Enthusiast II

Advanced Sonos Wireless Network Configuration Using Sonos BOOST

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I wrote a how-to on my blog that describes in detail the performance differences between:

* using your existing WiFi network (“Standard” mode),
* using SonosNet 2.0 (“Boost” mode) with an Ethernet-connected Sonos speaker,
* using SonosNet 2.0 (“Boost” mode) with an dedicated BOOST device, and
* adding a second and then a third dedicated BOOST device

Initially, I had only two Sonos One smart speakers, each in different rooms. I used Standard mode, connecting them to my Wireless AC WiFi home network. As I added more Sonos speakers, I encountered occasional audio drop outs, particularly noticeable with paired speakers and particularly with lossless audio. Now, I have purchased three Sonos BOOST hardware devices to feed over a dozen Sonos One smart speakers.

In the article, I walk through using the Sonos Network Matrix to optimize your network (and therefore audio) performance. Beyond the red/yellow/green color codes, I describe how to understand signal strength, noise floor, and OFDM ANI level. I also provide tips for coverage, avoiding wireless interference, network management, and enabling STP on your router.

The full article is here:
http://freetime.mikeconnelly.com/archives/6050

If you have any feedback, please let me know!

Mike

P.S. Also be sure to read my articles on:

Sonos One Smart Speaker (Part 1): The State of Smart Speakers
http://freetime.mikeconnelly.com/archives/5648

Sonos One Smart Speaker (Part 2): Review of Its Voice Services Including Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant
http://freetime.mikeconnelly.com/archives/6004

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Edward R

Retired Sonos Staff

Really, really great stuff here, Mike. I have read these posts with interest. Great content. I do hope to see you around the community more! Let us know if you need anything. Many thanks.

Try searching our articles for help with your question: https://www.sonos.com/en/support

M

MikeConnellyAuthor

Enthusiast II

Thanks Edward R. I am new to the Sonos family with the new Sonos One. So likely more feedback as I use Sonos more.

One question: I am still trying to diagnose audio dropouts on one of two paired speakers with lossless (ALAC) audio played from my '17 iMac. As best as I can tell, it works well with 2-3 rooms but starts to falter in Party Mode. This leads me to believe it is a network bandwidth issue since I don't experience the dropouts with (lossy) Internet audio streams, which are much lower bandwidth. This happens even with three BOOST devices. Diagnostic code: 8345731

For a given audio source, is Sonos streaming audio to the Sonos speakers as multiple unicast streams or a single multicast stream in BOOST mode?

J

John B

Hi Mike. I have only had a chance to skim through your blog article and look forward to reading it more carefully, but it looks to be technically accurate (insofar as I am able to judge), clearly structured and well written. Which basically ticks all the boxes. Great job.

A few minor feedback points

1. it is a bit Sonos One-centric in a couple of places, reflecting your own experience, but could be made more general, e.g. you say 'If at least one Sonos One speaker can connect via Ethernet to your router...'
2. There are further areas you could cover in due course if you felt so inclined, for example:
(a) The Bridge and SonosNet 1.0 (although maybe that's a detail too far)
(b) How things operate with a Playbar/base surround system
3. I think turning everything green in the matrix may not be as important as might be inferred.

Those are just minor quibbles and suggestions. It's a great contribution to the forum, which many people will find useful. (If they can find it given the rubbish search tool on the forum!)

(In answer to your question I think Sonos uses multicast, but don't trust that, wait for official confirmation!)

ratty

Multiple unicast, at layer 3. Unfortunately the picture at L2 is not entirely clear from the matrix, since Direct Routing will try to short-circuit the STP topology between grouped (and paired/bonded) nodes.

IME having multiple wired nodes might, perversely, give rise to a suboptimal L2 topology in some cases. Specifically, wiring otherwise wireless nodes together can result in Direct Routing being defeated.

And of course the choice of group coordinator can be a significant factor in terms of link bandwidth utilisation.

M

MikeConnellyAuthor

Enthusiast II

@JohnB. Thanks for the feedback. I based the article on devices that I own. If I buy a Connect:Amp or a Playbar (after it is updated with HDMI-ARC), then I will fold those devices into my articles.

I didn't cover Bridge / SonosNet 1.0 since those are now obsolete.

My understanding is that ANI levels correspond to the cell color codes. 0-3 is green; 4-5 is yellow; 6-7 are orange; 8-9 are red. However, it isn't clear to me why the color codes differ on the horizontal/vertical axes versus their intersection. I would think they would all show the same color.

ratty

Colours in the left column reflect ambient noise conditions. Colours of cells of the matrix body relate to wireless tunnel signal strength.

M

MikeConnellyAuthor

Enthusiast II

@ratty If it is multiple unicast streams, then that likely explains why I am having audio dropouts with lossless music in Party Mode for 14 speakers given that all speakers are using the same 2.4Ghz band and channel.

If I understand what you are saying, my use of three BOOST devices with Ethernet backhaul between them potentially hurts my configuration?

ratty

It's the choice of group coordinator which is key. This is the room which starts the group (and, in the case of a pair, the left unit). Best results should be obtained by choosing a wired coordinator or, failing that, one with a strong wireless link direct to a wired node.

The 3 wired BOOSTs should be fine, though traffic won't necessarily follow the STP tree. Where it can, Direct Routing will be used between bonded/grouped nodes. The matrix doesn't show this.

A wire strung directly between two nodes -- which jointly remain wireless -- is generally not a good idea. It messes up Direct Routing.

M

MikeConnellyAuthor

Enthusiast II

@ratty

Great feedback! I folded your information about color codes, multicast audio, and group coordinator into the article.

It seems odd that whatever specific room/speaker a user selects first (and thus group coordinator) makes a difference in overall Sonos system performance. I would expect this nomination to be handled automatically and, perhaps, even run within a wired BOOST.

However, I am seeing something that appears different: ALAC music plays without dropout for a few rooms. Play all rooms (14 speakers) in party mode and I consistently hear right channel dropout. Keep playing the audio and reducing the number of rooms, doesn't help. I can even go all the way back to a single room, where I started and will continue to get dropouts. Stop the song and start again in the original room and I won't hear the dropouts. And no issues with Internet radio stations.

I uploaded another diagnostics test for Sonos to confirm: 8347153

ratty

I would expect this nomination to be handled automatically and, perhaps, even run within a wired BOOST.

BOOST is a 'simple' layer 2 bridge. It has no audio-related capabilities.

I uploaded another diagnostics test for Sonos to confirm: 8347153

They'd better advise. Bandwidth may be getting choked somewhere, resulting in mangled buffers. The matrix is at best a snapshot. Excessive physical layer errors could result from interference bursts. The history in /proc/ath_rincon/phyerr would be your guide.

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