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[fubarboy]

Is it possible to upload a non-media file – e.g. xls, ppt, doc – from an iPad to a USB memory stick that's plugged into the DIR-505?

Has anyone actually done this? How?

This is the one thing I really want to do with the DIR-505 - transfer work I've done on my iPad to someone else via a USB thumb drive. I've downloaded the SharePort app to my iPad, but it doesn't really do anything without the DIR-505. I don't see any way of bringing a file into it.

In reading the posts and reviews (excellent, by the way!) I see reference made to a web interface. Is this how you upload files? If so, how does the browser get access to files on the iPad?

Has anyone actually done this?

Thanks!

[FurryNutz]

Any data format file is supported for file xfers.

There is a sticky in the FAQ Library that probably explains how to connect and use Windows Explorer to copy files back and forth.

"How to map a USB Drive to your PC without using Shareport software"

[fubarboy]

Thanks, FurryNutz. That's useful stuff when your device has networking capability. But unfortunately the iPad (or any iOS device) doesn't.

What I'm trying to figure out is whether you can transfer a file from an iPad to a USB stick via the DIR-505 (without an Internet connection being involved). File type might matter – iOS has more import/export options for media files such as jpg or mov.

The iOS version of Shareport doesn't seem to be very helpful. I don't see any way to bring files into it on the iPad. But that could be because it isn't connected to a DIR-505, which I haven't bought yet. Does the DIR-505 support FTP or its variants?

It seems like it ought to be a simple thing to do, but my experience is that file import/export is very difficult and frequently impossible when iOS is involved. That's why I'm asking if anyone has actually succeeded in transfering a non-media file from an iPad directly to a USB stick that's mounted on a DIR-505, without access to the Internet.

Any thoughts?

[FurryNutz]

I presume that the iPads should have this ability, however it might need the use of the iOS file explorer or something similar that you can use on the iPad to mange files on networked or shared networked drives. The Shareport app should be one option however I'm not sure if it can put items or manage files. I know it can see files that are already on a shared drive and use them.

I recommend that you phone contact DLink support and ask if there is any information regarding this with the 505. I would also check with Apple support and see what they recommend or and help with in getting files to xfer back and forth.

Let us know if you find out anything.

[fubarboy]

It's not so straightforward on iOS. Do you know what protocol(s) the DIR-505 (or its siblings) use for networking and file transfer? There are ways of making an unjailbroken iPad talk to WebDAV, SMB and various flavors of FTP servers. Might be more, but it would help to know what to look for.

The screenshots in the DIR-505 manual look pretty much like any other D-Link product. Is it safe to assume that it's running a Linux variant on a SoC? Anyone doing any mods on it?

Thanks!

[fubarboy]

OK, figured it out. It can be done.

I bought the DIR-505L and was able to upload excel and word files to a USB stick. I used an app called iUploader Pro ($2). Their documentation specifically says that it supports the DIR-505L, and it's true. It's not pretty -- it'll come back with an error message sometimes even when the file is successfully uploaded and the browser interface looks like it's stalled. But if you wait long enough, the file will be on the usb stick when you go look for it.

You have to move the file you want to upload into iUploader first. You do that with the standard iOS "Open in" function. Then use iUploader's browser to access the DIR-505L.

From what I could tell, the 505 only supports http, https and dlna. Couldn't reach it via ftp (of any flavor) or web-dav. But iUploader looks to be worth the two bucks -- it solves a real problem: uploading files to websites. Not a total solution, but it seems to work when it works.

Next project: configure the 505 so it's a portable mini file server, hopefully multi-user.

[Hard Harry]

Man, these 505 are sure picking up a cult fallowing. Must have fit a niche market just right. Cool

[DaveUdon]

Well done, thanks. Nice to have in the tool bag.

Better than a slower online cloud to transfer videos recorded on the iPad to an android USB OTG smartphone on a trip -- at USB speeds.

And if my understanding is correct, the 505 doesn't need internet access for the USB upload...
Oh, wait, mebbe iUploader needs to see the internet to browse to the 505 file?

[Hard Harry]

Here is a cool video break down alot of the USB function.

[DaveUdon]

Then use iUploader's browser to access the DIR-505L.

I'm encountering 505 restarts with the USB stick inserted and the Shareport working, but I'm able to view files on the usb stick. So the basic view feature works.

Now, for uploading to the usb stick using iUploader:

Exactly what did you enter in the browser's URL address bar? 192.168.x.100 [:8181]?

ie, using the iUploader browser, did you have to sign into the usb server and view the Shareport menu before anything else?

The browser's share button lists apps, but nothing about the 505.

(I confess that I'm using the free version. Did it work for you with that? I'm assuming that the pro version simply removes the ads and the timer.)

[Hard Harry]

Well its shows how to do in in the video I posted at 2m26s. Connect to it, get a 192 IP, discover your default gateway or use the custom domain "dlinkrouter". Once your in, Setup > Storage > Enable Shareport. And then there should be a "Shareport Web access link" on the bottom. I haven't tested it, since I don't have a 505, but I have done something similar with a Dlink shareport and a Ipod touch. Fubarboy, are you saying this doesn't work?

[DaveUdon]

HHarry, the video shows how to read files from the USB device, but not how to write files to it using iUploader Pro.

I'm still trying the free app. I found some documentation from the developer to the effect that one should use up:// instead of http:// in the app browser.

My more immediate problem is that the 505 restarts each time when I'm about to enter a URL in the browser.
I'm using v1.06.

This may have to go on the backburner for now...

[Hard Harry]

But why do you even have to use the iUploader Pro? You can upload using the web UI. But yea, if it restarts each time you enter in a URL, that's a separate issue.

[DaveUdon]

Ok, I finally figured out how to use iUploader [Pro] to upload to the usb stick from the Files section of the app.

Some important tabs (like, uh, "Upload") were hidden until you choose the "file folders" options instead of "file category" inside the Shareport file area -- at least on the iPad. To see the Shareport folders one needs to enter the http:// link at the bottom of the WebMenu Storage page in the browser URL.

The free version works as well as the pro ($1.99), but has a 10-sec countdown timer and ads. Pro looks cleaner.

BTW, my iPad must be joined with the 505's private network for iUploader to work, but actual internet access with Gateway & DNS probably isn't needed.

----------------
My 505 v1.06 has gone back into Red-LED hibernation for another few days in Router mode. Nothing will wake it up. It's got a mind of its own.

At least the Hotspot mode is operating so far without problems, and it's where I was able to work with the Shareport.

[fubarboy]

That's pretty much the way I found it: you have to dig down to the file section in iUploader, then look around for the upload button. When I uploaded, it looks like it stalls and iUploader crashed a couple of times, but the file was there and intact when I went back to find it.

Internet access wasn't required. I was using the 505 as a standalone device, without an Internet connection.

To upload via a browser (like the one in iUploader) you need a way to transfer a file from the sandbox of the program used to create it to the browser's sandbox. The iPad's "Open In" function is the only way I know of to do it directly, without an Internet connection. I don't have iCab, but none of my other browsers support that.

I was using http://192.168.0.1:8181 to access the Shareport web interface. I just plugged the 505 into a wall socket (no Ethernet or WiFi connection to the Internet). Then I connected to the 505's WiFi SSID, launched iUploader, entered the above address in the browser and it worked from there.

iUploader was glitchy, but it worked and that's fine by me.