I know this has come up a ton of times, and I know that everyone keeps saying that Port Forwarding is the solution. But It hasn’t worked for me. I found a really good guide and I set up a bunch of port forwards that should have solved the problem but I still only get Moderate NAT rating: http://s17.postimage.org/kqdpqe533/port_forwarding.png
The only tricky part of that is the two settings in Port Translation. The guide I used never mentioned Port Translation, I have no idea what it is, so I left it on default (0). Also, I wired my Xbox directly to my modem via Ethernet, and I have a good provider.
You could try MAC address filtering. Coming from experience, if that option’s available to you I’d use it purely for convenience sake.
In your router settings you can usually check to see what devices are currently connected to your router, and each has an individual MAC address.
For example:
You computer: MAC address 0A:1B:2C:3D:4E:5F
Your xbox: MAC address 00:11:22:33:44:55
Now somewhere in your router settings you’ll probably have a page or option called MAC filtering. There you’ll have usually have the options to turn on/off MAC filtering, and either ‘Block’ or ‘Permit’ that MAC’s access to your network. By adding the MAC address from your Xbox to the list and permitting it access to your network, you’ll easily achieve an open NAT. It’s worked for me for years so I hope this helps.
MAC filtering has nothing to do with the NAT.
it basically removes the need for a password to your network (it doesnt remove the need to protect your router with a PW, but your NETWORK instead) by automatically blocking every device unless those you allow via their MAC address (which is unique in the entire world).
if you had MAC filtering on, you wouldn’t even be able to connect at all (unless you allowed your console).
edit:
you can basically open every port for your xbox. from 1 to 50k if you want (unless you browse with IE, but even then, I don’t think viruses can affect you as you aren’t using windows).
also, make sure you console has a static IP when forwarding it. (to be sure it has a static IP, set it manually).
> MAC filtering has nothing to do with the NAT.
> it basically removes the need for a password to your network (it doesnt remove the need to protect your router with a PW, but your NETWORK instead) by automatically blocking every device unless those you allow via their MAC address (which is unique in the entire world).
>
> if you had MAC filtering on, you wouldn’t even be able to connect at all (unless you allowed your console).
>
> edit:
> you can basically open every port for your xbox. from 1 to 50k if you want (unless you browse with IE, but even then, I don’t think viruses can affect you as you aren’t using windows).
> also, make sure you console has a static IP when forwarding it. (to be sure it has a static IP, set it manually).
There is that downside to MAC filtering, yes, but when port forwarding becomes a pain in the butt it’s always there.
Though, when my old router died and I got a new one, outside of using MAC filtering or port forwarding I couldn’t get an open NAT for my Xbox. It’s up to the individual really to go with whatever one they prefer.
Coincidentally, I hope the OP didn’t just immediately jump into turning MAC filtering on without first adding his own computer to the filter. Outside of being connected via ethernet, there’s not much you can do to regain access since it kinda locks you out. Probably shoulda mentioned that…
> also, make sure you console has a static IP when forwarding it. (to be sure it has a static IP, set it manually).
I did that already. It was part of the guide I mentioned. Still Moderate :\
> Coincidentally, I hope the OP didn’t just immediately jump into turning MAC filtering on without first adding his own computer to the filter. Outside of being connected via ethernet, there’s not much you can do to regain access since it kinda locks you out. Probably shoulda mentioned that…
OMG, WTF!.. lol, just kidding :P.
I was gonna try it, but unfortunately my router didn’t have MAC filtering for a wired connection. It did have it for Wireless though, but as I mentioned, my Xbox is now wired (it was a pain in the -Yoink- to do, but I did it). So it was a no go… I guess my bad luck was good luck, cos I could’ve locked myself out
