Contributor I

Answered

Problem with WiFi Setup - same SSID for 2.4Ghz/5GHz frequencies

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
November 23, 2021
15 replies
3991 views

I have the following situation/problem:

My SONOS setup: I have a few SONOS devices (4 IKEA Symfonisk Bookshelf speaker, one Five, one One SL and one Roam). My problems are with the devices that can connect to the 5GHz WiFi frequency.

My WiFi setup: I have a big house, in order to have WiFi everywhere I use a Netgear Nighthawk MR60 mesh setup with one router and two satellites. One “feature” of this system is that the 2.4Ghz and the 5Ghz frequencies have the same SSID, which can’t be changed. Also, the 5Ghz frequency can’t be disabled. There is no AP isolation that I could change.

My problem: Since the 2.4Ghz and the 5Ghz frequencies have the same SSID I can’t manually assign a specific device to one or the other frequency. As soon as a SONOS device switches to the 5GHz frequency , it disappears from the SONOS app and can’t be reached. For the IKEA IKEA Symfonisk Bookshelf speakers this isn’t an issue since they only connect to the 2.4Ghz frequency. The Five and the One SL can be forced to connect to the 2.4GHz with some “clever” placement so the signal of the 2.4Ghz frequency is stronger. The Roam on the other hand is moved around the house quite frequently and connects to whatever signal is strongest. As stated above, once a device is on the 5GHz frequency, the SONOS app can’t reach it. Sometimes the device still show up but whenever I want to play something on it, it states that it can’t be reach, and sometimes the device disappears completely. But apart from that, the device works as intended. Through the Spotify app it can be reached and selected as a speaker, AirPlay 2 also works without any problems. Through the IKEA Home Smart App I can activate Scenes which include playback of a certain source, and it also works

What I already tried: I tinkered with a lot of the settings for the router. I’ve tried (after reading a lot of articles here, on Reddit, and on the Netgear forum) changing settings for UPnP, DLNA, RIP version and direction. Nothing had a lasting effect.

What I ruled out: It doesn’t matter if the device is connected to a satellite or to the router - the problem is dependent on whether the device is connected to the 2.4GHz or the 5GHz frequency.

EDIT: Getting a SONOS Boost or connecting one speaker through Ethernet wouldn’t solve the problem since the Roam won’t connect to a SonosNet.

What I haven’t figured out completely: I am not 100% sure if it matters on what frequency the device with the SONOS app is. I have had situations where I knew my phone (iPhone) was on the 5GHz frequency and the SONOS app wasn’t able to connect to the Roam (which was on the 5GHz frequency at that time), while in other situations I knew it was on the 2.4GHz frequency and the SONOS app was nonetheless able to connect to the Roam (which was on the 5GHz frequency at that time).

I am at a loss. Apart from this issue, I am very happy with the SONOS setup and also with the Netgear MR60 system. If I could, I would rename or deactivate the 5GHz frequency, but I can’t. Does anyone have a solution or an idea I could try? Worst case scenario is that I need a new mesh system, but for that I would need the confirmation that the 2GHz/5GHz issue is strictly linked to the Netgear MR60 system and not a wider issue. Or get a router that can rename the 5GHz frequency.

Already in advance, thank you all for your input

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Best answer by ratty

Inherently there’s no problem whatsoever with Sonos devices on any WiFi band (or SonosNet) being seen by a controller on any band.

If players are going missing it would be worth noting what the controller is connected to at the time, and the same for the players. A pattern may emerge.

The blocking of SSDP discovery multicasts/broadcasts is a not uncommon problem with certain network kit, particularly between WiFi bands.

AjTrek1

Hi

I’m at the airport. But here’s a quick answer to one of your queries. Setting up the SonosNet either with a Boost or wiring a speaker to your main router would work. The Roam would just connect to your WiFi. I have the same setup in my home. Boost for all other Sonos with Roam connecting to WiFi.

Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.

P

pascal_o_sAuthor

Contributor I

Thank you for your reply. I have considered that, but from what I see it wouldn’t change the issues I have with the Roam (as you said). If it’s the only solution available I am certainly willing to go that route, but I do use the roam frequently and it’s where the problem is most pronounced sadly.

UKMedia

Thinking logically. the only way that I can think of achieving this is by forcing a 2.4 connection by reducing the number of mesh devices and so weaken the wi-fi strength - not ideal I know! :nerd: The obvious issue being that even if this did work by relying upon the greater range of 2.4 vs 5, is that moving the Roam closer to a mesh node would negate this approach. I had lots of similar issues with Goggle Wi-fi mesh, along with the inability to fix a specific wi-fi channel, and got rid of them in the end.

Remember: Sometimes Red Wine helps :)

P

pascal_o_sAuthor

Contributor I

Thank you for your reply - you’re absolutely right that it would help some but is far from ideal, since there are (obviously) other devices on the network…

The advice under your post seems much more attractive ;-)

rattyAnswer

Inherently there’s no problem whatsoever with Sonos devices on any WiFi band (or SonosNet) being seen by a controller on any band.

If players are going missing it would be worth noting what the controller is connected to at the time, and the same for the players. A pattern may emerge.

The blocking of SSDP discovery multicasts/broadcasts is a not uncommon problem with certain network kit, particularly between WiFi bands.

W

Wayne_15

Lyricist III

I have the same issue. The two roam I have connect to the 5 Ghz network and are invisible on the app. It is indeed a frustrating problem making the two Roams I have useless as part of the system. When I turn them off they appear on the app as offline. So the system know they are connected but they do not show on the app. I am considering returning them as they are not fit for purpose.

ratty

I have the same issue. The two roam I have connect to the 5 Ghz network and are invisible on the app. It is indeed a frustrating problem making the two Roams I have useless as part of the system. When I turn them off they appear on the app as offline. So the system know they are connected but they do not show on the app. I am considering returning them as they are not fit for purpose.

If the Roams can’t be discovered by the controller when they’re on the 5GHz band it’s the router that’s not fit for purpose. The Roams themselves aren't at fault.

J

John B

I have the same issue. The two roam I have connect to the 5 Ghz network and are invisible on the app. It is indeed a frustrating problem making the two Roams I have useless as part of the system. When I turn them off they appear on the app as offline. So the system know they are connected but they do not show on the app. I am considering returning them as they are not fit for purpose.

If the Roams can’t be discovered by the controller when they’re on the 5GHz band it’s the router that’s not fit for purpose. The Roams themselves aren't at fault.

Indeed. Designing a mesh system that doesn’t allow the two bands to have separate SSIDs AND blocks multicast broadcasts between bands takes a special kind of incompetence.

J

John B

This is getting a bit desperate, but could one wire a cheapish access point off each of the mesh nodes, with different SSID from the mesh, DHCP off, 5GHz band disabled. Run Sonos in SonosNet mode, remove the mesh WiFi details from Sonos and add the AP SSID.

I think you might have to force the controller to connect to 2.4GHz, and that may be impossible

I really don’t know if that could work. But I am confident that @ratty will know!

ratty

The desperate arrangement could well work, and the extra AP ought to be able to operate on either band.

As far as the mesh is concerned all the Sonos devices and controllers would be on the wired segment:

either over SonosNet and through the wired Sonos component
or over WiFi and through the wired AP

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