Streaming with ND5XS

I have to say that the Seagate GoFlex was one of the poorest and most obstructive NASs that it has been my displeasure to ever have to try to configure as a standalone UPnP server ... it rates along with the NetGear Stora and any Western Digital "MyBook Live" on my personal "ones to avoid" list...

From experience, ReadyNAS Duo and QNAP NASs have been pretty reliable for us and Asset UPnP is my favourite standalone UPnP server application.

Cheers

Phil

Vortexbox ... works great with UQ .... and if you have an old PC (i.e. one you don't intend to use as a PC - as Vortexbox kills Windows before installing itself: so don't use the one with your memoirs on it) you can try it and use it for free ... it seems nStream friendly too (in other words I have nStream working fine with it ... had to reinstall the latest app and reboot the UQ and VB, but that is no great hassle) ... it doesn't transcode FLAC to WAV, but as I can here zero difference then I don't worry about it. As long as your happy with FLAC it does a great job. Should think it'll work fine with the ND players, but can't try that ...   

Hi Steve

I used an ND5 with my Synology NAS without fault, and it comes with its own built in "Media Server" app which works well. Providing you use the correct software version, it transcodes to WAV.

Mind you even if you can hear the difference, it by no means means you will prefer it. Good luck

AssetNAS

Hi Steve -

MediaMonkey, with Accuraterip turned on, does a very good job of ripping. Tagging via Amazon or FreeDB also works quite well in my experience.

Asset is still the best UPnP server IMO, and you could run it on the same system as MediaMonkey, pointing it to the same music directory (presumably on your NAS).

Not familiar with the GoFlex, but if you use the search facility, you'll see that QNAP and Synology seem to be the top choices for NAS Among forum members.

Good luck!

Hook

+1 for synology. I wasn't happy with the qnap.

I use a Buffalo Linkstation Quad NAS - it works perfectly and has built-in UPnP/DLNA server software. 

In my experience, it is just as important to get the network right, particularly if you are going to stream hi-res files.

a) Use wired ethernet connection

b) Connect the ethernet cables from both NAS and ND5 to a small network switch. They are cheap.

c) Connect an ethernet cable from a small router such as Airport Express to a third port on your switch, in order to 'bridge' your streaming network to your regular network at home.

If you follow these steps, your streaming traffic will go straight from the NAS to the ND5 via the switch and will not be impacted by any other traffic on your network such as printers, file sharing, backups etc. The only exception to this statement is internet radio to your ND5.

Please indulge me, as I don't understand how (c) works absent actually setting up a vlan.  I thought, but could well be wrong, that with everything on one lan, all traffic goes everywhere no matter what combination of switches are used in what order. 

Or are you actually suggesting a setup where the 'small router' assigns the ip addresses to the nas and player, and the main router does not? (Which I think is or is close to what a vlan would look like.)

Thanks for the indulgence!

Steve,

Is the ND5XS up at CDX2 level?

Chris

My understanding is that switches 'deal in' MAC addresses, rather than Ip addresses, so the switch works on a point-to-point basis. This means that the streaming network that I was referring to is essentially isolated, and the same as a hardwired ethernet connection between NAS and streamer. 

There are others here who may be able to explain in better detail than I am able to, such as Simon-in-Suffolk.

What I can be very sure of however, is that if one follows my suggestion, then you will have a rock-solid UPnP setup for streaming hi-res files.

This...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_switch

...gives a basic explanation of how switches route traffic.

Phil

If that's basic, where do I buy the Idiot's Guide?   That'd be more my speed!