Spark Smart Modem - Port Forwarding/Mapping, how does it work?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Spark Smart Modem - Port Forwarding/Mapping, how does it work?

Sasqwatch

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#289846 3-Oct-2021 09:41

Hi all,

I didn't really know where else to turn for this question as Spark was nothing short of absolutely useless when trying to help me.

I'm playing games with my friends on PS5 but we often disconnect with each other and I believe it's because of my NAT type which is Type 3.

I've read, to resolve this issue, I need to do some port forwarding, which although I'm not completely inept, I'm a little confused by.

I've set up a static IP address on my PS5, not on my router (please let me know if I need to do that and how to) and now I'm at the port forwarding stage. I got to port mapping on the Smart Modem but I'm not sure what I'm supposed to input.

I'm assuming the Private IP is the static IP set for my PS5? The whitelisted public IP is my actual IP address? (PLease let me know if that's wrong)

But what do I put in the Private and Public ports? The ports I'm reading I should forward are:

TCP: 1935, 3478-3480
UDP: 3074, 3478-3479

And:

TCP: 11700-11710
UDP: 48800-49000

So what would I put in there?

Any help would be very much appreciated as I'm at a total loss here.

Thanks,

tripp

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#2788507 3-Oct-2021 11:12

you should only need to use the private (ps5) the whitelist Public IP is for the game servers (if yo have their IP addresses etc).

Then just enter in the tcp an udp to point to the private IP address (ps5)

You should not have to setup the static IP address on the router if you have already done it via the ps5

PLEASE read about port forwarding, you are opening your network to security issues.

Sasqwatch

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2788510 3-Oct-2021 11:15

Okay, thanks Tripp.

And what do I put in the public and private ports section?

For example if I wanted to open port UDP 3074, what do I input?

Again thanks for the help and apologies I'm a noob if those are basic questions.

tripp

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#2788511 3-Oct-2021 11:23

I don't use spark or the modem you use.

I would try putting them in both

You can test what is open on your connection on

https://portchecker.co/

I am not sure if spark uses CGNAT, if they do then you won't get the port open.

tripp

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#2788513 3-Oct-2021 11:24

Quick question, do you router have a firewall or anything installed, is the PS5 on wifi or cable plugged in?

Sasqwatch

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2788517 3-Oct-2021 11:26

The PS5 is wired and I don't have a firewall on my router.

I also don't know what CGNAT is hahaha.

So just to be clear, and sorry for the questions, if I was trying to open UDP: 3074

I would but in the Private Port slots 3074 - 3074, and in the Public Port slots 3074 - 3074? Is that right?

tripp

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#2788520 3-Oct-2021 11:33

That is what i would try

So CGNAT is used to give a number of customers the same real world IP address (normally ip4). Each person with that same ip address then is managed by slots/ports to direct the traffic back to them on the ISP side. If you have this on the account then you won't be able to open ports on your connection (which you really should not be doing anyway).

Sasqwatch

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2788522 3-Oct-2021 11:34

Oh right thanks for the info.

You don't think I should open ports? Unfortunately, that's the only way I can see to get my NAT type to change on my PS5.

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tripp

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#2788528 3-Oct-2021 11:39

Sasqwatch:

Oh right thanks for the info.

You don't think I should open ports? Unfortunately, that's the only way I can see to get my NAT type to change on my PS5.

I'm not saying yes or no if you should open them. You just need to know that it may create security issues on your network.

What game is it, someone else on geekzone may have had the same kind of issue and might be able to suggested a better way. :)

Sasqwatch

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2788530 3-Oct-2021 11:41

It's a game called World War Z Aftermath. I actually contacted the developers and they told me to use a static IP and forward some ports. So I looked into that and was a bit out of my depth.

Sasqwatch

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2788541 3-Oct-2021 12:16

Doesn't look like i'm doing it right.

I put all the ports I want open in the public and private inputs, restarted my modem and unfortunately, port checker is still saying they're all closed.

michaelmurfy

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#2788549 3-Oct-2021 12:57

I don’t know how many times I have to say this to people:

1) DO NOT port forward.
2) DO NOT disable your firewall.
3) DO NOT mess around with the router without a proper understanding on what you’re doing.

Doing any of these 3 things puts your whole network at risk.

Gaming should just work with the default configuration on these routers - you do not need to configure anything. I would recommend doing a full factory reset of your Smart Modem if you’ve messed around with firewall rules etc.

Also leave your console on DHCP.

You want NAT Type 2 - you never want NAT Type 1 for gaming as this means your PS5 is directly exposed to the internet (very, very bad). The default configuration as long as you don't mess around with port forwarding etc will achieve Type 2.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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Sasqwatch

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2788551 3-Oct-2021 13:04

Ok thanks Michael I'll leave it. Maybe it's just the game that's not working... it's been a couple though which is frustrating. Waste of $70.

Thanks all for your help.