topic Re: Yet another Port Forwarding Issue..... in Broadband & Landline

Yet another Port Forwarding Issue.....

alexthecamel — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:36:08 GMT

Hi, I've recently upgraded to a Smart Hub Pro (WiFI 7) having previously been using an ancient BT branded Router.

Internet and WiFi setup all went well, that part is working fine, however the Port Forwarding just doesn't seem to work at all.
I run a Raspberry Pi with various Internet facing servers for which I forward the ports individually, Nothing I can do seems to forward traffic to the appropriate device.
I've tried using custom IP Ranges, the default IP Ranges with the target machine both in and outside of the DHCP IP range in both cases.
Even setting the DMZ to that machine doesn't do anything. I've read every post in here I can find and on the Internet.
As soon as I switch back to the old router everything works as expected but identical, and even greatly simplified versions of the Port Forwarding configurations just don't seem to do anything. The Ports appear open on a scan but no traffic arrives.
I'm still in my cool off period so will be returning the device and going elsewhere if I can't get this rather basic function to work.

Anything to try before I jump ship?

Thanks

Re: Yet another Port Forwarding Issue.....

XRaySpeX — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:07:28 GMT

If the ports a reported as open by a port scan it should be OK.

What does ShieldsUP! report the status of your ports when you use its All Service Ports & also your opened ports with User-Specified Custom Port Probe ? Are they shown as "Closed" or "Stealth"?

Let's see your Port Forwarding settings.

Re: Yet another Port Forwarding Issue.....

alexthecamel — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:20:07 GMT

Hey, thanks for coming back to me.

Firewall Settings in the Router:

Shields Up:

Appreciate it's unusual, but the ports appear open, the packets just don't seem to arrive.

Thanks again.

Re: Yet another Port Forwarding Issue.....

XRaySpeX — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:32:05 GMT

Where is the client?

I can only think that remote client isn't sending to right port on right IP. Are you taking into account the dynamic public IP nature of your EE BB connection?

Re: Yet another Port Forwarding Issue.....

alexthecamel — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:38:33 GMT

Yes, I use the Dynamic DNS service within the router but have also been manually verifying against the DNS record.

Re: Yet another Port Forwarding Issue.....

XRaySpeX — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:40:36 GMT

Where is the client you are using?

Re: Yet another Port Forwarding Issue.....

alexthecamel — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:44:01 GMT

Not entirely sure what you mean.

The services are running on a RasPi and I am trying to connect from a different machine on the same network.
In the case of the Plex Server, Plex are unable to connect to my server from a remote location either. It appears offline to them too. All services work within the Network using local addresses.

Re: Yet another Port Forwarding Issue.....

XRaySpeX — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:08:49 GMT

Ah! Same network! There's the rub!

Port Forwarding only redirects from an truly external source. It is bypassed within the home network as the NAT is bypassed.

Re: Yet another Port Forwarding Issue.....

alexthecamel — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:34:39 GMT

Embarrassingly I hadn't tested that. Connecting from my phone using 5G or the client PC when connected to a VPN works fine, so your assertion is correct.

An unusual implementation, I've never seen that behaviour in the more years than I'd like to admit I've been doing this. I understand why, I guess the latest routers don't support NAT Loopbacking.
Not much use ultimately as now non of my local machines or devices can access my Plex server or other services.
Sure would I have got there in the end but you've no doubt saved me countless frustrated hours before I did!

Thanks for your help. Much appreciated.

Re: Yet another Port Forwarding Issue.....

alexthecamel — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:37:28 GMT

Just in case anyone else should come across this, it does/doesn't seem to work in certain network scenarios....

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Broadband-Landline/Smart-Hub-Pro-Hairpin-NAT/td-p/1527125

Re: Yet another Port Forwarding Issue.....

XRaySpeX — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:41:14 GMT

Thanks! You're welcome 🙂 ! Glad I could be of assistance & trust it is now sorted.

Ah, "Loopback", that what I looking for. This router don't do it..