Missing DNS settings

[cooky560]

The app when connecting to my amp ultra doesn't have the option to enable or disable "use preferred DNS server" so I've had to set this by setting a manual IP address.
Is this intentional behaviour?

 

[Mr Ee]

The app when connecting to my amp ultra doesn't have the option to enable or disable "use preferred DNS server" so I've had to set this by setting a manual IP address.
Is this intentional behaviour?

It would appear that on some wiim devices Preferred DNS Server has been replaced with Smart Network Enhancement..

 

[hoohoohoo]

It would appear that on some wiim devices Preferred DNS Server has been replaced with Smart Network Enhancement..

It looks like the WiiM Ultra has been receiving this functionality (link below) but other devices haven't received this change. The term "Smart DNS" usually refers to a DNS that spoofs geolocation to appear to come from a different country. This just affects selected DNS traffic to provide responses as if your device is coming from a different country location. Services like TuneIn which follow the old school territorial model for media licensing could be requesting this type of location check as a condition for providing the service.

Thread 'WiiM Ultra Firmware v5.2.723250 Update - Jul 15, 2025'

Jul 15, 2025

Please review the WiiM Ultra update release notes below. If you encounter any issues, feel free to reach out to us. This firmware update is being rolled out in stages, with devices updating sequentially over the next few days.

5.2.723250 (In Progress)​

Release date:

7 / 15 / 2025

What's New:

1. Smart DNS Enhancement: Improved Smart DNS behavior by checking the legitimacy of the DNS server returned by the router.
2. HDMI ARC Upgrade:
   • Eliminated pop/crackle noises.
   • Added Auto-Sensing for instant TV-audio pickup.
   • Improved the...

• WiiM Team
• hdmi
• Replies: 145
• Forum: WiiM Ultra Firmware Updates

• 
• 

1. Smart DNS Enhancement: Improved Smart DNS behavior by checking the legitimacy of the DNS server returned by the router.

I'm curious if anyone with the WiiM Ultra is noticing differences in some services.

 

[Wiimer]

It looks like the WiiM Ultra has been receiving this functionality (link below) but other devices haven't received this change. The term "Smart DNS" usually refers to a DNS that spoofs geolocation to appear to come from a different country. This just affects selected DNS traffic to provide responses as if your device is coming from a different country location. Services like TuneIn which follow the old school territorial model for media licensing could be requesting this type of location check as a condition for providing the service.

Thread 'WiiM Ultra Firmware v5.2.723250 Update - Jul 15, 2025'

Jul 15, 2025

Please review the WiiM Ultra update release notes below. If you encounter any issues, feel free to reach out to us. This firmware update is being rolled out in stages, with devices updating sequentially over the next few days.

5.2.723250 (In Progress)​

Release date:

7 / 15 / 2025

What's New:

1. Smart DNS Enhancement: Improved Smart DNS behavior by checking the legitimacy of the DNS server returned by the router.
2. HDMI ARC Upgrade:
   • Eliminated pop/crackle noises.
   • Added Auto-Sensing for instant TV-audio pickup.
   • Improved the...

• WiiM Team
• hdmi
• Replies: 145
• Forum: WiiM Ultra Firmware Updates

• 
• 

1. Smart DNS Enhancement: Improved Smart DNS behavior by checking the legitimacy of the DNS server returned by the router.

I'm curious if anyone with the WiiM Ultra is noticing differences in some services.

This feature has also been added to Amp Ultra.

Smart DNS reliability: Validates the DNS server provided by your router for more dependable service access.

 

[harkpabst]

In any case, none of these DNS settings are related to assigning a fixed IP address in the WiiM Home App or not.

I seriously recommend to not enter a fixed IP address.

 

[Aquaman]

I seriously recommend to not enter a fixed IP address.

Why not? I work with fixed IPs across my entire network.

 

[harkpabst]

Why not? I work with fixed IPs across my entire network.

Because I don't see any benefit to it.

You can easily configure your router's DHCP server to always assign the same IP address to each of your devices. The result is more or less the same but all of the configuration is done in just one place.

 

[Aquaman]

Because I don't see any benefit to it.

You can easily configure your router's DHCP server to always assign the same IP address to each of your devices. The result is more or less the same but all the configuration is done in just one place.

That‘s what I meant, I let my DHCP server do it.

 

[cooky560]

In any case, none of these DNS settings are related to assigning a fixed IP address in the WiiM Home App or not.

I seriously recommend to not enter a fixed IP address.

The WiiM Home app lets me specify a DNS server manually if I set a manual IP, but not an automatic one, since WiiM likes to ignore my DHCP dns settings and use 8.8.8.8 since this setting is gone, I have an interest in setting a manual IP in the app.

 

[Aquaman]

The WiiM Home app lets me specify a DNS server manually if I set a manual IP, but not an automatic one, since WiiM likes to ignore my DHCP dns settings and use 8.8.8.8 since this setting is gone, I have an interest in setting a manual IP in the app.

Forget about any manual network settings in the WiiM.
Tell your router to always asign the same IP to the WiiM. If that doesn‘t work you have a serious problem on the side of your router.

 

[cooky560]

Forget about any manual network settings in the WiiM.
Tell your router to always asign the same IP to the WiiM. If that doesn‘t work you have a serious problem on the side of your router.

That works for the IP but not the DNS server. I don't care about what IP address it has.
Every device on my network respects the DHCP lease's DNS config except for WiiM which always uses 8.8.8.8 unless that switch is off.
That switch is gone on the Amp Ultra, so the only option I have to specify the DNS server I want is to use a manual config for the WiiM.

 

[Aquaman]

That works for the IP but not the DNS server. I don't care about what IP address it has.
Every device on my network respects the DHCP lease's DNS config except for WiiM which always uses 8.8.8.8 unless that switch is off.
That switch is gone on the Amp Ultra, so the only option I have to specify the DNS server I want is to use a manual config for the WiiM.

I only have the Ultra, not the Amp Ultra and these are my options.





Setting it to automatic there is to option to specify the DNS server, naturally. But why should you want to do that?

 

[s3igell]

Forget about any manual network settings in the WiiM.
Tell your router to always asign the same IP to the WiiM. If that doesn‘t work you have a serious problem on the side of your router.

Realize that access to a full suite of Router Admin Functions is not offered by all ISPs and all situations. Configurability at the WiiM still has its uses.

 

[Mr Ee]

@cooky560
Do you have version 3.4.0 of the home app?
That allows DNS server to be set separately from IP, for the amp ultra.

 

[harkpabst]

That works for the IP but not the DNS server. I don't care about what IP address it has.
Every device on my network respects the DHCP lease's DNS config except for WiiM

Now I see what you mean, but DHCP and DNS are still not related.

Previously, the WiiM Home App did allow you to choose between the Google DNS server 8.8.8.8 (Preferred DNS Server = On) and the one provided by your router's configuration (Preferred DNS server = Off). It doesn't matter if this was enforced by your ISP or if you could configure it yourself.

That switch is gone on the Amp Ultra, so the only option I have to specify the DNS server I want is to use a manual config for the WiiM.

The switch isn't simply gone, it's been replaced by a more versatile configuration option for some devices.

You can still automatically use the DNS config provided by your router or select from a list of DNS servers (still containing 8.8.8.8) or enter any DNS server's IP address.

This is a good step forward in my book.