I've recently moved homes and am trying to get my Sonos setup more reliable. 4000 sq.ft. house with one connect:amp, a newer amp, one connect, 3 play:1's and a play:3.
Was hard wiring as much as possible into my LAN, but found that Sonos and Ubiquiti can be a bit troublesome to setup.
Based on feedback, when to full Sonosnet setup with a boost the only item connected/hardwired to a UB managed switch. Results are definitely better, but i still get drop outs especially when connecting more than 3 speakers, etc.
my question is that if adding an additional Boost might help. 3 floors... i have the new AMP on the top floor, the boost on the middle floor, and am thinking about adding another boost on the lower floor (where the connect:amp is).
will this help at all?
Question
Multiple Boosts?
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Hi tomgru
You have listed to issues that are interrelated
Cheers!
You have listed to issues that are interrelated
- Coverage
- Speakers dropping off if more than 3 are brought on-line.
- Remove any security devices, baby monitors or other portable Wi-Fi products at least 6 feet from your Sonso devices.
- Open your routers Admin page and check for updates and install them
- Power cycle your iOS or Android device and make sure they are up to date
- Make sure the Sonos app is up to date
Cheers!
+2Thanks Ajtrek1... will work on that (although i've done most of it). i tried Sonos support and sadly had one of the worse experiences i've ever had. USed them in the past and was impressed... but this person clearly had no networking experience whatsoever, and told me to call Ubiquiti.
Rant over... the wifi stuff is tough, but i checked channels and Sonosnet should be on the most free (i used 6).
will continue to play around, but my original question... is another Boost just overkill if they all work independently just fine?
Rant over... the wifi stuff is tough, but i checked channels and Sonosnet should be on the most free (i used 6).
will continue to play around, but my original question... is another Boost just overkill if they all work independently just fine?
Hi tomgru
Unless you can wire the Boost back to your router you won't see a lot of improvement. The SonosNet is strengthen when all (or at least some) components can somehow find their way back to the router over Ethernet even though they are scattered throughout your home.
I actually ran Ethernet to the second level of my home and attached a second Asus AC5400 router to setup what Asus terms as an AiMesh. The second router (or node) has a second Boost running off it via Ethernet. The main Asus router (Node) controls everything.
Another option is to reserve an IP address for each Sonos component.
Unless you can wire the Boost back to your router you won't see a lot of improvement. The SonosNet is strengthen when all (or at least some) components can somehow find their way back to the router over Ethernet even though they are scattered throughout your home.
I actually ran Ethernet to the second level of my home and attached a second Asus AC5400 router to setup what Asus terms as an AiMesh. The second router (or node) has a second Boost running off it via Ethernet. The main Asus router (Node) controls everything.
Another option is to reserve an IP address for each Sonos component.
Whilst wiring more devices is ideal, sometimes it can help to add a wireless Boost (connected only to power) so as to improve coverage in a 'dark area' that's otherwise out of reach. In that case placing it roughly half way to the 'dark area' would be recommended, so that it would act as a relay.
We may be able to offer some more focused guidance if you could take a screenshot of your Network Matrix and post it. You'll find this at http://x.x.x.x:1400/support/review where x.x.x.x is the IP of any player (not a Boost), behind the Network Matrix link. This displays the state of the SonosNet mesh.
+2thanks all! i'll send the matrix when i get home later.... that was definitely what i was planning with the second boost. although it's near a switch so i could hardwire it it as well.
Depending on current signal strengths a wireless Boost could simply be bypassed, as the mesh will work to minimise path cost. Let's see what the matrix shows.
Something has been turned off, perhaps the Bridge you mentioned. It's the Undefined column.
Anyway, signal strengths are good/excellent so adding a wireless Boost would be a waste of time. However the left column is showing some high levels of ambient noise. What other kit do you have operating at 2.4GHz? Any proprietary wireless devices such as cameras or baby monitors? Bluetooth can also generate this kind of effect.
Anyway, signal strengths are good/excellent so adding a wireless Boost would be a waste of time. However the left column is showing some high levels of ambient noise. What other kit do you have operating at 2.4GHz? Any proprietary wireless devices such as cameras or baby monitors? Bluetooth can also generate this kind of effect.
+2Anyway, signal strengths are good/excellent so adding a wireless Boost would be a waste of time. However the left column is showing some high levels of ambient noise. What other kit do you have operating at 2.4GHz? Any proprietary wireless devices such as cameras or baby monitors? Bluetooth can also generate this kind of effect.
yeah... the boost and the Great room are in my wiring closet, ... so lots going on in there. I do have cameras around, although most wired.
The bridge is in another wiring closet, and is closest to the main deck. that's where i was thinking of putting the additional boost.
Mom cave and master bathroom are probably the farthest away from the boost, but near the master bedroom (amp), so i was hoping that would there.
my network is all ubiquiti stuff, including two APs.
i had some stuff hard wired in at first, and that didn't seem to help.
with the high ambient noise where the boost and great room devices are, would it make sense to wire the great room (connect) directly to the boost?
If the cameras are not using WiFi they could account for some noise. Other digital equipment in close proximity can jack up the noise figures too.
The bridge is in another wiring closet, and is closest to the main deck. that's where i was thinking of putting the additional boost.
By all means use a Boost in another wired location. It may offer some benefit. Just ensure it's wired, otherwise it will serve no useful function.
Mom cave and master bathroom are probably the farthest away from the boost, but near the master bedroom (amp), so i was hoping that would there.
Master Bedroom's is actually the best radio you have. Amp contains the latest module. However Mom Cave and Master Bathroom have a decent direct signal to the Boost so they're using it.
with the high ambient noise where the boost and great room devices are, would it make sense to wire the great room (connect) directly to the boost?
Great Room is not that young at all (MAC address 00:0E:58:...) so its radio is so-so. It's not offering any benefit to the mesh so I would wire it, to a switch or the Boost's second port, and then disable its radio.
tomgru,
Noise floor above the mid -80's can be troublesome. (-80 is more noise than -100) In this respect the Great Room closet is not a great location. I doubt that you will see any wireless unit's noise floor above -70 because the units really can't communicate in that environment.
The Great Room player is struggling. ratty's suggestion to wire the Great Room player and turn OFF its radio will probably help things along. Also, experiment with physically moving BOOST. Either move it within the closet or move it to a wired port in another location. Note that the Network Matrix is a snapshot, you'll need to refresh the page after each adjustment.
I'm a fan of wiring as many SONOS units as possible. If you wire multiple SONOS units and are using UBIQUTI network switches, make sure that the switches are set for STP. Don't use RSTP.
Noise floor above the mid -80's can be troublesome. (-80 is more noise than -100) In this respect the Great Room closet is not a great location. I doubt that you will see any wireless unit's noise floor above -70 because the units really can't communicate in that environment.
The Great Room player is struggling. ratty's suggestion to wire the Great Room player and turn OFF its radio will probably help things along. Also, experiment with physically moving BOOST. Either move it within the closet or move it to a wired port in another location. Note that the Network Matrix is a snapshot, you'll need to refresh the page after each adjustment.
I'm a fan of wiring as many SONOS units as possible. If you wire multiple SONOS units and are using UBIQUTI network switches, make sure that the switches are set for STP. Don't use RSTP.
+2working on this today. will try suggestions and report back. one question...
what is the "undefined"? I have two now in my matrix?
My guess is they are old Bridges that I didn't remove correctly. is there a way to go back and fix that?
what is the "undefined"? I have two now in my matrix?
My guess is they are old Bridges that I didn't remove correctly. is there a way to go back and fix that?
"Undefined" headings can be due to devices being offline, devices having disabled radios, or the presence of 5GHz connections to a home theatre speaker.
If the MAC addresses are +1 with respect to your Bridges' serial numbers then you have your answer.
Phantom entries for offline devices will remain until the system has been restarted, either by power-cycling or as a result of a firmware update.
If the MAC addresses are +1 with respect to your Bridges' serial numbers then you have your answer.
Phantom entries for offline devices will remain until the system has been restarted, either by power-cycling or as a result of a firmware update.
+2ok... not sure how this panning out. here's what I've done per advice above.
this does not look very good :-)
- Main floor Boost moved out of closet (where interference was greatest) and is wired into dumb switch in office
- Downstairs Boost wired into Ubiquiti switch (8). STP set, with priority 8192
- Great room wired to ubiquiti switch (8) with STP and priority 8192.
- Main deck (downstairs near boost) wired to ubiquiti switch (8) with STP and priority 8192.
- (FYI if it matters, main ubiquiti switch (16) set to STP priority 4096
this does not look very good :-)
Great Room's radio is now off.
Ambient RF noise still accounts for the amber/red in the left column. If the system's behaving okay then ignore it, otherwise you'd need to isolate what's causing the interference, by going round turning other gear off until you can find the culprit. Note that there's a minute or two lag before the system responds to the removal of a noise source.
Ambient RF noise still accounts for the amber/red in the left column. If the system's behaving okay then ignore it, otherwise you'd need to isolate what's causing the interference, by going round turning other gear off until you can find the culprit. Note that there's a minute or two lag before the system responds to the removal of a noise source.
+2Ambient RF noise still accounts for the amber/red in the left column. If the system's behaving okay then ignore it, otherwise you'd need to isolate what's causing the interference, by going round turning other gear off until you can find the culprit. Note that there's a minute or two lag before the system responds to the removal of a noise source.
ah... so the blank row/column is a good thing?
Wonder why I can't turn wifi off for main deck? it is also plugged into lan port on switch.
The boost downstairs is very close to the main deck.. not sure it's doing anything.... how would I know?
Thanks again for all the help here Ratty. Much appreciated!
A blank row/column means the radio is disabled.
It's not obvious why Main Deck refuses to disable its radio. Its connecting wirelessly to Master Bedroom, so presumably the latter's wireless. That shouldn't matter though. Sometimes the system is a bit fussy about disabling the radio if the device is hung off a peripheral switch. Try temporarily wiring Main Deck to the same switch as either of the Boosts.
As for Boost Downstairs it isn't actually doing anything useful. Look along its row. None of the cells are coloured: it has no wireless connections.
It's not obvious why Main Deck refuses to disable its radio. Its connecting wirelessly to Master Bedroom, so presumably the latter's wireless. That shouldn't matter though. Sometimes the system is a bit fussy about disabling the radio if the device is hung off a peripheral switch. Try temporarily wiring Main Deck to the same switch as either of the Boosts.
As for Boost Downstairs it isn't actually doing anything useful. Look along its row. None of the cells are coloured: it has no wireless connections.
+2ok... think i'm getting somewhere. did quite a few changes.
- Moved boost downstairs to upstairs, hardwired. it is now helping Momcave and garage
- Moved boost mainfloor to another room, hardwired. really only helping Tom's office
- Master bedroom is now hardwired, but left wifi on. Looks like it's helping master bathroom and kitchen
- Got both main deck and great room hardwired, wifi off
Signal strengths are now looking very good. If you're not experiencing any problems you can ignore the colours in the left column. The wireless chipsets are basically just doing their job of rejecting noise.
+2awesome. i'll play around the next day or so and see how it goes!
Thanks again for the help!
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