Problems finding Sonos system when using powerlink adaptor to extend home network

Hi,

Is it possible for you to separate the wireless channels for your router and extender? Ideally we'd like to see your router on e.g. channel 1, extender on 6 and SONOS on 11.
Also make sure none of your SONOS components are too close to other wireless devices (router, extender, etc), maximizing the distance as much as you can.
Submit a diagnostics report and reply with your confirmation number so we can check if your system needs more improving.

Thanks,
Mohammed

Hi we also have exactly this problem, was there any further update on a solution for this? Many thanks

Hi, I got the same problem. The wifi signal of the extender (TP-Link) is stronger than the wifi signal of the router (which is connected by wire to the Sonos play 5). I would like have the (TP-Link) signal as standard for Sonos in Iphone and laptop.
Is there a solution?
Gert

I have exactly the same issue with a TP-Link WPA281 AV200 powerline extender. I've been dealing with Sonos Tech Support who have been very helpful but unable to resolve the issue so far.

Sonos do not support connectivity via powerline extenders, but this is clearly a problem for larger houses where the router wifi does not cover certain parts of the property. My problem mirrors that of the raiser of this ticket - Sonosnet works fine in my kitchen (Play:3) but I stuggle to connect to it via iOS apps through my powerline extender.

My extender has the same SSID as the main router, the security settings are fixed and match, I have reserverd IP's for all Sonos and mobile devices and channel separation is good (Router-1, Powerline Extender-6 and Sonos-11).

Basically I have to renew the wifi lease in order to connect to Sonos via the wifi extender in my kitchen. This is done my turning wifi off/on on the mobile device or going into wifi settings and selecting 'Renew Lease'. Once connected I have no issues until I leave the property or shutdown the device. I then get the issue again.

This is an annoyance and not good user experience considering the relative value of the equipment.

Agree its an annoyance. 

What's really weird is that the Sonos Play has absolutely no trouble connecting trhough the powerline extender.   Its only the Sonos App on the iPhone (or on a laptop) that can't connect to Sonos through the powerline extender.

I gave up with Sonos help line, whose suggestion in the end was not to use powerline extension.....

That's because the Sonos devices themselves connect via SonosNet (Sonos propriatory wifi network) and not the wifi network from your router/extender. As long as you have a Sonos device connected to your router and your other Sonos devices are in range of each other to create the SonosNet mesh you should have no problem with the devices themselves.

My setup is the same. The devices work fine - it's the ability to connect the controller apps to the Sonos system via the powerline extender that is the issue. I can remove the powerline wifi extender and connect seamlessly via the router wifi to solve the problem, but this means that I have to be within range of the router. Basically I would have to control the system from my living room if I want to listen to the devices it in my kitchen.

I've got a new wifi router on order which will hopefully have a much broader wifi range (that stretches to my kitchen). If so this will negate the need for the powerline wifi extender and solve the connection issue. I'm not confident and I'd really like to see Sonos get to the bottom of this. Sonos is a premium priced system but I don't consider this to be a premium user experience.

I resolved my iOS app connection problem by removing the wireless powerline extender and replacing it with a wifi repeater that I located in between my router and Sonos players. I have had to reset a number of controllers since so I am not 100% sure that I have a reliable and stable connection when I roam between the router and repeater wifi signals.

I'm also on the Beta programme and updated to apps v5.2. I don't know if this had any impact on my connection.

The downside is that the wifi repeater signal is weaker than the wireless powerline extender signal - effecting the performance of all other apps that use the signal.

Sonos is a product predicated on wireless. The product documentation and support material should be much clearer and detailed about connecting Sonos controller apps to Sonos Players in locations that are out of range of the primary router wifi signal.

Hi

Sorry to revive and old(ish) thread, but i have the exact same issue as described by the original poster.

This thread is marked as solved, but the only solution I can see is to remove the extender. Is that correct? If so its a fairly unsatisfactory solution because no one installs an extender unless they need it.

@TheManOnTheBus, did you get to the bottom of this? If so how please?

Thanks a lot for any help, its driving  me mad!

Correct. Sonos categorically do not support controller access via powerline wifi extenders. After hours of tweaking and telephone technical support it was clear that there was no solution for my setup using the powerline wifi extender.

I had to remove the powerline extender and replace it with a standard wifi range extender. This fixed the issue with controller when out of range of the main router but it introduced controller connectivity issues when in range of the router and the extender at the same time.

The wifi range extender is also less effective that my original powerline extender so all of my other mobile apps are now slower.

At one point I was advised by Sonos tech support to purchase a 'cheap' Android tablet and use that exclusively as a Sonos controller, connected directly to SonosNet rather than the wifi. I don't need more expense or indeed another mobile device.

My SonosNet mesh network is solid but the user experience is poor when I have to go to a different room to manage my audio via the iOS controller. In my experience Sonos do not have consistent and reliable OSX or iOS controller applications for use in properties where Sonos zones are beyond the primary router wifi range.

Thank you Stephen.  I have re-read all your posts with interest.  My problem is identical to yours. (I have to go to the living room to control Sonos in the Kitchen - ridiculous experience).

So Graham - no I didn't get to the bottom.  As Stephen says, it won't work with a powerline connector.  I have not yet got round to getting a wifi range extender, but it is on my "to do" list.

Agree that Sonos - at its price point - should solve this.

Do they read these forums?