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Question

One time set up?

  • May 9, 2026
  • 7 replies
  • 48 views
R

So I purchased an Sonos Arc Ultra.  Since I’m stuck in a hotel due to a flood in my home I can’t complete the wifi setup (can’t do it with hotel wifi).  I’ve tried the ‘create a hotspot’ trick, but the app doesn’t see the hotspot yet all my other devices do.

If I were to bring my speaker to a friends home to connect to his wifi and complete the set up on the Sonos app, can I then bring it back to the hotel I’m staying at keep the connection to my phone/computer via Bluetooth or will it again ask to be set up?  I would really like to use it to listen to music and test out various settings while I’m staying at the hotel.  I could be here for a couple more months.  It was purchased due to my insurance claim and it was on a wicked sale and couldn’t pass it up.

Thanking you all in advance. 🤘🏼🍻 Cheers!

7 replies

Stanley_4
  • Stanley_4
  • Grand Maestro
  • May 9, 2026

Instead of a hot-spot pick up a travel router, hook it to the hotel and all your devices to it. Aside from getting your Sonos working it is a bit of extra security in the hotel environment.

You're probably going to like the sound of streaming to tne Arc better than the Bluetooth link too.

Local purchase or Amazon can have you one tomorrow.

Don't know the answer to the Bluetooth question.

    Airgetlam

    Yes. 

    Bruce
    Airgetlam

    That is to say, yes, you’ll be able to connect via Bluetooth. No, none of the network stuff will work, including the controller, and any streaming (including AirPlay 2, which relies on WiFi) in the controller. So, it will work with the TV via HDMI ARC or optical, but I doubt any surrounds or subs will work, as there isn’t a router it will be connected to to proxy IP addresses to. So the TV and Bluetooth should work, but I don’t think anything else will.

    What I tried to do when in a hotel in Bangkok for many months was to get my Sonos devices ‘whitelisted’ by the IT folks. When it turned out the hotel didn’t have IT folks on a regular basis, I ended up setting up my own network, using a travel router. That allowed me full use of the various Sonos devices in my possession while I was there, while the travel router maintained connection to the hotel’s WiFi. 

    Bruce
      106rallye
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       I’ve tried the ‘create a hotspot’ trick, but the app doesn’t see the hotspot yet all my other devices do.

      Since you mention the app does not see the hotspot while other devices do: did you use two phones for the ‘create a hotspot’ solution? Because the app is not able to see the network the phone it is used on is providing. For this solution to work you need two phones: one to use the app on and one to provide the network.

        R
        • Richard_400
        • Author
        • Contributor I
        • May 9, 2026

         I’ve tried the ‘create a hotspot’ trick, but the app doesn’t see the hotspot yet all my other devices do.

        Since you mention the app does not see the hotspot while other devices do: did you use two phones for the ‘create a hotspot’ solution? Because the app is not able to see the network the phone it is used on is providing. For this solution to work you need two phones: one to use the app on and one to provide the network.

        Okay, so I tried using my wife’s phone as a hotspot and connected my phone, which has the Sonos app. I managed to use the hotspot connection and check it out in the web browser, but when I open the Sonos app to find the connection, it doesn’t recognize it, and I can only connect to the hotel Wi-Fi, which doesn’t work because I have to agree to the terms of service.

        R
        • Richard_400
        • Author
        • Contributor I
        • May 9, 2026

        Instead of a hot-spot pick up a travel router, hook it to the hotel and all your devices to it. Aside from getting your Sonos working it is a bit of extra security in the hotel environment.

        You're probably going to like the sound of streaming to tne Arc better than the Bluetooth link too.

        Local purchase or Amazon can have you one tomorrow.

        Don't know the answer to the Bluetooth question.

        Looks like this is the route I’d have to go.  My friend did say I can drop by his home anytime and set it up, but the question remains, when I leave and power it back up at the hotel, will it remember the connection and allow me to play music via bluetooth or will it always need a wifi?

        Thank you for your help. :)

        Airgetlam

        Reread my post. 

        Bruce
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