Xbox NAT problem

[TimmyWimmyWoo]

I've had an Xbox 360 for nearly 4 years now and have just stumbled on a new problem. Basically I'll turn it on, go into a game and then find out that my NAT is strict.

After hours of faffing around with ports, firewalls etc. I've found that it's always cured simply by running the Xbox Live Network Test from the dashboard. It never pops up with a 'Strict NAT' warning then, and it's then hunky dorey for gaming.

Until I turn my Xbox off and turn it on again next time.


Basically, I'm having to run the Network Test every time I want my NAT to be open… I don't actually change any settings. Does anyone know of a permanent cure for this odd behaviour?

[JakeS]

I had major problems with my NAT on both PS3 and 360 before. Ended up messing around with port forwarding and stuff and it never really worked. I just turned everything off. Reset the router and left it off for about an hour turned the router on and plugged it all in and I have not had a problem since. I have a feeling that no one in the entire world actually really understands networks!

[Mr Obertshaw]

Go into network settings and select return to default or whatever it says. Works for me every time I've ever had a problem. Doesn't need doing every time you turn xbox on either.

[Salgar]

Buy some small spiders to remove the gNATs from your line.

[Alex@POD]

I'm having a similar-ish problem, with a brand new arcade. When I turn it on and sign in to live, it says "unable to sign in", so I select "test connection", and before that's finished it pops up with "signed in"... It doesn't sign in if I don't test the connection... Is that the same thing?

[S3_Graham]

i would imagine its your router.... not a BT homehub by any chance?

Over my 5 years of live, worked fine until BT homehub, then went to a Belkin (which was even worse) now back to a Netgear and it works perfectly with open NAT.

[JB!]

Who are you with, I had problems with the latest o2 box firmware upgrade. Turns out just to tick boxes to check in the new menus.

[Babu 01]

Static ip and DMZ is your way forward.

[andrewrob]

UPNP can cause NAT errors on the xbox. I just cant remember weather you turn it on or off so just change it to whichever the other is!

[TimmyWimmyWoo]

Babu 01 said:

Static ip and DMZ is your way forward.

Doing that actually started the problem…

It's a Linksys router I think – I had fewer problems with the standard O2 Broadband box but it didn't have N-spec wireless so had to go.

Edit: I'll try switching UPnP later – thanks!

Edited by TimmyWimmyWoo on Wednesday 22 September 10:24

[Salgar]

JB! said:

Who are you with, I had problems with the latest o2 box firmware upgrade. Turns out just to tick boxes to check in the new menus.

My O2 box is 4 bags of st. It disconnects often, although I can't be sure it's the box or the line, but will be buying a different one soon.

[Salgar]

Got a problem with NUT, buy a squirrel.

[TimmyWimmyWoo]

I told you last night that wouldn't be a funny thing to post in this thread.

[:J:]

I have all my Xbox settings set to default and put the port it is plugged into for the Router (Linksys) in a DMZ. Sorted my problems out, although to be fair I seemed to have no issues, but then GOW2 and 1 vs 100 both said my NAT was strict ??

Halo Reach has a good network checker built in if you have it that is ? Checks latency, NAT, etc...

[Babu 01]

TimmyWimmyWoo said:

Babu 01 said:

Static ip and DMZ is your way forward.

Doing that actually started the problem…

In that case the only remaining option is voodoo.

[JB!]

Salgar said:

JB! said:

Who are you with, I had problems with the latest o2 box firmware upgrade. Turns out just to tick boxes to check in the new menus.

My O2 box is 4 bags of st. It disconnects often, although I can't be sure it's the box or the line, but will be buying a different one soon.

let me know what you go for. Ours drops my hard connexion regularly!