Can’t Access USB on WiiM Ultra

[joanrr]

Hi, I'm using the WiiM Ultra with a USB drive. I can access the USB device from the mobile app without any problem, but from the WiiM screen or using the remote control (the “Change Source” button), I can't access the USB device. Is this normal behavior or a bug? Thanks.
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[Burnside]

Hi, I'm using the WiiM Ultra with a USB drive. I can access the USB device from the mobile app without any problem, but from the WiiM screen or using the remote control (the “Change Source” button), I can't access the USB device. Is this normal behavior or a bug? Thanks.
View attachment 28250

You can’t browse the usb drive (or any streaming service for that matter) from the device screen although I believe WiiM are looking to develop that.

 

[joanrr]

Hi, thanks. I understand that this is not a malfunction, but rather a feature that hasn’t been implemented yet. Currently, it’s not possible to access or select the USB device from the screen or using the “Change Source” button on the remote control. I hope this feature will be added in a future update.

 

[Burnside]

It might help if you raised the issue direct with WiiM via the more/feedback section in the app - the more who do, the more chance they’ll develop such a feature. Cheers

 

[joanrr]

OK, I’ll now submit the issue to WiiM via the “More / Feedback” option.

 

[hgo58]

Hi, thanks. I understand that this is not a malfunction, but rather a feature that hasn’t been implemented yet. Currently, it’s not possible to access or select the USB device from the screen or using the “Change Source” button on the remote control. I hope this feature will be added in a future update.

The USB attached device is not an input resource but a file system that is handled by a music server process running on the WiiM (ReadyMedia) and is therefore seen as a network (WiFi or Ethernet) resource.

 

[joanrr]

Hi, in the mobile app, USB appears in the Input sources (Entradas de origen, in my case) alongside other options, such as Bluetooth, which can be accessed using the Change Source button. I think it would be useful to be able to access USB as well. I understand that the implementation is not so simple, as it’s not just about adding USB access, but also managing the content once accessed. Still, it would be very useful in my case. Thanks.

 

[Burnside]

The USB attached device is not an input resource but a file system that is handled by a music server process running on the WiiM (ReadyMedia) and is therefore seen as a network (WiFi or Ethernet) resource.

Not from the app - you can choose it as an audio input, as well as it appearing under home music share.

 

[harkpabst]

Not from the app - you can choose it as an audio input, as well as it appearing under home music share.

Yes, you can select USB from the list of inputs (or under home music share), but from then on it's treated just like any other media server on the network.

If WiiM were to implement a "USB playback" interface on the touchscreen, I see basically two options.

1. They could implement a GUI for accessing their media server. And if they do so, it would pretty much mean creating an interface for any media server (and I'm sure people would be dissatisfied if they didn't support other media servers).
2. They could implement a new GUI for folder browsing, only. This would satisfy some but it would be the opposite of the current development route.

Let's wait and see. Personally I have no need for the touchscreen navigation but some users do.

 

[simbun]

They could implement a GUI for accessing their media server. And if they do so, it would pretty much mean creating an interface for any media server (and I'm sure people would be dissatisfied if they didn't support other media servers).

I've always assumed that's why they developed "Advanced Mode" for third party servers...because I can't think of any other reason ;-)

 

[harkpabst]

I've always assumed that's why they developed "Advanced Mode" for third party servers...because I can't think of any other reason ;-)

Probably yes.

But given how ... err ... enthusiastic the responses to "Advanced Mode" are on the smartphone display makes me wonder if porting this to the 3.5" touchscreen deserves top priority.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

The USB attached device is not an input resource but a file system that is handled by a music server process running on the WiiM (ReadyMedia) and is therefore seen as a network (WiFi or Ethernet) resource.

You are of course right, but in a real-world situation that's really just semantics.

 

[hgo58]

You are of course right, but in a real-world situation that's really just semantics.

If only semantics, how would you then select the USB using the remote control (the “Change Source” button), as the OP ask about?

It's not logical that you can select the USB as an individual input. It doesn't have its own EQ, audio delay or pre-gain. And it cannot be selected for a Preset input. It should be in the Music Share only, to my opinion.

Having the USB as input in the WiiM Home App could confuse some people to think it takes USB input, e.g. from a PC.

 

[joanrr]

You're right, my idea was to be able to select the USB input source so that, once selected, it only accesses the content of that specific USB device. In my case, there's an elderly person who only needs to access the USB (they say all the other sources are too complex for them!). It doesn't make much sense if you select it from the screen and then still have to try and access the USB content from there. The goal is to select an option that takes them directly and solely to the USB content, without seeing the other options, and when accessing it from a mobile phone, they should only be able to browse the USB source.

 

[Burnside]

You can cut down the content on the Browse tab in the WiiM Home app to a large extent by hiding all music services and other inputs you don’t want to see (although WiFi will always show), but you will still see the My Library and Voice and Streaming sections.

 

[hgo58]

You're right, my idea was to be able to select the USB input source so that, once selected, it only accesses the content of that specific USB device. In my case, there's an elderly person who only needs to access the USB (they say all the other sources are too complex for them!). It doesn't make much sense if you select it from the screen and then still have to try and access the USB content from there. The goal is to select an option that takes them directly and solely to the USB content, without seeing the other options, and when accessing it from a mobile phone, they should only be able to browse the USB source.

If the USB "input" could be set in a Preset it would solve some of the requirement. Unfortunately only real inputs can be selected this way.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

If only semantics, how would you then select the USB using the remote control (the “Change Source” button), as the OP ask about?

It's not logical that you can select the USB as an individual input. It doesn't have its own EQ, audio delay or pre-gain. And it cannot be selected for a Preset input. It should be in the Music Share only, to my opinion.

Having the USB as input in the WiiM Home App could confuse some people to think it takes USB input, e.g. from a PC.

Because it’s a source of music, and should be treated like the other sources of music.

I want to listen to a record. Then I want to listen to a CD. Then I want to listen to something streamed. Then I want to listen to something on my USB stick. They’re just different sources of music, and treating as being somehow not a source is ridiculous.

 

[Burnside]

Because it’s a source of music, and should be treated like the other sources of music.

I want to listen to a record. Then I want to listen to a CD. Then I want to listen to something streamed. Then I want to listen to something on my USB stick. They’re just different sources of music, and treating as being somehow not a source is ridiculous.

If you extend that, then is music on your phone also an input and should it appear as an input alongside phono, optical etc too?

USB support is implemented as a service I.e. it’s not just the device it’s connected to that can access the content, but any UPNP client on the network) so it probably makes more sense for it not to be an input (which is local to the device) but a service under Home Music Share where it also resides.

But it seems users like having it as an input as wasn’t there negative feedback when WiiM changed the app just to present USB under Home Music Share and they had to walk that change back?

 

[harkpabst]

Because it’s a source of music, and should be treated like the other sources of music.

The point is that it is actually not treated like the other sources of music (e.g. regarding EQ, and so on).

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

If you extend that, then is music on your phone also an input and should it appear as an input alongside phono, optical etc too?

What do you mean by 'music on your phone'?

If you mean the streaming services on your phone, they have the wi-fi input.

If you're talking about music stored on your phone, sent to your WiiM, then that's the Bluetooth input.



Forgive me, I've not used these in a while.

But I return to the point, in hi-fi the terms 'input', 'source' and 'source select' are used fairly interchangeably.

Go back to old integrated amps, you flipped a switch to select record deck, tape, CD, tuner. If you have something you want to listen to, that's a source. If you want to decide which source to listen to, you use 'source select' or 'input'.

Arguing that something is out there, and you want to listen to it, but it's not an 'input' is, as I've noted, complete semantics.