the only way the optical out will work while it is not modded is to record with the usb onto a computer and then play it, only then will it go out the optical out. i tried to use the monitor feature in a couple different programs but it still didn't work.
When you do the digimod, you can do simaltaneous usb out and optical out. 24bit into the lappy and 16bit into the nomad is what i do. If the 24bit is error free, than i usually just delete the 16bit one after i have a hard copy of it.
after you do the digimod, you can't use the ua5 as a playback device, just as a recording device.
if you're thinking about doing it yourself, its easy, i've never soldered anything up until last weekend and i did just fine. it works like a champ. Just do it while your sober and have a steady hand, you should be ok.
ed