Updating my Qute from 3.0 to 3.9

Why can't this update be designed around plugging something into the USB front port? I too am having trouble getting the right cable.

Is the ugrade worth the hassle-I don't need an alarm clock so what else might it be useful for?

My Qute now receives the BBC Hi Definition channels properly. These channels use dynamic URLs which the previous version of the software did not handle properly. I am very pleased! 

Adaptors with a Prolific or FDTI chipset work. Google these words, you will find many options.

3.09 also improves compatibility with commercial UPnP software servers: Twonky MP, WMP for example work much better.

Your linked unit is ok.

from my previous post, you should have read FTDI, Sorry

There are tons available from: Digikey, Newark, Tiger Direct,.... remember: PROLIFIC or FTDI

I use my Windows 7 laptop to update my Uniti using one of these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000TV25SU

I also needed a straight 9 pin RS232 serial cable Male - female.

I ignored the CD that came with the product and used the drivers from the Prolific website:

http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/downloads.asp?id=31

The only problem that I had was that the Naim update software did not reboot the Uniti at the end so after waiting 15min I powered it off/on.  I had the same problem when I updated my Qute using the proper serial port in my desktop PC, though in that case I was not so patient, and the PC rebooted the Qute after I had power cycled it.  

Which chipset does your cable use?  Which port does control panel show has been allocated?

Unless you know that you are using a cable which uses either  the Prolific or FTDI chipset I would say that you are taking a gamble!   

Hello gents,

I have an NDX with apparently a new board (from the factory) but with the old SW. So I purchased a usb to RS232 cable (according to Windows it's a Prolific cable, but it doesn't say so on the packaging). I installed to cable driver and that seems to work okay.

However, when the upgradeprogram is looking for the NDX it cannot find it. I replugged the cable when the NDX was on and when it was off but no result.

Anyone got an idea how to solve this? Thanks!

My experience was with a Uniti but:

a) I used the driver from the Prolific website rather than what came with the USB cable.

   The file is ser2pl.sys version 3.4.25.218  (Proflific)

   I also appear to be using serenum.sys version 6.1.7600.16385 (Micorosft)  

b) I did have to reboot my W7 laptop after installing the driver.

c) I am sure that the cable between the USB cable and the Uniti was a straight 9 pin cable and not a crossover (null modem) one.

d) IIRC the Naim software found the Uniti just after it had been powered off and then on. 

HTH       

After a reboot of my laptop it worked fine. Thanks for the tip!

Now that everyone has upgraded to v3.9 we can now have a go with v3.13 that came out recently. I just chanced upon it browsing through the website. There is a "sticky" at the top of the streaming audio section which I had not seen.

Issue 3.13 firmware resolves various bug issues including a mixed mode Wi-Fi issue and
playback of certain ALAC files on 24/192 hardware.

Yes, I saw the upgrade in the news section today and have just upgraded tonight. Thanks!

Can you say what the 3.13 patch does? Is there any noticeable after the upgrade?

Keith

RM's post above says what the update does. I haven't noticed any SQ differences but maybe moving through the menu on my Uniti's screen is slightly faster. Thanks!

So, no sign of the playlists or the meta data which Doug told us is one of the main reasons for ditching CD players for streamers, last weekend? I like n-Stream and love the NDX, but the glacial pace of user interface software development continues to frustrate.

The presentation at the Bristol show included a claim that the iPad app rivals the gatefold sleeve (and I agree it does have the potential to do this) and that the data contained will cause us to expand our musical horizons. At the time, it struck me that any non-Naimees present might have been surprised to learn that the product being demonstrated is not currently capable of delivering any of this. I therefore wondered if things were about to move on.

I used the adapter they recommended, although and RS232 adapter should work. I downloaded the latest drivers from the seller's site of course.

One issue I had with the recommended USB-> RS232C cable was that the little nuts on the end of it were female so it wouldn't physically fit into the Naim socket, which has the same nuts on it. I didn't want to remove the nuts from the Naim, and the ones on the cable were molded in so would not unscrew. I just hack-sawed them off the cable end.

The 3.09 upgrade hung at the end but I just cold booted the Naim and it was fine. 3.09->3.19 upgraded cleanly.

It would help if they published a change history. The "highlights" for 3.13 don't sound relevant to me, but I don't know if they were defects introduced by 3.09 or longstanding issues, precisely what they are, or if that's an exhaustive list. We're a sophisticated audience: I'm delighted that I can upgrade my firmware, but I'd like to know a little more about it.

Personally I don't really care about Naim's UI software. I use my machine via uPnP, so I care a lot about how good Naim's uPnP implementation is, and 3.09 seems to be more reliable. Otherwise, uPnP controller software is a bit like speakers - I'll get it from the place which gives me what I want at a good quality/ price ratio. It's unlikely to be Naim: it's not really where their strengths are.

Hi Phil,

I had the same problem with the RS232 cable when I did the 3.09 upgrade, and resorted to pliers and brute force. 

If you set the NDX to factory settings I believe it's less likely to hang.

I will do 3.13 without much hope of it affecting me (unless it goes wrong!).

Keith

FWIW I applied the 3.13 update to my Qute and Uniti which I only recently updated to 3.9.

The Qute update appeared to be in 3 parts, worked perfectly and the unit was rebooted at the end. All settings including FM radio stations were kept, apart from the fixed IP address.

The Uniti update appeared to be just one part, at the end it failed to reboot though it was working so after waiting 5min plus I switched it off/on.  Again all the settings apart from the fixed IP address were retained. The 3.9 update was a clear benefit as reception of the BBC Radio 3 internet hidef now works properly - well as well as my broadband connection allows. I did not have the main issues addressed by the 3.13 update.    

Hi Michael,

I've done it this morning and I agree that the iRadio seems more robust. If so, the upgrade is worth having. I won't do a proper check while Gillette Soccer Saturday is on though (well done Arsenal :-)

Keith