Notes using NAS (Network Attached Storage) boxes

What is a NAS box?

A Network Attached Storage device is a box that allows the storage of large amounts of data outside your personal computer. It’s a little like an external hard drive but instead of being attached to a single computer, it attaches itself to your personal network so it can be accessed by any devices on it. You don’t even need your computer switched on to access its contents as a NAS box is a self contained computer with its own operating system, with the sole purpose of providing storage.

So how do I do it?

In principle you simply attach your NAS box (via Ethernet cable) to your network router and give it a name you recognise. Copy your music collection on to it and instruct the NAS box to share its contents over your network. Once you’ve done this any media players you connect to your network will see the NAS box and its contents, and will be able to play it. That’s it.

Your NAS box needs to have uPnP media serving software installed to allow it to serve correctly. Try installing Twonky Media on your NAS to help improve compatibility between your NAS and your radio. You will need to consult your NAS manufacturer on how to install different media serving software on your NAS box.

I've tried but I can't get my NAS box to serve to my radio!

You must also make sure that the contents of the NAS box can be played by the Flow radio. It’s no good having your music collection on your NAS box ready to play if your Flow radio can’t play the file format. Check the FAQ Flow supported formats and bit rates for more information on what Flow radios can and can’t play.

Yes. For any devices to talk to each other over a network they need to share the same ‘protocol’. Think of a protocol as the language they will use to speak to each other - i.e. they need to speak the same language or they won’t understand each other and won’t be able to communicate. If you want a Flow radio to play the contents of a NAS box you must make sure the NAS box supports the ‘uPnP protocol’. If it doesn’t support uPnP then it won’t work with a Flow radio.

Is there anything else I should know?

Yes, sometimes. NAS boxes are often used on home networks as ‘media servers’ that store everything from photographs to music collections and movies and because it’s on the network any other media playing device on the same network can access the stored media and play it. Flow radios are media players and can play music stored on a NAS box, and it do this by being ‘served’ the music by the NAS box. The NAS box becomes a ‘media server’ and the Flow radio becomes a ‘media player’

Can I use a NAS box with a Flow radio?

A Network Attached Storage device is a box that allows the storage of large amounts of data outside your personal computer. It’s a little like an external hard drive but instead of being attached to a single computer, it attaches itself to your personal network so it can be accessed by any devices on it. You don’t even need your computer switched on to access its contents as a NAS box is a self contained computer with its own operating system, with the sole purpose of providing storage.