Sky Max Hun Port Fowarding With Devices with same name

[IG4]

Hi

I have just become a Sky customer. Have a Dky Ma Hub. Its detected the 40 devices on network. I have several cctv cameras, by Hikvision. The router always uses the Manufacturer name, as the connected device name. So I have several devices called Hikvision. Changing device name via MySky app fails

But I need to rename device as I want to add port forwarding. When you Port Forward you have yo select the device,  but I have several options in dropdiwn list called Hikvision. So I will never know which device ive selected

This is a big issue, can you advise please 

[JimM1]

@IG4 Have only one device powered at a time when you setup your rules!

[Chrisee]

@IG4 if you are trying to port forward multiple cameras you are going to hit issues with the Sky Max hub it is simply not set up to offer that facility. You can use a third party router or have a single local dvr dealing with the camera feeds and forward the ports to that. Most domestic security camera like Ring avoid the issue as they do not require port forwarding.

Sky hubs are heavily locked down and are really only suitable for simple domestic networks.

[IG4]

Thanks @JimM1 , @Chrisee for the responses

I turned the devices off, and then turned them on one by one.  But the dropdown list for Port Forward in MySky app still remembers all the devices (regardless if connected)

It just feels like the Router Web Interface and Mobile app were built by a kid on work experience.  Why didnt they just use the Mac address name, if the Rename feature does not work in the app.

Just feels like a really poor experience.  Can I still use my BT Hub 2, but even if I have a Sky connection?

Appreciate all your help

[jamesn123]

@IG4 

Unfortunately no you can't use another ISPs router as they are hardcoded with that ISPs login details. Your option for alternative routers would be 3rd party ones that are not owned by any ISP. 

[IG4]

Hi, @jamesn123 - thanks for the response

I wanted to avoid using a 3rd party router as they may not support all the other Sky services I have, phone etc...

Its just a shame they built such a poor experience for port forwarding.  Im not sure how this got past UAT tbh.

Does the device rename feature work for anyone else?   Everytime I try and use the device rename fetaure in the MySky app I get an error.

Appreciate the help

[TimmyBGood]

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@IG4 wrote:

I wanted to avoid using a 3rd party router as they may not support all the other Sky services I have, phone etc...

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There's no known way to have Sky Talk Internet Calls without using a Sky-branded Hub.

[JimM1]

@IG4 If you are not to far into the process, switch your cameras off apart from the one, factory reset the hub, and do the needed one at a time, the reset will clear out the state remembering the connection's and names! Naming feature works not to bad on the old SR203 sky Broadband Hub, but with the sky Max so locked down and app driven not even sure you could get to that on a Max! You could also try just noting the name, mac address and location of each, possible to use the mac instead off the name? not sure no need to do!

[IG4]

@JimM1 , the issue is that the MySky app doesnt show the Mac address but the web interface to the Router does.  Its odd tha they didnt use the Mac Address as the name in the MySky app, if they did this it would be so much easier.  

Im pretty far down the line, I want to avoid factory resetting my router again.  

[JimM1]

@IG4 Got it, was just throwing it out there as a just incase, one off the multiple reasons why NOT to use a sky Max hub, well locked down and you just have to live with what you can get working, just do what you can, create the rules and pick the same name, just hope the drop down box does not jumble them up and see what shows up when you try to remote access the CCTV! 

[IG4]

@JimM1 , really apprecaite all your suggestions and help

Im going to tweak the DHCP lease to two mins, in hope that it may boot off the old devices after the lease expires maybe?  

Just seeing what hacks I can do, not sure what Sky gain by locking down a router so much

[JimM1]

@IG4 You can try to web to it, http:// 192.168.0.1 just remove that space in the string sky turns it into a https, see what it does and if you can get anywhere with the web interface, pretty sure you wont as once connected and FW upgraded it get's locked down tighter than a nun's kicks etc!

Locked down keeps the prying fingers away and not many use the feature anyway, most modern software does not rely on port forwarding that you are needing for the old CCTV!

[Chrisee]

@IG4 sorry I think you are wasting your time. The port forwarding is just about ok for a games server on a PS but is simply not configured for your usage. The older black Sky hubs might repeat might work as you can use the IP address to set up the rule and wiuld support the voice line. Used examples can allegedly be bought online despite all of them being owned by Sky.

[IG4]

@Chrisee :  The issue is I built a few apps that come into my network so I needed the port forwarding to access specific devices

If I take the device off teh newtork it still sees it in the dropdown list for port forwarding  Is there no soft reset I can do so it will forget the old disconnected devices?

This router has to teh worst ever, how were they allowed to build such a tool.  The port forwarding is there but its unusuable 

Shame on you Sky!

[IG4]

@Chrisee : the issue is that I have built a few apps thst need to come back into my network on certain ports

Is there no way to get the router to forget the disconnected devices, so they dont appear in the Port Forwarding dropdown list

I want to avoid doing a factory reset, is there a soft reset that will forget the diconnected devices maybe?