One concern: if I don't have a static IP, but configure my router with my currently assigned IP as if it were static, won't I run into problems the next time my ISP reboots me and assigns me a new IP?
I didn't explain myself very well, lemme try again. There are actually three different IPs in use in your situation:
[1] the external, internet IP address assigned to you (actsually to your router) by your ISP
[2] your router's IP address as defined within your home network
[3] your local machine's IP address within your home network
Your ISP-assigned IP address [1] may change - and in this case it doesn't matter if it changes, we're going to ignore that one for the purposes of this discussion.
We're also going to ignore [2], as whatever the default IP address is for your router should be fine (the default is likely 192.168.0.1, in which case an easy naming convention for your other machines would be 192.168.0.2, .3, etc.).
The IP address with which we are concerned is [3], your local machine's IP address within the context of your home network. This is the IP address referenced in my previous comments:
[1] Change your router and client machines to use static IP addresses in your home network (default on most routers is DHCP) - this involves defining the static IPs on your router as well as on the client machines. Pretty easy to do, I just can't tell you how on your router as it varies slightly from device to device.
With respect to configuring your router for port forwarding:
[2] Follow the router documentation for port forwarding. Once you find the right place in the router interface to do this (some menu option, basically), it's as simple as specifying starting port range #, ending port range #, and the IP address to which the ports should be forwarded.
This is independent of any software being used on your local machine. All you're doing is telling the router "If a request comes into my router from the internet on port 6881, send it to my local machine with a home network IP address of X". THEN, on your local machine, you'll configure BT to use port 6881 (actually, it comes configured for ports 6881 - 6889 by default so you shouldn't have to change anything).
Todd, I think you're right - there's likely a terminology problem here. I know on my NetGear 314 router assigning static IPs and port forwarding are called something different.
Port forwarding within the context of my RT314 router's configuration is called: SVA Server Setup.
I'm not able to find right now how my router's config refers to [a] turning off DHCP for my home network, or
how to define static IP addresses for my home network. When I get home I'll try to remember to post how they're referenced, maybe that'll help.
If all else fails, give the Allied support folks a call, even their tier 1 support reps should be able to walk you through where to find these options in the CJ configuration.