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MikeConnelly
Enthusiast II
January 9, 2018

Advanced Sonos Wireless Network Configuration Using Sonos BOOST

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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    39 replies

    Show previous replies
    Brett_11
    Contributor I
    May 12, 2018
    Hi Mike. Thanks for your article -- terrific. One question: I recently added a second wired Boost to my setup. Seems to have really improved my setup -- all my speakers now have "green" connections to one or the other Boost. But one odd thing: The second boost is named "unnamed room" in the network matrix. I can't figure out how to re-name it. If I go into the Sonos controller under Boost Settings, only my original Boost is seen in the drop down menu. So while the new Boost is working, I see no way to manage it separately or give it a new name. Is that the same for you or others?
    ratty
    ratty
    May 12, 2018
    Does the second BOOST appear in About My Sonos System? Have you tried simply rebooting?
    MikeConnellyAuthor
    Enthusiast II
    May 12, 2018
    Like @ratty says, I would reboot the second Boost (and perhaps all Sonos devices). You should be able to manage the second Boost no differently from the first, including renaming it.
    Stanley_4
    Stanley_4
    Grand Maestro
    May 13, 2018
    Too lazy to read back and check but have you set up reserved/static IP addresses for your Sonos gear? Doing that stopped some very strange issues here that were giving me fits.
    Brett_11
    Contributor I
    May 14, 2018
    Thanks for the help all. The next day, when I went into the Sonos controller app, it said "Continue setting up your Boost?" It then asked me one more question -- what is the name? After naming, it now appear properly. I suspect that rebooting would have triggered this faster, but all seems fine now.
    tcafranz
    Contributor I
    May 22, 2018

    * using SonosNet 2.0 (“Boost” mode) with an Ethernet-connected Sonos speaker,
    * using SonosNet 2.0 (“Boost” mode) with an dedicated BOOST device

    Can’t read your whole article as I’m driving in SoCal traffic but does a dedicated BOOST device help at all with drops when playing lossless (FLAC or ALAC) on multiple groups?
    Simple yes or no will suffice so I know if I need to stop on my way home & buy one then read your blog.
    Thanks.
    MikeConnellyAuthor
    Enthusiast II
    May 22, 2018
    @tcafranz

    If your Sonos audio dropouts are due to poor RF coverage, then a BOOST potentially helps v an Ethernet connected speaker.

    However, I am still working with Sonos to triage why there are audio dropout issues in my personal system for >3 rooms (6 paired speakers) even when using 3 Ethernet-connected BOOST devices and a single audio stream. My system appears to showcase a bottleneck in how SonosNet handles communications for a large (17+ device) Sonos system with only 3 wired links.
    tcafranz
    Contributor I
    May 22, 2018
    @tcafranz

    If your Sonos audio dropouts are due to poor RF coverage, then a BOOST potentially helps v an Ethernet connected speaker.

    However, I am still working with Sonos to triage why there are audio dropout issues in my personal system for >3 rooms (6 paired speakers) even when using 3 Ethernet-connected BOOST devices and a single audio stream. My system appears to showcase a bottleneck in how SonosNet handles communications for a large (17+ device) Sonos system with only 3 wired links.

    Main setup is in my living room:
    Orbi Router-Ethernet-PLAYBAR
    PLAYBAR-Ethernet-SUB
    2 PLAY:1’s no Ethernet
    To create a 5.1

    Garage has a CONNECT hooked up to a Sony 7.2 receiver

    Two bedrooms each with a single SONOS:One

    A ton of smart lights n whatnot throughout house too though. What do you think?
    MikeConnellyAuthor
    Enthusiast II
    May 22, 2018
    It's not clear from your setup which devices, if any, are experiencing audio dropouts. I would expect your living room to play just fine because the Playbar is wired. Re the garage and bedrooms, if you are experiencing dropouts there, I would check your Sonos network matrix, as described here: https://freetime.mikeconnelly.com/archives/6050
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