"11024 Version Check Timed Out" only solvable with a proxy?

Details:
Simply put, I cannot update using the normal procedure. Every time I try to use the updater, I get a "11024 Version Check Timed Out" error. In order to resolve the issue, I tried disabling windows firewall, uninstalling my antivirus, and forwarding ports 45, 80, 110, 443, and 55296 (I seem to recall there being a large range of IPs required, but my router lacks the ability to forward a range of IPs). Nothing helped. Connecting directly to the modem is not an option (I connect to a pre-configured router, and don't have the sign-in information for the VSDL account. I can't contact my ISP due to language barrier issues, as I will explain later).

I was finally able to connect to the update server by using the Hotspot Shield software and connecting through a US proxy. Once the game downloads the torrent files, I can then disconnect from the proxy, download the update files quickly using Vuze, and then reconnect to the proxy to get past the updater and into the game, before finally disconnecting again before I begin playing.

This makes me believe my location might be a problem. I have a US Square Enix account, and am using a US copy of the game, but I am temporarily living in Japan. I would try to connect directly to the router, but as I said before, I don't have the login information I would need to dial into my VDSL, and I don't speak Japanese, so calling NTT would get me nowhere fast.

My question is whether or not anyone can tell me if the update servers would block Japanese IPs, and if that isn't the case, if there is any other advice someone can offer me?

The updater is the only thing I'm having trouble with. I can play the game just fine without a proxy once I get past the updater, but I simply cannot connect to the patch servers without a proxy.

I can connect to WoW, LotRO, and Rift without any issue or port forwarding.

The situation is workable, and I'm moving back to the states in 2.5 months, but I'd like to see how the updates are coming along!

Thanks!

Steps:
Try to update without proxy - no dice
Try to update with proxy - go!

Date & Time:
Since Beta!

Frequency:
Always

Platform:
PC

PC Manufacturer & Model Number:
ASUS G50V Notebook

Operating System:
Windows Vista 64bit AND Windows 7 64bit

Graphics Card:
GeForce 9700m GT

ISP:
NTT FLETS

Type of Internet Connection:
VDSL100mbps

No advice? Is my thread bad? ^_^

Man, u saved me! I spent a lot of time searching in other forums, some people said "if u delete the FFXIV my documents folder will work", other people said "if u turn off your anti virus will work" but nothing worked for me until i found your topic after 4 hours searching for answers.
I did everything u said and worked, I used the proxy program and when i started the game i turned off the program.


THANKS VERY MUCH, U REALLY HELPED ME!!! :D

What is your DNS? have you tried another DNS?

You are a GENIUS!
Error 11014 and error 11024 happened to me too, I have been playing the evening previously and the next day the version check failed or timed out for some reason, had tried everything from disabling firewall, uninstalling Norton to uninstall/reinstalling the game and still no luck, even did the extreme of system restore and still no luck, then i tried your HotSpot Shield method and now the game is updating..... Why did this happen? I just dont understand, i havent done anything different or weird to my pc since the last time i played. I must say Square Enix Support website was not helpful!