# internet rdp to vista through wireless router - how?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-rdp-to-vista-through-wireless-router-how/491104>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 28, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-rdp-to-vista-through-wireless-router-how/491104 "2009-03-28T17:31:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-rdp-to-vista-through-wireless-router-how/491104/1 "2009-03-28T17:31:56Z")

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I have windows vista connecting to a netgear wireless router.

How do I connect to the computer **from outside the network** (i.e. over the internet)

I know the IP address of the router from the outside. The router should automatically forward RDP connections (3389) to my PC but I can’t connect.

I’ve tried using royal TS and I’ve tried using mstsc from the command console.

Do I need to manually forward 3389 on my router? It has UPnP switched on and I remember reading that connections on 3389 should be automatically forwarded.

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-rdp-to-vista-through-wireless-router-how/491104/2 "2009-03-28T17:38:07Z")

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UPnP won’t affect anything outside your private network. You will need to set up manual forwarding of port 3389 in your router config.

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**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-rdp-to-vista-through-wireless-router-how/491104/3 "2009-03-28T22:27:03Z")

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Is your PC configured to accept incoming RDP connections? And I don’t have the books to hand, but you may need to open other ports on your router.

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**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-rdp-to-vista-through-wireless-router-how/491104/4 "2009-03-28T23:37:14Z")

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I forwarded 3389 on my router to my PC and it works.

I didn’t think it would be that simple, hence the post. Thanks guys 🙂

Now to convince my IT Manager to let me RDP into my home PC from work 😃  
edit: I could do this on my dad’s PC so that when he needs help I can remote into his machine and help out. He’ll be impressed by that.