Setting up Unitiserve--Wifi?

Posted by: stebro on 22 May 2014

Just got my Unitiserve and am about to set it up.  I'm sure there will be several questions but here's the first.  I don't have a router anywhere near my stereo system.  I have strong wifi throughout the house.  Is there any way the Unitiserve can be made to use my wifi network?  I know it doesn't have wifi built in but can you buy any device that will allow this?  Otherwise, I'll have to try a power adaptor that uses my house wiring but wifi would be better, I think.  Thanks.

Posted on: 22 May 2014 by DavidDever

If you are using the local audio output (and therefore using the LAN connection to connect to a wireless bridge), you'll only need the Wi-Fi connection for album lookups and internet radio.

 

There are a few wireless bridges that seem to work well, from the usual suspects: NETGEAR, D-Link, Apple (Airport Express), Linksys, etc.

Posted on: 22 May 2014 by Bart

You might check into the cost of installing a run of ethernet cable in the walls.  Otherwise, try a wireless bridge and see how it goes.  You may find it OK for normal resolution files, but wanting for hi res.  In any event it's worth trying.

Posted on: 22 May 2014 by Leatherneck
Originally Posted by DavidDever:

If you are using the local audio output (and therefore using the LAN connection to connect to a wireless bridge), you'll only need the Wi-Fi connection for album lookups and internet radio.

 

There are a few wireless bridges that seem to work well, from the usual suspects: NETGEAR, D-Link, Apple (Airport Express), Linksys, etc.

I had my UServe and NAS in my office and sent everything though an Airport Express to my NDX (now NDS).  I moved the two to a cabinet near my stereo and connected everything with Ethernet cable through a switch.  I now only use the Airport Express for controlling things and for the radio.

 

The SQ was greatly improved.  I'm convinced you do not want to transmit music to your streamer.  Hardwire everything and it will sound better.

 

Bud

Posted on: 22 May 2014 by DavidDever
Originally Posted by Leatherneck:
Originally Posted by DavidDever:

If you are using the local audio output (and therefore using the LAN connection to connect to a wireless bridge), you'll only need the Wi-Fi connection for album lookups and internet radio.

 

There are a few wireless bridges that seem to work well, from the usual suspects: NETGEAR, D-Link, Apple (Airport Express), Linksys, etc.

I had my UServe and NAS in my office and sent everything though an Airport Express to my NDX (now NDS).  I moved the two to a cabinet near my stereo and connected everything with Ethernet cable through a switch.  I now only use the Airport Express for controlling things and for the radio.

 

The SQ was greatly improved.  I'm convinced you do not want to transmit music to your streamer.  Hardwire everything and it will sound better.

 

Bud

Agreed, when streaming via UPnP.  If you are using a UnitiServe or HDX with a built-in hard disk for storage, with a digital out into a DAC source, it really doesn't matter much.

Posted on: 23 May 2014 by David O'Higgins

But the key here is that the Unitiserve needs an Ethernet connection for Album lookup while ripping. It would be pretty pointless without it. In my case, Ethernet over mains via Dlink adaptors works fine.

 

Posted on: 23 May 2014 by Bart
Originally Posted by David O'Higgins:

But the key here is that the Unitiserve needs an Ethernet connection for Album lookup while ripping. It would be pretty pointless without it. In my case, Ethernet over mains via Dlink adaptors works fine.

 

Where is here?   All advisers agree that the UnitiServe needs an internet connection so that it can pull metadata from the online databases when ripping.  Two options: (A) a HDD model that is directly connected to a dac and thus is not playing music over the home network, and (2) an SSD or HDD model being used in UPnP server mode and thus is connected to the player over the home network. 

 

For (A), almost any connection to the internet will do; leach off your cellphone if need be.

For (2), the general consensus is that wifi and ethernet-over-mains are not great solutions, or even workable solutions for many; a wired connection is best.  But your experience shows that it's worth trying!

Posted on: 23 May 2014 by David O'Higgins

Forgive my ignorance, but my understanding was that the only way to connect a US to the internet is an Ethernet connection? 



Posted on: 23 May 2014 by Bart
Originally Posted by David O'Higgins:

Forgive my ignorance, but my understanding was that the only way to connect a US to the internet is an Ethernet connection? 



Yes, but that's not really the ultimate issue(s).  The issue really is how the US is connected to next hi fi component in the chain.  If the next component is a UPnP player, it can be connected by wired or wireless or wifi-over-mains.  If the next component is a dac, it can be connected by a cable such as the DC-1 which is not an ethernet cable.  In either event, it needs to be connected to the internet to pull down the metadata; this is in the first instance via the ethernet port on the back of the US, but what is plugged into that can vary widely.