SG Broadband Community

hi i have dsl line that is connected to my siemens 4 port dsl router, and i have two computers connected to it one running windows xp and one running windows 98se. my dsl provides a dynamic ip address. when i try to send/recieve files in chat programs and when i try to play online multiplayer games it doesnt seem to work and people have told me its because its my router. i disabled the firewall inside the router and i do not use any firewall software. currently i have added my computer to be a dmz host and now everything works fine but people told me that it leaves my network very vulnerable to other people. in the router firmware i can add ports to allow whatever port i specify to open but theres jus so much programs and ports that its too confusing and complicated. what can i do to be able to send/recieve files or play online games???..is it ok if i leave my computer as a dmz host? what should i do?

What type (brand/model) of router are you using and have you checked to see if the appropriate ports are open?

First....take whatever chat program you are using...for example..ICQ. You must open/forward specific ports for that program, forward them to the LAN IP of the computer running it (only 1x computer)...then specify in your software to match those settings.

Example for ICQ:

ICQ
In ICQ under "Preferences & security", "Preferences" and Connections, click on "I am behind a firewall or proxy" then click on "Firewall Settings". Then select "I don't have a SOCKS Proxy server on my firewall" or "I am using another Proxy server". Click Next. Click "Use the following TCP listen ports for incoming event" and set the TCP ports for 20000 to 20019 for the first user, 20020 to 20039 for the second user, 20040 to 20059 for the third user, etc.

OUT UDP 4000
IN TCP 20000 20019 for one user
OR
IN TCP 20000 20039 for two users
OR
IN TCP 20000 20059 for three users, etc.

What modem do you have?
Some, Westell Wirespeed, has NAT

I have the same problem too
I m using GVC Gnet external DSL Modem
I m using the PPPoE(RFC 2516)routing mode I can't receive files through icq but I can send it and I can't host ftp I have a 192.168.7.* ip