Alexa doesn't play BBC Radio 4 or stop via command

First:  Are you talking to an Echo device or directly to the ERA 100?

When using Echo device:

When you ask Alexa to play something you need to specify the ERA 100 room name from the Sonos app.  So if your room name for the ERA 100 is “Livingroom” then the request should be “Alexa. Play BBC Radio 4 in the Livingroom”.

Is the Sonos Skill set up in the Alexa app?  Do the Sonos speakers show in the Alexa devices list.

When talking directly to the ERA 100:

Try using Sonos Voice Control.

If you are using Groups within the Alexa app, you can, for example, make a group for your Living Room that contains an Echo and a default speaker, such as your Sonos speaker named LIVINGROOM.  When you say, “Alexa, play XXX”, there is no need to say in LIVINGROOM.  It will default to the speaker that is grouped with the Echo.  Whenever that grouped speaker is playing and you ask Alexa something, the volume of the grouped speaker (i.e. LIVINGROOM) will decrease while Alexa is speaking.  Same for lights, etc.  You need to specify the speaker only if you are speaking to an echo in a different group than the desired speaker. 

​@Harrigill:

How do you group a Sonos speaker with an Echo speaker?  I’ve never been able to accomplish that.  Also would not want both the Echo and Sonos speakers playing at the same time.

You don’t.  If a Sonos speaker is in the same group as an Echo, the echo will respond and speak, but all music goes thru the default speaker device which is your echo.  For example, I have Dots in every room, and a Sonos in every room. My Dots always talk to me, but all music is always played on the Sonoses.

​@Harrigill:

Can you show a screenshot of the group that has an Echo Dot & a Sonos speaker.  I just asked my Echo to play Jazz in the TV Room ( Arc-Sub-300s ).  It played on the Sonos room.  Then I asked the Econto play Jazz.  It played on the Echo.

Attached is a screen shot of the Alexa App showing my group named “Tahiti Office”. It contains one Alexa device named “Tahiti Office Echo”, one light switch named “Office Lamp” and one paired stereo Sonos speaker set named “Office”.   Note that Office is listed as a Preffered speaker.  As long as I am speaking to Tahiti Office Echo, I can merely say, “Play xxx” and it plays on Office

. If I am speaking to another echo, I will need to say, “Play xxx on Office”.  Also, as long as I am speaking to Tahiti Office Echo, I can say, “Turn on the light” and Office Lamp will turn on.  If I am speaking to another echo, I will need to say, “Turn on Office Lamp”. 

​@Harrigill 

Thanks.  I’ll have to look into that again.

EDIT:

Got it to work.  Just needed to choose Skip when it showed a list of devices Not In Groups.  My Sonos room did not show in the Not In Groups list.  When I chose Skip the Sonos room and Echo in same room showed.  Just have to choose a better group name other than Test.

​@Harrigill:

I must be doing something wrong.  I still have to include the name of the group in the request.  If I don’t the music plays on the Echo.

EDIT:

Changed Preferred Speaker from “Only When Promped” to “Always”.  Works correctly now.

Use the BBC Sounds Alexa Skill:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BBC-MEDIA-APPLICATIONS-TECHNOLOGIES-LIMITED/dp/B077P7TNF2

“Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 4”