I don't have much experience with networking/routers. My apartment manager has a dsl connection he shares with me. I asked him to open the ports on the router in order to play bf2 and use the voip, but I have no idea what that really means, and neither did he. I gave him the instruction manual that came with the game, but we both were confused about which ports did what. I know this sounds really dumb so please excuse me for my noobness, but does opening these ports compromise the firewall/security/accessibility of other users on the router? What are the minimum ports to be opened in order to play this game and use the voip? And if I were to use Teamspeak, are there other ports to open, beyond the BF2 specific ones? Thanks in advance.
In order to play BF2, you don't need him to open any inbound ports. You only need to forward/open ports if you want to create an internet server behind that router. Outbound ports should be open anyway. Are they?
That is what I am unsure of.
I have been playing the game online, but I have never been able to hear or speak to anyone during gameplay, and yes, I play on voip enabled servers and join squads and type/chat to see if they are using voip and I still can't hear them.
The other problem I have had is manually typing in the ip of servers. When I have done that it kills the entire dsl connection. The solution I guess was to unplug/plug the router and it would work again.
I have been playing the game online, but I have never been able to hear or speak to anyone during gameplay, and yes, I play on voip enabled servers and join squads and type/chat to see if they are using voip and I still can't hear them.
The other problem I have had is manually typing in the ip of servers. When I have done that it kills the entire dsl connection. The solution I guess was to unplug/plug the router and it would work again.
I am going to assume first that the router has a webpage interface that allows you to log into the router from a browser and then change settings.
On these setting, if the router is capable of this option, there should be a router option section which will allow you to put certain port exceptions both TCP and UDP for a certain IP address. This helps because then traffic on these certain ports are then forwarded to only a certain IP address which should be yours. You will need to check your IP to make certain it's the correct one. As long as the DHCP IP Lease information (MAC routing table) isn't erased manually, you should always get the same IP from the Router. (Each computer has a MAC address which is like a street address for your network card/connection. This is relatively unique for each card it will look something like this 00:0A:43:AD:B4:35. This is what the Router which is DHCP enabled looks at before assigning the IP address to you which I can only assume will be something like 192.168.1.10x).
So basically you will have to log into the router via a browser. To do this go to a browser and open it. Then assuming your router is giving out a basic default IP then type in the address field 192.168.1.1 This should take you there. It may have a login and password which you will have to type in to access the router. Once in then you will need to look at the options and each sub option to find the Port Forwarding options. Once that is done and once you have looked at your own IP address (Windows XP: Go to Network Connections - Local Area Network - Right Click choose Status -> Support -> Details) then you will be able to designate where the ports will be forwarding to. The ports are in the manual. For more details on this EA Support forums do have some info on this.
Note: Some older routers do not have a port forwarding option. If this is true then the only option is to turn off the firewall on the router and make certain each person in the LAN (Local Area Network) has their own Firewall. If they are using Windows XP then it should be activated and a Window's Update down to ensure it is up to date. BTW Windows Firewall also has an option within it to allow certain ports to communicate without exception. Please search for how to do this on the Microsoft Site.
Hope all this helps
On these setting, if the router is capable of this option, there should be a router option section which will allow you to put certain port exceptions both TCP and UDP for a certain IP address. This helps because then traffic on these certain ports are then forwarded to only a certain IP address which should be yours. You will need to check your IP to make certain it's the correct one. As long as the DHCP IP Lease information (MAC routing table) isn't erased manually, you should always get the same IP from the Router. (Each computer has a MAC address which is like a street address for your network card/connection. This is relatively unique for each card it will look something like this 00:0A:43:AD:B4:35. This is what the Router which is DHCP enabled looks at before assigning the IP address to you which I can only assume will be something like 192.168.1.10x).
So basically you will have to log into the router via a browser. To do this go to a browser and open it. Then assuming your router is giving out a basic default IP then type in the address field 192.168.1.1 This should take you there. It may have a login and password which you will have to type in to access the router. Once in then you will need to look at the options and each sub option to find the Port Forwarding options. Once that is done and once you have looked at your own IP address (Windows XP: Go to Network Connections - Local Area Network - Right Click choose Status -> Support -> Details) then you will be able to designate where the ports will be forwarding to. The ports are in the manual. For more details on this EA Support forums do have some info on this.
Note: Some older routers do not have a port forwarding option. If this is true then the only option is to turn off the firewall on the router and make certain each person in the LAN (Local Area Network) has their own Firewall. If they are using Windows XP then it should be activated and a Window's Update down to ensure it is up to date. BTW Windows Firewall also has an option within it to allow certain ports to communicate without exception. Please search for how to do this on the Microsoft Site.
Hope all this helps
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." - Sinclair Lewis
Working with my router I didn't need to forward any ports for VOIP. Just for running a server. I've noticed the voices come in weak, if I actually wanna hear someone I have to turn everything in game way down and crank my volume up high. Otherwise it's drowned out by shooting/bombs and tanks just rumble my subwoofer so much I can't hear anything.