I recently got two Era 100’s as a gift. I live in an apartment complex that uses wirestar internet as a community wide internet service. There is one network “Wirestar - Secure” that everyone uses but each unit has its own unique password. I’ve connected and reconnected my era 100’s many times and I have issues with the app. A lot of the time the app shows there is no system on my WiFi. Sometimes it connects and gives an error when trying to play music. Sometimes it will start to play music and then I lose control over volume or pause/play. I do not have access to my WiFi portal to look at the settings. What can I do to get this to work?
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This sounds like some trouble, as you don’t have the ability to access your router for settings. But how do you connect your Era 100s if there is a login page for each unit? Sonos doesn’t provide an interface to log in with a device, it only provides a method to sign in with an SSID and password.
Normally, I’d suggest two things. First, power down your Sonos, then reboot your router. Wait for the router to reboot, then plug in your Sonos. That should, at least temporarily, set up and connect your Sonos speakers to the controller. Following that, I’d recommend setting up reserved IP addresses for your Sonos in the router’s DHCP table, as a more ‘permanent’ fix. The fact that you don’t have access to your router makes this challenging.
I think I’d be tempted to pick up a travel router, so that I had more control. Connect the travel router to your complex’s signal, then you can control your own WiFi needs (including more security!) on your own.
Conversely, if the complex provides IT support, you could reach out to them.
I’d probably also call Sonos Support to discuss it, but I’m not sure there is much they can offer.
When you speak directly to the Support staff, they have tools at their disposal that will allow them to give you advice specific to your network and Sonos system.
Sonos does not play well on community Wi-Fi networks. There are way too many variables to explain why Sonos does not perform on such networks. Your best option is to obtain what is called a travel router. Below is an AI generated explanation (the Links are live):
What is a Travel Router?
How Do Travel Routers Work?
- Signal Reception: Travel routers can connect to the internet through various means, such as a wired Ethernet connection or a wireless Wi-Fi signal. They act as a middleman between your devices and the internet source.
- Creating a New Network: Once connected, the travel router creates its own Wi-Fi network, allowing you to connect your devices (like smartphones, tablets, and laptops) to this new network. This means you only need to log in to the travel router instead of each individual device.
- Security Features: By using a travel router, you add an extra layer of security. It helps protect your devices from potential threats on public Wi-Fi networks. Some travel routers even support VPNs and have built-in firewalls for enhanced security.
- Device Management: Travel routers simplify the process of managing multiple devices. Instead of connecting each device to a different Wi-Fi network, you connect them all to the travel router, which then connects to the internet. This also helps in bypassing any device connection limits imposed by public networks.
EDIT:
This sounds like some trouble, as you don’t have the ability to access your router for settings. But how do you connect your Era 100s if there is a login page for each unit? Sonos doesn’t provide an interface to log in with a device, it only provides a method to sign in with an SSID and password.
Normally, I’d suggest two things. First, power down your Sonos, then reboot your router. Wait for the router to reboot, then plug in your Sonos. That should, at least temporarily, set up and connect your Sonos speakers to the controller. Following that, I’d recommend setting up reserved IP addresses for your Sonos in the router’s DHCP table, as a more ‘permanent’ fix. The fact that you don’t have access to your router makes this challenging.
I think I’d be tempted to pick up a travel router, so that I had more control. Connect the travel router to your complex’s signal, then you can control your own WiFi needs (including more security!) on your own.
Conversely, if the complex provides IT support, you could reach out to them.
I’d probably also call Sonos Support to discuss it, but I’m not sure there is much they can offer.
When you speak directly to the Support staff, they have tools at their disposal that will allow them to give you advice specific to your network and Sonos system.
There is a one time login page for each unit. Then it gives me a WiFi password that I use all the time. I used it to setup my Sonos speakers and they stay connected to the network sometimes, but there are connections issues that I mentioned before that keep happening and I can’t access my router settings to play with it.
As suggested by
As suggested by
Is there a way to use a travel router with Sonos system and not have to connect to this different WiFi from my main WiFi to control Sonos? I’d rather not have to connect to the travel router to control.
Not sure I truly understand. The travel router would be the only thing that connects to your ‘current’ WiFi. Everything else that is yours, including your Sonos, phone, etc, would connect to the network created by your travel router.
Oh, I think, after rereading your post several times, I understand.
No, not really. Your Sonos devices need to be connected to the Internet to stream anything other than local music. And, of course, your controller device needs to be connected to the same network that the Sonos speakers are on, otherwise they won’t connect.
Frankly, if all you needed was a router, I’d have not suggested a travel router. Not that they’re much more expensive (or much more chepaer) than regular routers, they’re just different. Although a regular router would certainly work if you had an Ethernet port from the other router in the wall, you could then just connect it to the WAN port on your own router, and ignore the ‘old’ system completely, and just connect everything to your own network. It’s the whole ‘I need to connect to this other WiFi’ thing that makes it more challenging.
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