Port mapping does not work for me since I swapped from the Spark Huawei HG659b to a new Spark Smart Modem a couple of weeks ago.

I am trying to access a WD Passport HDD which records my Cleverloop security cameras continuously via a security camera hub with a USB connection to the HDD, using internal port :3022. I can access it internally within the LAN but not externally.

Aside: I asked for help on this in another Geekzone Spark topic on the release of Smart Mesh, but have not made any progress after a couple of initial comments. I probably did myself no favours asking the question in that topic, so I have started this new one to plead for assistance! (I would happily delete my comments in the other topic to tidy that up, but Geekzone forums don't allow that of course.)

Although the terminology and settings are different between the 2 devices, I have carefully replicated what I had working on the HG659b faithfully onto the Spark Smart Modem.

The port mapping shows up fine in the Smart Modem Port Mapping List and I can access the HDD device when the device I am using to access the HDD is connected within the LAN.

However as soon as I try to access the HDD from outside the network via the mapping port I have set ... nothing. It just times out.

HG659b: Port Mapping settings
- Application = "WD Passport HDD", which maps External 5678-5678 to Internal 3022-3022 using TCP&UDP
- Internal Host = "Cleverloop-5600_Ethernet", which is the hub with my HDD device, at IP xxx.xxx.x.68
- When I am under the same LAN I can access the HDD fine using xxx.xxx.x.68:3022
- And when I am outside the network I can use my network's public IP and the designated port (yyy.yy.yy.162:5678) and it works without a hitch.

Spark Smart Modem: Network > NAT> Port Mapping settings
- Private IP = xxx.xxx.x.68
- Public IP = yyy.yy.yy.162
- Protocol = TCP&UDP
- Private Port = 3022-3022
- Public Port = 5678-5678
- When I am under the same network I can see the HDD as before, using xxx.xxx.x.68:3022
- However, when I use yyy.yy.yy.162:5678 outside the network it just times out

Re the Private IP ("xxx.xxx.x.68" above): I have locked in the Cleverloop/HDD IP by setting it up as a fixed IP under Network > LAN > LAN DHCP. This works fine and the IP never changes. The 3022 port fopr the HDD USB is also specified on the Cleverloop device and also never changes.

Re the Public IP ("yyy.yy.yy.162" above): I have confirmed this repeatedly using the information on the router itself (e.g. Overview > Network Status) plus checking from the outside www.whatsmyip.org and the like. For work reasons, I actually pay Spark for a Fixed IP at home so that keeps things simple anyway.

Re port testing: I have used www.yougetsignal.com/tools/open-ports/ and others, which all confirm the port I have supposedly opened and mapped on the Smart Modem is still closed. As an aside, I have also tested port :8081 externally because I note that the Smart Modem holds this permanently open for TR-069. That correctly shows as open when I test it using my external IP (yyy.yy.yy.162:8081), so clearly port forwarding *can* work!

I have wasted hours trying to fix this, including:
- often restarting the Smart Modem and/or the HDD and/or the security camera hub;
- setting and testing several different port numbers for the external port (":5678" above) such as :3022, :4567 and :60100 plus others;
- temporarily creating a Special Application with :3022 as the internal Trigger Port and :5678 (and others) as the Public Port;
- checking all router firewall and settings on the Smart Modem to ensure nothing is affecting the HDD device;
- temporarily adding the HDD device to a firewall DMZ on the router; and
- temporarily even disabling the firewall on the Smart Modem altogether.

Sorry to be so verbose, but I thought I would list all the relevant settings and what I have already tried to avoid wasting anyone's time.

Any ideas would be hugely appreciated!

I have just ordered a Smart Mesh device from Spark as well, so I sure hope the process goes smoother than this simple port issue with the new modem.

Regards,
Mark