Options to connect NDX / Melco N1A for best output - Newbie Q

Hi Simon,

Just now the subnet mask has come back a 255.255.0.0 somehow doesn't seem right?

Plugged in via MBP network/ethernet and connecting to the Melco via the LAN ethernet port on the rear, and in DHCP once found that was the subnet mask presented.

Direct Mode to N272 in DHCP on mode in 272 menu I can't see any subnet, in no DHCP mode it comes up as 255.255.255.0

Let me know if this is what you needed?

Regards

Dan

james n posted:

Thanks Dan - interesting. Alan at Melco may be able to advise whether what Simon suggests would work (although adding anything on the 'clean' side of the player may remove all the gains you've found with direct mode).

I'll be interested in your findings 

Hi James,

In Direct Mode I have placed a Netgear 1Gb/s switch inline and it works fine, it connects and I can control the library from the 272 front panel. So this is adding both a switch and an extra ethernet cable but it connects directly and presents zero issues.

Next I connected a small WiFi portable travel router into the same Netgear switch and this is where I am having connection problems. Ironically I can control a USB drive connected (a spare) to the N272 front panel with some 24bit files on and the NAIM app opens on the dedicated network via the travel router, but I have lost the N1A, cannot see it under UPnP servers and as I can't see it I can't control it. But a connected USB drive (to the front panels USB slot) is fine, I can see the library on this and control it via NAIM app.

So nearly there, still testing.

As for quality loss of playback I am still messing about with connections for now while the Mexican GP plays in the background.

Regards

Dan

Dan43 posted:

Hi Simon,

Just now the subnet mask has come back a 255.255.0.0 somehow doesn't seem right?

Plugged in via MBP network/ethernet and connecting to the Melco via the LAN ethernet port on the rear, and in DHCP once found that was the subnet mask presented.

Direct Mode to N272 in DHCP on mode in 272 menu I can't see any subnet, in no DHCP mode it comes up as 255.255.255.0

Let me know if this is what you needed?

Regards

Dan

 

Dan - 255.255.0.0 is a totally valid subnet - albeit somewhat unusual and inefficient to use on a tiny network with typically only two hosts on it. Anyway 255.255.0.0 would belong to a class B or class A network and so would probably have the IP addresses 172.16.X.X or 10.0.X.X - either way that network address space supports 65534 hosts!!

Adding a switch to create an isolated separate small network should be fine.

Can you share the IP address given by the Melco to the MBP when the subnet mask of 255.255.0.0 is given?

Anyway the test would be insert a switch between Melco in Direct mode and the streamer .. let the streamer be given a DHCP assigned address from the Melco via the switch - connect your MBP via the switch and see if that also gets an IP address from the Melco DHCP  - and finally see if a third item can get an address back from the Melco. If all three get an IP address - then you should be able to add an Apple Airport Express as wifi bridge onto the switch - let it use DHCP from the Melco - and then connect an iPad/Naim app  via the Airport Express - also using the DHCP via the Melco... if DHCP doesn't work then we might need to go manual .. and the returned IP address and preferably the subnet mask will be required for at least one of the devices on the Melco - such as the MBP.

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Dan43 posted:

Hi Simon,

Just now the subnet mask has come back a 255.255.0.0 somehow doesn't seem right?

Plugged in via MBP network/ethernet and connecting to the Melco via the LAN ethernet port on the rear, and in DHCP once found that was the subnet mask presented.

Direct Mode to N272 in DHCP on mode in 272 menu I can't see any subnet, in no DHCP mode it comes up as 255.255.255.0

Let me know if this is what you needed?

Regards

Dan

 

Dan - 255.255.0.0 is a totally valid subnet - albeit somewhat unusual and inefficient to use on a tiny network with typically only two hosts on it. Anyway 255.255.0.0 would belong to a class B or class A network and so would probably have the IP addresses 172.16.X.X or 10.0.X.X - either way that network address space supports 65534 hosts!!

Adding a switch to create an isolated separate small network should be fine.

Can you share the IP address given by the Melco to the MBP when the subnet mask of 255.255.0.0 is given?

Anyway the test would be insert a switch between Melco in Direct mode and the streamer .. let the streamer be given a DHCP assigned address from the Melco via the switch - connect your MBP via the switch and see if that also gets an IP address from the Melco DHCP  - and finally see if a third item can get an address back from the Melco. If all three get an IP address - then you should be able to add an Apple Airport Express as wifi bridge onto the switch - let it use DHCP from the Melco - and then connect an iPad/Naim app  via the Airport Express - also using the DHCP via the Melco... if DHCP doesn't work then we might need to go manual .. and the returned IP address and preferably the subnet mask will be required for at least one of the devices on the Melco - such as the MBP.

 

Simon - IP is 169.254.254.11 on the 1st original MBP, I have a 2nd MBP and this connects and gives the IP 169.254.254.12, switch is working now with both laptops obtaining their IPs and the 272 streamer playing music at the same time, in Direct Mode (via the switch)

I have no Airport Express but a non-Apple travel router which isn't liking this so far, but I am going to log into it see if some settings can be changed.

Popping to local CEX type store tomorrow to pick up a 2nd hand Airport Express to try more testing.

Thanks again,

Best

Dan

To add an update :

Created a control point via Kinsky on the MBP. Thought if this was connecting then it must see the 272 and then the N1A through it, which it is.

Next step now is to create the control point via WiFi so I can use the iPhone NAIM app. 

But I do have control point access now, in Direct Mode, via the switch and MBP connected via same switch through Ethernet (with a Thunderbolt-ethernet adapter) IP is 169.254.254.11 subnet 255.255.0.0

Dan, and what address does the streamer use in this setup?

The 169.254.X.X /16 network are reserved private  addresses, I think originally defined my Microsoft, that are used by some hosts when they are expecting DHCP and they get no valid or any response.. so understanding your streamer address assuming it's working in direct mode will be useful if the MBPs are self assigning 169.254.X.X addresses.

Yes in this setup it is unlikely a router can function, it can only be a single standalone network. The wifi access point will need to be a bridge.. such as you can with the AirportExpress.

if you can help me understand the streamer address, and ideally confirm what if any subnet is being proposed for it.. in this setup we should be ok.. although you might need to manually assign IP addresses...

Hi Simon,

The 272 when in DHCP on mode doesn't show anything, switch it off and you get an IP of 192.168.0.80 in the IP address line. (assume this could be an old manual IP I may have used before??)

Connect a MBP directly to the 272 and in Network the IP comes up as 169.254.77.148 (subnet 255.255.0.0)

MBP is working fine with Kinsky as a control point via the switch (IP 169.254.254.13), still can't get a network though to run/work so I can use the NAIM app for a CP while in this direct mode.

Haven't bough an Airport Express as yet to establish a bridge (is this a bridge to my main network?)

Thanks,

Dan

ok - well if all the devices are agreeing to work with an 169.254.x.x /16 address and subnet mask - they should be able to talk to each other.  You might need to manually assign the 272 a 169.254.x.x address with 255.255.0.0 subnet mask if other devices are not seeing it and its not self assigning..

Yes the airport express in bridge mode will also connect to your switch - and will give wifi for your naim App - but you will need to give a unique SSID - and the connected iPad or whatever will not see the internet etc - it will just see your isolated Melco network - which is what you are wanting I guess.

Now it is not clear to me from what you have said the Melco is offering DHCP in direct mode, so you might need to manually assign an unused 169.254.x.x /16 address (255.255.0.0 subnet mask) to the airport express, 272 and Naim app it they  do not self assign a 169.254.x.x address

Anyway sounds like you are getting close....