Skype gurus needed!

[Clownfish]

I am at my wit's end with this program.

I cannot get it to work on Windows 7 or Vista.

I have a desktop PC and a laptop. The desktop has Windows 7. Every time I sign in to Skype, after about 10 secs, my internet connection just dies. Kaput. Little red X on the Network icon. Once I quit Skype, after about 60+ secs the connection restores itself.

The HP laptop had Windows XP on it, and Skype worked beautifully on it, plugged into the same modem, same internet connection (ie, I unplugged the LAN cable from the desktop machine and plugged it into the laptop). However, since installing Windows Vista on the laptop, Skype won't work on it, either.

Help!

[tasadam]

What version of Skype?
What method does your PC use to connect to the internet? (EG. LAN, network cable plugs into a port on ADSL Router, or EG Wireless Laptop to wireless ADSL router, etc)
What firewall program / virus protection do you use?

[Clownfish]

Skype version currently installed: 4.2.0.169

OS/Machine: Windows 7 Home Premium (64 Bit). Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, E7400 @ 2.8 GHz. 4 GB RAM.

Type of Internet connection and speed: Broadband, ADSL 1500/256kbps. LAN cable to modem.

Router in use? No.

Windows Firewall; Skype is allowed. AVG free version.

Modem is Siemens Speedstream 4200

[eggs]

I suspect it would have to be your modem.

Some comments from the Whirlpool site:
"the SpeedStream 4200 and 6520 have got firmware issues - which is what most of the faults listed here boil down to."

However - this comment is the key:
"VOIP ISSUE
ISP supplied routers (at least the Telstra firmware version) come with customised firmware which blocks VoIP port 5060. To remove the block, replace the firmware with generic version (see /forum-replies.cfm?t=570249 for more info)."
See http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=570249

Note that Skype is a form of Voice over Internet Protocol [VoIP]
This might be a bit tricky - one note says you need to be on a Windows XP machine or earlier to perform the modem firmware upgrade.

Some user info can be downloaded here: http://www.modemsupport.com.au/

I just reread your info again and it appears this may not be correct.
If it is just a problem from Windows 7 / Windows Vista it sounds like you may need to update the device drivers - if the manufacturer has actually got around to conforming to these.
Or see next poster...

[photohiker]

Hang on, there is a specific issue with Skype and uPNP on this modem:

Original info page

Skype crashing your Siemens 4200?

Problem: Windows Skype versions 3.8 through 4.0 BETA and Apple OS X Skype version 2.7.0.330 and later cause the Siemens 4200 router to reboot.

Cause: Skype 3.8 introduced a new UPnP scheme which uses an, as yet, undisclosed UPnP command that causes the Siemens 4200 to reboot.

Solution: Disable UPnP in your router. Depending on your firmware version, the web GUI menu to disable UPnP can be found in Setup -> UPnP. Check the Disable UPnP radio button and then choose the Apply button.

Michael

[tasadam]

I have upgraded firmware on the 4200 several times to overcome voip on the 4200. Telstra lock it so it can't be used for voip. So you have to find the right firmware. Easy to do, and I'd have it here, somewhere. No time now, back in a couple of days. I learnt all about it thru Whirlpool.

[tasadam]

Actually, just used google desktop, found the file name but it's on a disconnected drive.
Google this -
Update_D240_A6R_106-24_6190_v1r.exe

[tasadam]

And now I see it's been well answered in previous posts, as soon as I read "4200" I jumped.

[Son of a Beach]

Wow, Telstra really do that? That's unbelievable! Well, actually, no it's Telstra. Very anti-competitive, and I would have thought potentially a class action lawsuit target (not that know anything about legal issues, though).

[farkewie]

From the original post it looks like skype has worked before on this modem... from what it sounds like skype is working but it is occupying the http port (80,443). there is a setting in skype that allows you to tell it to fall back to http ports when the chosen port is unavailable (blocked). So what Skype is doing to taking control of the port used for the pc to access normal webpages.

It sounds like you need to forward a port in the modem, to see/choose this port in skype you need to go to Tools > Options > Advanced > Connection

Skype connection option

skype.jpg (82.31 KiB) Viewed 9120 times

IF you untick the user port 80[...] box you will most likely find it solved your immediate problem but stop Skype from functioning. To correct this take note of the port number and go to http://portforward.com/english/routers/ ... /Skype.htm

This should get you started..

Hope this help

Ty

[Clownfish]

Hi everyone, thanks for all the advice, but after much searching and tearing out of my little remaining hair, the solution turned out to be absurdly simple.

I tried the port forwarding bizzo, but got the runaround from my ISP when I tried to set up a static IP.

Then I found out that it's Skype causing the Siemens modem supplied by Telstra to reboot. Apparently Skype 3.8 and later introduced a mystery UPnP that caused the modem to reboot - which is exactly what seemed to be happening in my case.

The solution was simple, go into the modem's setup and disable UPnP.

If anyone wants a step-by-step, I'll post it.

Thanks again, one and all.

[photohiker]

Hi everyone, thanks for all the advice, but after much searching and tearing out of my little remaining hair, the solution turned out to be absurdly simple.

I tried the port forwarding bizzo, but got the runaround from my ISP when I tried to set up a static IP.

Then I found out that it's Skype causing the Siemens modem supplied by Telstra to reboot. Apparently Skype 3.8 and later introduced a mystery UPnP that caused the modem to reboot - which is exactly what seemed to be happening in my case.

The solution was simple, go into the modem's setup and disable UPnP.

If anyone wants a step-by-step, I'll post it.

Thanks again, one and all.

Cool. That's the solution I posted up there ^^^

Glad you got it sorted.

[tasadam]

Glad it's fixed. What a great industry, eh? So many things that can go wrong...

[Clownfish]

Cool. That's the solution I posted up there ^^^

Damn. So you did. In the flood of good advice, I missed that one. Instead I wasted an hour or two talking to the phone monkey at my ISP, then searching out the exact same link on my ownsome.

More fool me!