have a router connected to a NAT-enabled modem. If this is the case, port forwarding is different. To test the theory, plug your RF machine directly into your modem. You must reboot your computer to receive an IP address from your modem. Look at your IPv4 address as described earlier. If it is in the range of
10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255
172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255
192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255
and as of July 2001
169.254.0.0 to 169.254.255.255
then your modem has NAT enabled. The best thing to do is replace your router with a switch. Of course, if your wireless feature comes from your router, you wouldn't want to do that (and the modem must be doing NAT to allocate an IP address for a device). I have had success putting my modem in bridged mode, allowing the router to negotiate the connection.
Now, what I'm going to ask others to do, is to post the page that they use to enter in port forwarding information for other modems or routers that may not be listed here. That way, we can get a collection of screen captures that other people can refer to. If you post a screenshot, please include the model name of the router or modem, so it can be found with a search.
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