Streaming update question

It needs an Ethernet connection to do the Firmware update. A pain in the neck as I have to de-rack my NDX to do it. Fortunately not very often.

Needs both a direct connection to the update port – using a USB-to-Mini-USB cable – and Ethernet cable connections on the same network to both SU and updating computer.

I use my laptop for the updates (we don't have a desktop). My SU is on a wired connection. I connect the laptop to the SU with the USB lead, download the new firmware wirelessly to the laptop and then do the update. The computer does not need a wired connection. 

Thank you all for speedy replies. I assume it won't download on an iPad either so the solution will be to use my girlfriend's laptop. If she lets me. But if it still need the USB link, I suppose the purchase of a long cable is the next step.

Yes, you need a laptop. An iPad won't work. I just sit the laptop on top of the SU and connect the two with a short USB to mini B wire. You'll need to load the correct drivers onto the laptop for it to work. 

You can get a 5m long one, made by Lindy, for £5.10. My short cable is a Lindy, and it's very well made. Would 5m be sufficient?

Mm, I need a 15 m cable, assuming such a length is available.

What drivers are required for the laptop?

Thanks ChrisSU

Are you saying that a laptop connected to the SU is all that's necessary, the PC is irrelevant. In which case I misunderstood previous posts.

Yes.

Thank you both for your quick and helpful replies. 

The video could / should be better at explaining this.

Yes, as Chris says, you must ensure that the laptop's sleep mode is disabled in the power settings. I always have my laptop plugged into the mains, just in case. 

Chris, the reason wired connection is recommended is because a basic sort of 'layer 2' discovery technique is used by the update app to find the streaming card again within the update process. This may work on wifi, but the way wifi is often implemented can not be considered reliable, hence the guidance for a wired connection. It sounds like you were ok though and your wifi supports the discovery technique without issue, but many most likely would suffer with a stalled update process, ie the process would be unable to complete if they used wifi.

Simon

One problem is that some small laptops don't have ethernet ports & it would be nice to see some advice from Naim on that.

I've done it once over wireless just to see if it can be done OK,  however even though my wireless is rock solid,  I would not do it again.  Besides I have no excuse,  I find the mini-USB around the back by "feel" & that's the hard part, the switch & its spare port lives in a cabinet where the update USB & ethernet cables live.  2 minutes to hook up the wires & mouse click the update - easy.

Don't get me wrong Chris,  my LT has ethernet & would never willingly not have one. .

But they are creeping into the market in ever growing numbers as it moves ever closer to the "norm" being wireless.  

With all these posts on the topic of the update I feel under some pressure to do it, even though it seems fraught with problems (especially given the age of my laptop (Windows Vista)).

Since I only use the NDS to play CDs which are ripped to the NS01, would I be able to benefit from the DSD facility offered by the update? Can CDs be ripped in that format by the NS01?

Sorry Clive,  but CD's can only be ripped to a PCM format - wav flac etc  

DSD can be ripped from SACD,  but that's not straightforward.    You can buy DSD as downloads from many www stores,  they are mostly classical & folk genre at the moment. But where do you "store" your ripped files ??  I don't think the NS01 can handle DSD. 

Clive, I would perhaps ask your dealer to perform the update for you.

No CDs can't be ripped to DSD - although files that have been ripped from CD can be converted to DSD (but not sure why you would do that as there are potential losses involved).  DSD is very much a minority interest at the moment and basically means that SACD layer rips from hacked early PS3s can be replayed without having to be converted to PCM. I have some SACDs that were ripped by a friend and that he converted to 24/88.2 PCM.  They sound pretty good.  It would be of some academic interest to compare these PCM conversions against the original ripped file, but I'm really not too fussed.  Quality of recording and mastering pretty much trumps whatever format or resolution something is issued in.  There are also a few specialist labels who record in DSD and offer DSD file downloads.

Also USB to Ethernet adapters available from a variety of other brands, from as little as a tenner. Fine for laptops without Ethernet ports: I have a couple of unbranded ones – mainly bought in various parts of the world when I've forgotten the Apple Ethernet adapter – and they work fine.

+1 USB Ethernet port adapter for my MacBook Pro.. Fairly sure I didn't spend £25 though...  But still works fine, and I keep it and my trusty USB RS232 adapter in my Naim update drawer 

Thanks for that explanation, Richard. I don't think the latest update would offer me any benefit then, so I shan't bother until the Qobuz update arrives.