The answer from Meridian tech support is not encouraging:
*Thank you for getting in touch with Meridian.
Sorry, but the only way to receive firmware updates to your MS600 would be to connect it to a network that includes a Meridian ‘Core’ product.*
I followed up by asking if there are plans on the roadmap for allowing firmware updates without a Sooloos core – and if I can put in a formal request for doing so if there isn’t. We’ll see, I guess.
If we believe this is something that would be beneficial to Meridian customers, then I would like to think it would be considered in the future. I will definitely make sure I pass your feedback on.
I guess it will not hurt if others in same situation make their voices heard @ Meridian support.
There is a “Maintenance” USB socket on the card, and I’m sure Meridian don’t connect every card that’s manufactured to a full Sooloos system in order to perform updates…
While figuring out the manual updating process will probably not that hard, obtaining and distributing the firmware itself will lead to all kinds of copyright/legal issues.
I think for now it’s best to make sure M is well aware of the need for this.
Indeed, but a QNAP costs…?
This is all true, and certainly an option, but I already have 2 NAS’s that I’m quite happy with : they’re expecting me to buy (and configure) yet another ?!
I also have a USB cable, costing zero £’s, which I can shove straight in the back of the ID41…
Which was almost word for word my reply to Des, than and suggesting creating a docker vm that runs on both brands of NAS. As I have 2 Nas’s from the opposite brand as well.
I do think the first paragraph is promising, it is not just the Qnap route they are taking, he is leaving the direct update one open.
I think Meridian will see that someone who spends £10,000 on an 808 to use with Roon will still need supporting. That shouldn’t mean buying a QNAP and installing an otherwise redundant Sooloos core to make fw updates happen. Logic will prevail.