Port Forwading Issues

I figured I would start a new post specifically about port forwarding and connection issues. Gotta say I'm frustrated at this point and need some guidance from the sages. Here's the scoop with full caveat that I am a port forwarding noob...

1. Tried to set up a session with my buddies only to have them get 'connection timed out' and refused connection errors.
2. Opened all my firewalls to no avail.
3. Attempted to set up a port forward by first setting up a static IP address for my host PC and then configuring a the forward on my router using the default port and TCP as the protocol. I set the Device IP Address to the static IP I just set up. I tried both leaving the Public IP blank and populated with my router's public IP address. No go on any of the attempts regardless of whether I gave my friends the static IP address or the Public IP address.

It still appears nothing is getting through. What am I doing wrong here? Is this an issue with my ISP (Verizon FIOS)? Am I not setting up the addressing right? Would choosing a different port matter?????
Please advise. I really like the overall features of the product but am loathe to purchase a license if I can't set up a remote game.
Help me Obi-Wan you're my only hope.
Vol

 

Thanks for your reply BrashFink. I did some research in the meantime and actually found out that it the way Verizon handles their TCP ports. This required me to select 'Any' as the Source port and then '10101' (or whichever port I desired for the D20 app) as the destination port. That cleared it up.
Good to go now, and loving the online play! I do believe that D20 has actually improved upon our table-top D&D games!
Vol

 

Verizon FIOS uses an OEM router from Actiontec. Model number is MI424-WR. If you use portforward.com it is listed there as V2.

The 'Any' option is a pull down in the box for specifying whether you want to enter a single port number, a range, or 'any'. From there a dialog then pops up asking which port number or range of numbers you want to screen for. You do this for both the incoming source port number and the destination port you want to forward to on the destination PC. Specifying TCP or UDP is a seperate entry box in which it asks for the particular protocol you are monitoring.

Check out portforward.com for more details including screen shots of the relevant dialog boxes. I will tell you though, I ended up having to browse the forums on FIOS in order to find the solution. I kept entering a single port number per the instuctions on portfoward as the source to no avail. The FIOS forums had many others with the same problem. The issue is that FIOS installs the router with a blanket port forward instruction for ALL incoming TCP that you can not edit or delete! Hence the need to over-ride with an 'any' instruction. What a pain. Welcome to the world of paranoid internet security.

Overall, this is really a tough issue for a non-techie with many ways to go astray (port selection, IP addressing, protocol selection, etc). I imagine it will make for many still-born VT campaigns. Thank goodness for Forums!
Vol

 

Excellent. Thanks BrashFink. Do let me know if you uncover anything risky about what I've done. Forwading all incoming TCP this way does leave me wondering about ramifications...