Unitiserve reliability

Hi Bart, yes unit went back to naim HQ.

Not always the hardware, Naim seem to have dropped the ball on the software aspect. What ever happened to the great reliability?

Tim

Tim,

I do not understand your point: firmwares\softwares are more and more reliable and solid and Naim is investing more and more on software development... So where do they have dropped the ball?

I read Tim's post as a reaction to the (relatively few based on total product sales) reports here about some uServe difficulties.  Maybe Tim is an affected customer, or maybe he's just reading the posts here and concluding that those posts signify "dropping the ball."

As music reproduction moves from hardware into software, it seems only natural that most issues will crop up in the software. Are the current issues not simply the inevitable teething difficulties in any development cycle ?  Were the early years of Naim as a hardware only company any different ?

Perhaps I'm seeing this with a rosy tint, or perhaps I'm forgiving when issues arise, simply because the music is just so good (says he as the SuperNait2 brings me to the verge of tears on Leonard Cohen's Live in London "If it Be Your Will").

Jan

Jan as you may have read, I have adopted a Supernait 2.  We really love it!

Reading more, I do see that Tim's a uServe owner.  In the 2 years I've had mine, yes I've had some hiccups, but in retrospect, none were the fault of the unit.  I had:

-- invisible and/or non-standard characters in folder names and track names that prevented indexing

-- non-standard characters (notably, spaces) in backup folder names that prevented access

I think that it's impossible to ascertain the truth about reliability from online anecdotal evidence.  At the same time, it's certainly the truth that every owner who's unit is not functioning properly deserves better.

To put things in context, one aspect is a reaction to my unitiserve SSD not working as I think it should. Hiccups with software updates are to be expected as windows and Macs are not immune either. I don't know how many server type units have been sold (unitiserve, HDX, etc) but I am basing my opinion on the number of posts on the forum where things have not worked as anticipated. I know there are so many variables in the amount of setups people have. However in my own experience I have had a number of problems/issues with my unitiserve some I'll admit are with ancillary components routers, NAS boxes etc which have been working perfectly. For example I had 3 years with a squeezebox touch, no problems at all, finds where the music is stored, plays it and no connection problems.

My unitiserve on the other hand is very unpredictable, I purchased a special "approved?" NAS box QNap TS213 IIR with a mirror array and an attached backup disk. and changed out the router, It has been reliable i.e. my windows and mac computers can always see it and connect to it. I have versions of Windows XP, 7 and 8 and latest version of OSX on Mac. A nice stable system. However the unitiserve will suddenly disconnect showing network shares and stores as offline, lose some of my albums, not connect automatically to NAS, show a weird date when manually connecting shares.

As bart says, I'm just going on the info I have. I have been following tips and advice from forum colleagues which has always been very valuable. For example the NAS box and unitiserve are on the same high quality switch, good quality network cable has been purchased and used. I am frustrated by the unitiserve and feel that I cannot rely on it, when I go on vacation or we have a nasty storm and I have to switch things off I'm always concerned that I will have issues with the unitiserve.

Sorry for the long post, but if people can set me right I'd be happy. Perhaps a good start is why when I add a network share it has the date of 1753-01-01 and time of 00:00:00 if this is normal then I am happy, if it is not then I want some guidance on how to resolve it. I have emailed Naim support, did so again this morning for the date/time issue and look forward to hearing from them.

Respectfully

Tim

P.S. Ripping has been perfection, over 1100 cds ripped and not one problem.

To "maze" on his/her third power supply-

My UnitiServe, after two years and 1,200 rips without issue, started rebooting on its own several times a day. Had me very worried. I measured the power supply output voltage and it was only 10.4 VDC. I purchased a 4A 12VDC no-name replacement for $30 that output 12.2 VDC (without load). I have not had any problem of any sort since then. Check the power supply. I am very pleased with my UnitiServe, but Naim really should provide a better power supply.

Interesting, in that James @ ToM Tom, sugested the power supply, which I changed for another new one and still the same result. I do think the power supply needs something better than is provided at present, even if only for something more robust.

I managed to rip a cd last night, so it seems to be an intermittent problem. It still shuts down though by itself, which can be anything from a few hours to several days.

At the moment I am copying the files to my nas as it will not do a proper backup for me. Then I intend to stream from my nas.

You can get a really good one from other suppliers. I have one, and it improves the sound as well as working.

Here we go again. Arrived in new house set up system on new fraim the only problem was the power supply for the serve. Power seemed intermittent with the light on the ps flickering. Fiddled with all connections and managed to get it going. System settled down after a few days and really began to sing. came home today, no server showing on the network. Attempted reboot and got the dreaded flashing light. Rang dealer, now 1500kms away. no alternative but to send it back I am seriously looking at changing to a streamer but am concerned that it will not be any more reliable. 5 returns to dealer now, it is not acceptable.

Anybody got any suggestions re replacement. I have files stored on a 2TB Qnap NAS.   

Get the dealer to send you a new power supply.

I received my userve back from the dealer last week with new power supply. (after 13 days) In the interim I had emailed Israel and received an alternative, totally concur with what everyone says about them.

System singing, very happy man.

Until today. I was doing a bit of cable dressing and dislodged the power cable partially from the serve as it was only partially dislodged when I checked the connection I pushed it back in. Userve will not now boot, has been sent back to dealer. I phoned the dealer prior to sending and was told the guy who fixes them will be away for 10 days.

I have had enough, I love my system but the Userve is just too unreliable and sensitive.

Any suggestions for an alternative without  replacing the entire system.

Oh dear, what a shame. I'd hold fire and wait for the Serve to return, and then give it a chance with its new power supply. And keep your mitts away from the back of the system....

I have found that the connection from the Israeli power supply to the Serve is not extremely tight.  Perhaps a single wrap of tape around the plug to create a little more friction?

I'm sorry to hear of your plight.  That intermittent power was not welcomed by the Serve  

As you already have a QNAP NAS, you could easily install either LMS or Asset on it and let it take over the server function. Then get a Sonos or a used Squeezebox Touch, connect it to yout NDAC and live happily ever after.

You are right of course but I should have listed all the problems

twice to dealer for refusing to eject discs

twice to dealer for refusing to accept disks

twice software problems fixed on line

once for accepting cd and then failing to rip

once to replace power supply

If it was just the power supply and my clumsiness I would happily accept your solution

Hmmm.... club hammer?

No, Squeezebox !!!