Multiple Sonos systems require multiple Prime Music Unlimited accounts

I kind of follow your example and feel like that’s similar to what I did but I didn’t use one system and then split it up.  I set up one complete home theater system with an Arc on my home wifi (east coast).  I later purchased another system based on a Beam and set it up on my condo wifi (west coast).  The S2 app recognizes each wifi when I’m on the east or west coast and shows each system.  I can control each system where I am with my S2 app including PMU on the east coast and west coast.  On the east coast, the Arc system will also play PMU selection via voice command by Alexa.  On the west coast, Alexa will do things like tell me the weather but when I ask her to play music on the Beam system she says she is going to play it but nothing comes out unless I use the S2 app to initiate the request.  

So, similar to your example, I have two sets of speakers, in two locations (home and office in your example) on two different wifi networks using the same single Sonos account and trying to use the same single Amazon/Alexa account but it does not work.  Sorry to be dense, and it sounds easy as you explain it and that’s what I think I have and think it should work as you’ve indicated but it is not.  I’ve also noted a lot of poor reviews of the Sonos skill for Alexa, which is authored by Sonos, Inc., so maybe it is an issue with the Sonos skill that allows it to only work with one system.  If I could figure out how to change the skill from one system to another and toggle in the Alexa app based on my location I would happily do that but haven’t figured that out.  I even have them set up in separate groups (rooms) in the Alexa app but that doesn’t make a difference either.

@Ken_Griffiths Thanks.  I think that is the issue/difference.  I don’t have one Sonos System, I have two different systems that have never been together and never been on the same network.  In my app, here on the west coast, I don’t see the Arc on the east coast nor can I access the wifi network there without being there to add that wifi to the Sonos System based here on the west coast and vice-versa.  And given these are surround sound systems I don’t think transporting them back and forth to get the app to look at both systems as a single system first is practical.  Appreciate your patience and advice, but not seeing how to apply that to resolve my current situation.  If it is possible to do this, it is not very straightforward on the process.  Now I would say maybe it’s me, but I’m not a stranger to doing technical things and given the number of similar discussions in the community threads around this issue it seems many others have the same struggle.  Unfortunately, most of those other discussions end with the acceptance of a one to one relationship of Sonos account and Amazon/Alexa account.  I’m considering switching from Amazon PMU but am worried I’d face the same issue with an Apple Music account given Alexa doesn’t even want to stream Pandora on my west coast unit based on a voice command.  I can only do it via the S2 app, so for now I’m stuck with my phone and Alexa voice on the beam is only good for weather, time and jokes I guess.  Frustrating and unfortunate.

Here’s a prime example of solution in one of the many other threads around this issue and given the moderator marked it as answered for two Sonos accounts and two Alexa accounts I assumed that was Sonos’ postion:

All, think I found a compromise solution.  In the Alexa app, if I disable the skill and then enable it I get presented with options for which system to connect the skill to including both east coast and west coast solutions.  When I select the current west coast location Alexa now responds with music when asked.  Guessing I will need to repeat this process when I get back to the east coast.  Extra work but manageable solution, just need to remember to do it each time.  🙂  Hope this helps others that may be struggling with the same issue, it’s definitely in the Alexa skill for Sonos but at least they present the option to select different systems without forcing us to setup a system all over again!

Thanks!

@mvonden 
Yes indeed, Alexa is a ‘one to one’ relationship with a Sonos HH, rather than a ‘one to many’, that’s why you need to extend/share the same Sonos HH within the same Sonos Account, across each location, Home & , for example.

You do not need to move all the Home/Office speakers to add your Office WiFi to your Home system, or vice versa, that would be an unenviable task.. just introduce the Office SSID/Password credentials (cAsE sEnsiTive) for instance to your Home Sonos system, by perhaps using a mobile hotspot to mimic those settings/credentials in use by the Office WiFi… and add them to each of your Home Sonos system devices.

When that’s done, take one Sonos speaker only from Home to the Office and add your Office speakers to that transferred speaker and it’s Household … you will need to reset the Office products in order to do that, but when setup/transfer is complete, Alexa will then work at both locations without you having to switch Alexa between Sonos HH’s.

One downside to all this however, is Amazon (and Alexa) only allows one music stream at a time on an individual music account, that applies even when at Home, so if someone is playing music at the Office it will stop if someone at Home asks Alexa to play some music… The Wife and I don’t have issue with this as we are usually together at our various different locations, so a single extended Sonos Household linked to one Amazon/Alexa/Music account only suits our circumstances at the various locations we visit.

Yes, as mentioned earlier that’s a solution, but switching the skill back and forth can quickly become tiresome, but it’s whatever may suit you best, but just note that there is a way to do it without switching the skill, if you extend the Sonos HH across all locations in the way described earlier. 👍