[EJ711]

Friends,

Who knows what I should do to enable me to get into chat. I had no problem with accessing chat until about 3 - 4 months ago. I don't remember making any changes to software, etc., prior to this problem starting.

Error message: Could not connect to chat.psychcentral.com:8080.

Possible reasons include:

- The chat server system at chat.psychcentral.com is temporarily unavailable.

- Your computer is behind a firewall or proxy server. Please ensure that your firewall permits outgoing TCP connections to chat.psychcentral.com on port 8080.

I have IE7 on my computer, and cannot load the latest version of Java, b/c it is not compatible with the online teaching software I use. However, even when I loaded the latest Java version to try to correct the problem it didn't help.



EJ

[kimmydawn]

This is what DocJohn said recently, EJ, when another had this problem:

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Chat depends on the computer you're connecting from being able to connect to the chat server on port 8080. If you have Windows firewall installed, or if you're trying to connect behind some other type of firewall (like at work), then this could be the problem.... and usually is the number one issue. Things like popular Internet virus software suites also sometimes work to block unused Internet ports....

So there's a lot of possible explanations. The more information you can provide the support forum about the type of computer, operating system, web browser, etc. that you're connecting from, the more likely we can help you troubleshoot the problem....

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Have you updated anything? Did the teaching software come with some type of firewall maybe?

KD

[Raynaadi]

What firewall are you using? I don't know why suddenly you can't get into chat when you could before hmmm. Its like the firewall suddenly won't allow PC.

[(JD)]

I also have had difficulty getting into chat lately. It gives me the chat window page, and the little loading window stays blank. Sometimes refreshing it works, more often not. I have to back totally out and try again, sometimes leaving site.

[pachyderm]

This isn't about getting in, but... often it says something like Chat (3) and when I choose Who's Online, there are two people shown (in all the rooms).

Also, the window that shows up when selecting Who's Online is sometimes small, and at other times is full-screen (with a small insert showing who is online).

[DocJohn]

We haven't touched the chat server in over a year, so it's nothing on our side. I know that's of little consolation to people having problems, but it's just to reassure you that nothing has changed in our configuration.

At some point this year, we may very well move on to another chat server -- one that isn't based upon people having a certain version of Java installed on their computer. Although our current server is very stable and never seems to give us any serious problems, it seems more and more people are having troubles as they upgrade to Vista or IE7 (both of which are only going to become more and more commonplace).

This is fairly high on our development priority list to investigate alternatives and get one in place here. One we looked at late last year turned out not to have the customizability to the interface we were looking for (to make it look as close as possible to our current chat room), but we have a whole list of others to check out.

Here's one to check out:

http://dev.tufat.com/demo/chat/flashchat.php

Enter in any chat name and no password to try it out (it's called FlashChat). The user interface -- what the chat room actually looks like -- is very customizable, so don't look at it for what it looks like when you first log in, but rather that it simply works on your computer. It does require Flash installed on your computer.

There are other chat rooms we are also investigating.

Thanks,
DocJohn

[EJ711]

Doc John,

PC is the best! I in no way was referring the problem was at your end. I know how much care you put into this site, and I appreciate all of it.

KD,

There is no logical explanation to this situation at this time. I have had the teaching software on my computer for two years. I even reverted back to IE6, and uploaded the latest Java, and that didn't work.

Rayna or Anyone Else,

How do I find my firewall? I only access PC from home, since I work at home.

Thanks guys!

EJ

[kimmydawn]

I really like that chat demo, DocJohn.

*Really* like it.

KD

The demo worked for me on the wireless, no problem. I'd be STOKED if the chat was moved to there...

I can use the current chat okay from a landline. Trouble is that there is a significant time difference from where you guys mostly are to where I am. That means that the times it is best for me to chat are often the times that it is most awkward for me to have private landline access. So I don't chat much.

I'd be very happy indeed if I could chat from the wireless...

[EJ711]

Doc John,

Chat Demo - excellent! Besides which I got in.

EJ

[Raynaadi]

I love the demo!!!!!!!!!!

EJ to see your firewall settings if you're using windows firewall, go to start, control panel and firewall. There you can tweak the settings. You can try turning the firewall off and logging into chat. If you can get in, you know its a firewall issue. If you still have problems, then its not. Its a way to do process of elimination. Since I switched to Vista, yahoo instant messenger and gmail notifier won't work. I tried tweaking my firewall but nothing works. So I don't know if that will be an issue with chat at all.

[SweetSunshine]

Doc isnt that the one you use over at Neurotalk? Seems familiar to me. It is very customizable .. but the only thing I dont like about the one at Neurotalk is that it seems to go slower... unless its just my computer. It is neat though...I like either one really.

[DocJohn]

Yes, it's the one we use at NeuroTalk.....

[pegasus]

Chat demo!- Cool!

[Zorah]

Chat demo worked fine for us on Linux OS (several different ones), Mozilla Firefox, Opera, everything we tried.

But then we don't have probs with chat now anyway.

[(JD)]

I'm bumping this up because EJ can still not get into chat and wants to very much! The thread went down a rabbit trail and EJ didn't get enough help.

She gets to the chat server window and then the problem tag comes up, as she first posted. She is also getting some black line when she checks it with her browser. Oh I probably didn't say that right.

SOMEONE please?

[DocClyde]

Did you get to check the firewall? EJ

[DocJohn]

That's a problem her version of Java with the browser. So she should either try a different browser, or try updating her version of Java.

Firefox is a free download and may be worth a try...

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/

[(JD)]

Ok she did all that. Thanks.

Clyde, HOW does she check the firewall? Aren't there more than one, depending upon whether you are using windows and mcafee or norton???

She's had this issue for many months and I never stuck with it/her to resolve it... and so even though I'm not thinking technically lately, I'm stickin' with it!

[DocClyde]

Sky, Here, this is what Rap said a while back...I knew I saw it somewhere... </font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Raynaadi said:
I love the demo!!!!!!!!!!

EJ to see your firewall settings if you're using windows firewall, go to start, control panel and firewall. There you can tweak the settings. You can try turning the firewall off and logging into chat. If you can get in, you know its a firewall issue. If you still have problems, then its not. Its a way to do process of elimination. Since I switched to Vista, yahoo instant messenger and gmail notifier won't work. I tried tweaking my firewall but nothing works. So I don't know if that will be an issue with chat at all.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

[(JD)]

Ok thanks for that. I also will make sure (again) that she doesn't have the chat addy blocked, but added to her allow list.

[Zorah]

If she's using a wireless modem, there may be a firewall in the modem ?

>At some point this year, we may very well move on to another chat server

I hate to be a nag, but how is this coming along? I'm really really really really really really really excited about the prospect of being able to chat from home instead of having to go into work (with nosey people watching what I'm up to).

[Zorah]

Has EJ managed to get back into chat yet ?

We should address this matter first

> We should address this matter first

I dont' know if that has happened or if they have given up. I don't know that anyone has had a problem accessing the test chat, however... Whereas lots of people seem to be struggling wlith this one.