topic Re: Migration from PlusNet to EE - CCTV port forwarding issue in Broadband & Landline

Migration from PlusNet to EE - CCTV port forwarding issue

YorkshireMidge — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:16:22 GMT

Trying to identify a fault that has arisen since I migrated to EE from Plusnet yesterday. It relates to port forwarding to my CCTV DVR to allow inbound access from the net and has been working perfectly fine on Plusnet for years.

Situation is as follows:

No-IP is my DNS provider and that has been configured in my new EE hub the same as it was on Plusnet and is working fine. i.e. an nslookup returns the correct external IP against my CCTV host name
The DVR is configured with a internal IP address of 192.168.1.64 and the hub is set to use that address only, rather than DHCP - which again, is how it was configured on Plusnet
I can access my DVR from all the devices on my home network via the above internal IP adresss without any issue (desktop, laptop, 2x mobiles when connected on wifi)
I have a port forwarding rule that opens port 50100 to my DVR, as was configured in my Plusnet hub, and is correct for my DVR (50100-50100 external, to 50100-50100 internal)
I'm testing from one of my mobiles with wifi switched off so it is using mobile data, and it times out when trying to get to to the CCTV from the outside world - and that is the fault symptom
If I use the external IP address rather than the CCTV host name, it still times out (so this is definately not a DNS issue)
Using the online service "Port Checker", 50100 is reporting CLOSED which it shouldn't be given I have an active rule to open it
We have a Samsung Smart TV which is a UPnP device and I have noticed it has added some port forwarding. I have checked those ports on Port Checker, and they are all showing closed too when I expected them to be open.

So it's kinda looking like port forwarding just isn't working but I can't see any issue with any of the config that I have done. I'm on the version of firmware it was shipped with and it hasn't updated to the current version yet.

I have found one thread on this forum where someone had a fault with port forwarding which sounded similar and ended up factory resetting the hub which I'm willing to try if someone can tell me if there are any pitfalls with doing that. My hub has my legacy phone system on it.

Thanks for any ideas.

Re: Migration from PlusNet to EE - CCTV port forwarding issue

JimM11 — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:24:45 GMT

@YorkshireMidge There appears to be a few oops going on just now with the SH31B version currently, one off them is PF unfortunately as a quick test throw the IP off the device your DVR direct on the DMZ and see if it gets out that way?

If you do wish to go down the Full Factory reset rabbit hole, then best advice is get anything that is uPnP connected to the EE Hub OFF, do the reset setup your PF first and test it's working, then and only then your uPnP devices back on for there auto rules setup.

Re: Migration from PlusNet to EE - CCTV port forwarding issue

YorkshireMidge — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:24:16 GMT

Thanks - I'll give that a go.

Re: Migration from PlusNet to EE - CCTV port forwarding issue

YorkshireMidge — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 14:11:23 GMT

@JimM11 Hub has updated itself to r4.26.3-R-1923144-PROD-83002 but still seeing the same issue. I have noticed something odd though. When I put the forwarding rule in, if I go back to it after successfully adding it and saving it, and put my cursor in any of the port boxes for that forward rule (internal or external, it doesn't matter), the two external boxes suddenly highlight in red as if the router is complaining about the values but there is no way of knowing why it is complaining - and you can clearly see what it does below.

I've had a look at the logistics of shifting my DVR around and it just isn't workable so I'm considering a factory reset on the hub. Was there a reason behind your comment about putting the CCTV PF in first before the uPnP device? I just did the rounds of all the Wifi devices so the Samsung TV you see did happen to go in first but to be honest, I can't remember the last time we ever used the Smart functions on that one as it isn't our main TV so it wouldn't bother me to leave it's network disabled.

Have to say that I'm already regretting switching from Plusnet who don't have VoIP offering, and I only did it the (supposedly) easy way by shifting to EE so my other half didn't have to worry about us having a separate VoIP account and Grandstream gateway box for our landline and legacy phone stuff if anything went wrong and I wasn't around to fix it. Wasn't expecting to have so much trouble.

Re: Migration from PlusNet to EE - CCTV port forwarding issue

JimM11 — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 14:51:23 GMT

@YorkshireMidge The DMZ bypasses the Firewall in the EE Hub, so your DVR IP is direct on the Internet and if your https:443 holds up then it's a pure port forwarding issue within the EE Hub, saves you hours of fighting the sucker...

The EE get out of jail is the Full Factory reset off the Hub, you will LOSE all that you have done to it so far, if you have DV Digital Voice then do a backup so that can be restored will save you some time New Feature and do believe it is working as posted in the Digital Voice section off the Forum, and there is NO system Backup/Restore feature so you just have to go do it all again. If it took you a few hours to get were it is at present then that will be your rough estimated time again. Welcome to the world off EE and what they do, NOT MADE easy by them...

Honestly if you are not using a landline phone just ditch the EE Hub and go get a real one.

The sticking PF in before uPnP get's active was found to be a fault with the 7 Plus version off the EE Hub, as they all follow each other would NOT be surprised if they have introduced that now to the 6+ version you have, also see the linked below from @Gelert5 latest findings will link that below for you to read, just go back one page to follow it from his beginning.....

Fix problems connecting devices to your Smart Hub Plus or Smart Hub 3's WiFi - Page 6 - The EE Community

Picture cleared now use the IP address and NOT the mac address for the DVR box. Just about ready to do the ⛔ for anymore EE Hub questions for Port Forwarding etc and just not worth the time.

Re: Migration from PlusNet to EE - CCTV port forwarding issue

JimM11 — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 14:46:18 GMT

@YorkshireMidge The BT Smarthub2 version is very much like the PN version that you have, interface look/feel may even be very similar, but it DOES have a working ATA port back off the Hub, full Dect DV support and plenty off them on the second hand market for around the £20 mark, may save you a world of pain trying to get that 6+ working.

Re: Migration from PlusNet to EE - CCTV port forwarding issue

YorkshireMidge — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:56:12 GMT

Sorry @JimM11 - I assumed setting up the DMZ on these hubs would mean allocating a physical port and plugging the DVR into that, and not just a software change. Anyway, I have made the necessary config change and everything sprang straight into life so it clearly IS a port forwarding failure. This gives me a welcome, albeit slightly less secure, workaround.

Yes, I am using digital voice and that is why I was reluctant to factory reset without fully understanding what I could mess up.

Finally, thanks for clarifiying the reasoning behind getting PFs in before UPnP devices. I was just looking for that extra re-assurance that there was some reasoning behind it.

Re: Migration from PlusNet to EE - CCTV port forwarding issue

JimM11 — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:37:59 GMT

@YorkshireMidge No problems, the explaining is all down to me, been doing this for so long now and have the tendency to think that everyone fully understands the what/why/were and when. That's one off the reason's Network Engineers get kept away from the general public we are not good at getting the what is thought to be easy simple issues across the table so to speak. If you get the time post up another capture with your port forward screen now it's working along with the DMZ, don't have or use anything EE now as no longer a customer, not one off the screens i have captured from way back in the day.

Re: Migration from PlusNet to EE - CCTV port forwarding issue

YorkshireMidge — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 18:12:52 GMT

Well @JimM11 , you called it absolutely correctly so thanks ever so much for your help.

I went to my UPnP Samsung TV and got rid of the wifi settings completely from it so it couldn't re-connect, then did a factory reset on the hub to clear out all the port forwarding, then added the CCTV PF rule in and it worked perfectly first time. I didn't get that funny business with the boxes being highlighted in red either. See screen capture below.

I'm going to leave the UPnP TV as-is for the time being - though I suspect if I now allow it back on, the CCTV will likely to continue to work fine if it is anything like the testing by @bobpullen in this thread:

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Broadband-Landline/Smart-Hub-7-Plus-Port-Forwarding-Issue/td-p/1594284/highlight/true/page/11

What is really bizarre is it has also resolved the issue I reported separately on https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Broadband-Landline/Migration-from-PlusNet-to-EE-nslookup-timeout-if-server-not/td-p/1630097 with nslookup, though I can't say whether that had any connection with the port forwarding issue, or just happened to be an unrelated glitch resolved by the factory reset too.

Re: Migration from PlusNet to EE - CCTV port forwarding issue

JimM11 — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 18:58:44 GMT

@YorkshireMidge Just look at it as what fun i have had, learned a lot about what an EE Hub is capable off doing, it's one off those chicken/egg situations and you will never find out the real one that sorted it out.... For me going with the FW update and EE introducing the uPnP bug which no doubt is way up there for not getting attention currently, know what i mean.... Good copy to @bobpullen he does try hard to get EE's attention to all off this.

Sorted two birds with one roll off the dice fixing the nslookup then, just watch anything goes awry think wonder if EE FW updated or messed with the EE app on mobile....👍👍😎