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Question

Traffic to Amp coming from social media sites

  • June 14, 2026
  • 9 replies
  • 71 views

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I have been troubleshooting some issues with a location that has 5 Amp units. We have moved all of them to WiFi to try to fix dropouts…

During the troubleshooting, I started looking at network stats for the 5 Amps in the UniFi controller. Specifically, traffic/activity to the devices. I noticed that 2 of the 5 Amps are showing traffic to/from: Instagram, Snapchat, Uber, Google Play and Google (in addition to Pandora, Spotify and HTTP/S).

These devices are controlled from an iPad that is locked down and does not have any of these above apps installed on it. The other 3 Amps show Pandora, Spotify, HTTP and HTTPS as the traffic. These I would expect.

Should this concern me at all?

9 replies

Stanley_4
  • Grand Maestro
  • June 14, 2026

The current Sonos Amp, not a Connect Amp?

Only when playing?

What is playing (the source service) on the ones with odd traffic?

What type of traffic (protocol) is it?

 

With the limited access we users have answers are difficult, sending a diagnostic and calling Sonos let's them see data hidden from us.

 

 


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  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • June 14, 2026

It is the Sonos Amp. 5 of them installed in a restaurant for 5 zones of coverage.

The only when playing? No. It appears that is happening when not playing.

The source of the playing is the Spotify app on a dedicated iOS app. We have since switched to only using the Sonos app on that iPad while we research dropping out issues but I don’t think the dropping out is related to this. We are working on STP and multicast on the network.

I don’t know protocol. It is listing it only by app. I will need to wait to see it happen live and pcap that device.


Stanley_4
  • Grand Maestro
  • June 14, 2026

Very odd, don't use Spotify so I can't check here. The diagnostic capture and support call sounds like the best path.

Some good networking stuff in the Ubiquity topics here, even if you aren't using their gear.


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  • Local Superstar
  • June 15, 2026

It is the Sonos Amp. 5 of them installed in a restaurant for 5 zones of coverage.

Have you not checked the Spotify T&C?

 

https://support.spotify.com/uk/article/spotify-public-commercial-use/

 

This means you can’t broadcast or play Spotify publicly from a business, such as bars, restaurants, schools, stores, salons, dance studios, radio stations, etc.

 

Should this concern me at all?

 

Yes.

 

During the troubleshooting, I started looking at network stats for the 5 Amps in the UniFi controller. Specifically, traffic/activity to the devices. I noticed that 2 of the 5 Amps are showing traffic to/from: Instagram, Snapchat, Uber, Google Play and Google (in addition to Pandora, Spotify and HTTP/S).

My guess: The Spotify account being used has been linked to the social media accounts, Uber etc, and data is being harvested to target advertising based on the personal playlist, or preparing music for your next Uber ride etc.

eg:

https://ads.spotify.com/en-AU/news-and-insights/inside-tracks-uber-eats/

https://www.uber.com/us/en/newsroom/ridermusic/


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  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • June 15, 2026

I just manage the network but I did point out to them Spotify is not allowed to be played. They told me they have a license from BMI where they pay a fee and are specifically allowed to play music from traditionally “banned” sources in the restaurants, including terrestrial radio and Spotify / Pandora. I have to take them at their word for that.

The account they are using with Spotify is a commercial account on an email address specific for music services but I will make sure it is not logged into anything else. The iPad that plays the music also has the Uber Eats app on it since their location is a participating restaurant so that is interesting… I would guess those TOS you click through agree to share data across certain apps.

Thanks!


I have been troubleshooting some issues with a location that has 5 Amp units. We have moved all of them to WiFi to try to fix dropouts…

During the troubleshooting, I started looking at network stats for the 5 Amps in the UniFi controller. Specifically, traffic/activity to the devices. I noticed that 2 of the 5 Amps are showing traffic to/from: Instagram, Snapchat, Uber, Google Play and Google (in addition to Pandora, Spotify and HTTP/S).

These devices are controlled from an iPad that is locked down and does not have any of these above apps installed on it. The other 3 Amps show Pandora, Spotify, HTTP and HTTPS as the traffic. These I would expect.

Should this concern me at all?

There has to nbc something better than Sonos.  Sonos days are over.  I returned 7 pieces to Best Buy.  the employees told me that there telling the managers to stop selling there products..It eats up to much of there time

 


Very odd, don't use Spotify so I can't check here. The diagnostic capture and support call sounds like the best path.

Some good networking stuff in the Ubiquity topics here, even if you aren't using their gear.

Yes spotify has better software . Group your speakers and open it in Spotify. Also spotify sound quality sounds better than Apple.

 

 


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  • Local Superstar
  • June 15, 2026

I just manage the network but I did point out to them Spotify is not allowed to be played. They told me they have a license from BMI where they pay a fee and are specifically allowed to play music from traditionally “banned” sources in the restaurants, including terrestrial radio and Spotify / Pandora. I have to take them at their word for that.

I would steer your customer in this direction:

https://www.soundtrack.io/apps-and-hardware/sonos/

 

 


AjTrek1
  • June 15, 2026

I have been troubleshooting some issues with a location that has 5 Amp units. We have moved all of them to WiFi to try to fix dropouts…

During the troubleshooting, I started looking at network stats for the 5 Amps in the UniFi controller. Specifically, traffic/activity to the devices. I noticed that 2 of the 5 Amps are showing traffic to/from: Instagram, Snapchat, Uber, Google Play and Google (in addition to Pandora, Spotify and HTTP/S).

These devices are controlled from an iPad that is locked down and does not have any of these above apps installed on it. The other 3 Amps show Pandora, Spotify, HTTP and HTTPS as the traffic. These I would expect.

Should this concern me at all?

There has to nbc something better than Sonos.  Sonos days are over.  I returned 7 pieces to Best Buy.  the employees told me that there telling the managers to stop selling there products..It eats up to much of there time

 

What? Your profile suggests nothing newer than a Move. So what 7 pieces did you return to BestBuy?

The majority of BestBuy sales people are not product experts on any one product. They are probably good at directing you to AV receiver and letting you listen to different speakers through a multi unit kiosk. Sonos is more technical as to setup and using the app. The salesperson trying to sell Sonos probably has limited network knowledge as well. They don’t like selling Sonos because they don’t understand the product. What people don’t understand frustrates them. 

Not to just completely bash Bestbuy Sales. There are some that are knowledgeable about Sonos. However, given all the different combinations one can have with Sonos the sales cycle can be longer trying to configure the best system for a prospective buyer. Sonos versatility is sometimes its own downfall during the decision making process.

All too often people come to this community and after interaction determine that they should exchange one speaker for another. They weren’t wrong for choosing Sonos. It was just determined that another speaker and/or configuration would better serve them.