Streaming from Mac

 I think that this should be your start, Rob.  A good dealer will both want to, and actually do it -- figure out what's going wrong and get you up and running.

As you've undoubtedly read here on the forum already, wifi in the home often is not reliable for this use. On top of that, the routers supplied by ISP's often are the worst routers available.  Their wifi can be weak, and their power to handle data coming in and out can be compromised.  You've got wifi twice, from your Mac to the router and then from the router to the Uniti.  That's asking a lot; too much very likely.

As a first trouble-shooting step, I would run an ethernet cable from your Uniti to your router, and from your Mac to your router, just to see what that changes.

The next piece of solid advice is to purchase an unmanaged switch (Netgear, for example) to put between your home router and any other wired devices.  And I would want the server, in this case your Mac, wired not on wifi.

Both of those changes will give you a much more robust network.

If you MUST use wifi, I would install a very high quality wifi router and disable the wifi on the home (ISP) router.  This is what the high-end custom installers do.  There have been some suggestions here over time for brands. Because you have a Mac already . . . I would try an Apple Airport Extreme.  I have had VERY good luck with them in my home.  This is not where the custom installers would go, but it's very easy to set up and in the experience of many including me it provides a powerful wifi signal; much better than ISP routers.  If your home is big, you can even install two and they 'talk to' each other and boost each other seamlessly. (That's what I do, and I get my full ISP speed over wifi even down in my underground basement.)

As Gary wrote above, using a desktop Mac (or Macbook) as a server is not the best solution either.  They want to go to sleep.  They are just not configured to stay running the way a server needs to.  I think it unlikely that you'll ever be fully satisfied trying to use a Mac as a server unless you configure it very specifically.

Wheretonow,

I think I had similar problems with the connections. Either the streamer was not found, or the UPnP server was not found. The system should work reliably with wireless links, and Mac or PC should not be an issue. There is no proprietary Mac UPnP software, but most use Asset. I did, and though I thought it was not as good as Playback (discontinued) I found it better than the other options. I simply adjusted the energy saving settings on my mac, and the issue of going to sleep disappeared. 

My connection reliability improved when I connected my UQ to the router with ethernet; this way I had wireless only from iMac to router. I also found Asset had better success finding all my albums and artwork, or the Naim App seemed to be happier when I conveyed my music files to AIFF format; as that is a Mac format for uncompressed files, it is not unreasonable that it will be less problematic. 

The 'get a new router' advice is common, but I don't know anything about the capabilities of various items. It may be valid advice, but that also should be part of the pre-sale commentary. 

I don't worry about tracking down Hi-Res files; I'm satisfied, for the moment, with CD quality. So, one other option is to get an Airport Extreme or Airport Express. This allows you to use the Remote App, which you may like. The the airport is connected to the Uniti with an optical cable. The airports are not expensive, and may be worth a try if you are content with 16 bit streaming. 

Finally, I do agree very much that the Naim equipment is sold with the promise of reliable wifi connections and streaming, and that there is virtually no guidance or documentation to help buyers with this set up. I think the others are correct in expecting the dealer to help with resolving these problems, or at least diagnosing the situation in your house. 

Wilco you certainly CAN (and you have) configured a Mac to work headless as a server, but such often is incompatible with people also wanting to use it as a general purpose home computer, having their kids use it, etc etc.  The original poster did not say so, but I assumed it's a general-use computer that he's also tasked to be his UPnP server.  

Wilco you are to be commended for getting a mac working for you, however I expect even you would acknowledge a 10 year old macbook was never designed back int he day or today to act as a server, its simply not what a macbook is for.

For your solution you have something very slow and very buly doing what a 200 quid NAS could do far far better.

If anyone is interested there are extremely cheap solutions out there. If where it lives is not in line of site, then you can configure a bloody good server the match of a small business one for less than 200 quid. Running an extremely robust linux variant (OpenMediaVault) you will land up with a server running 24/7 with as much if not more choice and options than a NAS at twice the price.

If you must run a mac, then the mini makes the logical choice. But frankly the eco system for UPNP and macs simply does not exist, its at best flaky.

Hi Gary,

Of course the MacBook wasn't designed as a server, that was my point.  I'm not suggesting that anyone go out and buy an old laptop to use as a server, my point was that I'm using a nine year old Mac as a server and it works fine.  Also, since it's a laptop, it's power consumption is relatively low.  I already had the computer, so I've repurposed it.

You are asserting that Macs can't be used as UPnP servers, I'm saying the opposite, based on my experience.  11 years ago if you'd asked me about UPnP and a Mac, I'd have agreed with you, based on my experience, then.

Remember, the OP is trying to get his system working based on what he already owns.  I'm trying to assist him.  There may well be better options, but I'd say he should get things working first, then look for other solutions, including, possibly, a NAS. 

I've read the arguments in favour of a NAS, why one shouldn't use a general purpose computer, etc. and they make sense to me, but it's not always possible for everyone to adopt the ideal solution to a given problem.

Jeff

Not sure what any of this kit was apparently designed for. I only have a Muso and can draw no comparisons between it and a Uniti Qute but I can assure you that if I had the amount of connectivity issues being expressed above it would have gone pretty quickly. There is no justification in this day and age for poor wifi connectivity in the majority of households and why you should experience UPnP issues is also baffling.

I can easily connect the Muso via wifi (I am not interested in any other means) to my MacBook Air, my HP PC, and my Synology NAS. My wifi speed is about 53 Mbps from my bog standard Sky router so could cope with anything I can throw at it, but hasn't had to so far. Today it was FLAC from my HP laptop, but mainly 320kbps from Spotify on my MacBook Air. If I could be bothered with the cost of Qobuz or Tidal I have no doubt my system would handle those also with ease. As for having to use Ethernet cabling, well.... that is so 1999.

Many thanks for the variety of input from you all.  Food for thought. Of course I have contacted the seller who is a very reputable sydney company. Their input really depends on a face to face meeting with my piece of equipment to avoid conflicting comments as have been made over the phone.  All in good time as I am not conveniently located for that to happen.  

Ill update you all when I resolve issue to my satisfaction.

When I commenced this stream some 12 hours ago I referred to the simple folk.   I can now inform you all that I am one of the extraordinarily very simple having come to realise, thanks to some of the replies, that when the computer sleeps it shuts down the connection!!!  Energy Saving manipulations on the Mac (desk top about 1 yr old)  fixed all in my circumstances.  Nothing wrong with Naim, Asset, ISP router or wifi transmission. 

Thanks again and sorry to have caused such time wasting for you all.  I guess the solution is so obvious to people playing with such stuff that it is beneath a manual to suggest owners keep the computer awake.   I'm now available in the village stocks for ridicule and torment.

Try JRiver.