Cannot connect to content server

[penyuan]

Hello,

I haven't played OpenTTD for a long time, and was excited to download the latest OpenTTD 1.5.1 x64 (portable non-installer version) onto my Windows 8.1 system to try out. However, a while after I click on the Check Online Content button to open its window, it gives me a red error message box saying:

Could not connect to the content server...

I tried starting OpenTTD with administrator rights, and allowing it on both Private and Public networks in Windows Firewall, but the connection still fails.... What can I do? Thanks for your help.

EDIT: P.S. I have been able to connect in the past, but I can't figure what's changed that's making the content server unreachable anymore...

[Mister_X]

Do you have an anti virus program running on your pc? Which one?

Is it possible to find multiplayer games?

[penyuan]

Do you have an anti virus program running on your pc? Which one?

I just have the default Windows Defender that came with Windows 8.1 64-bit.

Is it possible to find multiplayer games?

Searching for multiplayer games in the Multiplayer windows (with advertised both on and off) does not show anything...

[Expresso]

Perhaps the appropriate ports aren't forwarded to your computer from your router. You might try to forward ports 3979 (iirc) both tcp and udp to your computer.

[Transportman]

Is there a firewall on your computer/router that might be blocking the entire internet access for OpenTTD? Can you check your Windows Firewall (or other firewall software you installed) what it settings are? Mainly interested in the default behavior for unknown programs and if it has a program/application list, its settings for OpenTTD.

[penyuan]

Ah I figured it out.

Even though I was able to connect in the past (quite a long time ago), something must've happened to my default Internet connection where it is blocking the ports that OpenTTD tries to connect with. (on my end I specifically asked Windows Firewall to let OpenTTD through)

After trying to connect to the content server via a VPN, it worked!! Thanks for your suggestions/replies. I guess my ISP has become more strict about what to allow through.

Is there another way to deal with this other than using a VPN connection?

[Eddi]

the problem is more likely in your router than at the ISP, unless your ISP is a hotel or workplace with a really restrictive firewall and proxy weirdness. check that your router/firewall actually allows UDP packages through, which is what is used for server discovery and the like.

[maxiecool2]

does anybody know of a way to change the port to be able to download the content on http?

[Eddi]

you cannot change download ports. only the server can do that (and probably won't), this applies to the whole internet, not just openttd