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PhilSkill
Enthusiast II
February 13, 2018

Android Controllers and Setup, past the CR100 brick

  • February 13, 2018
  • 112 replies
  • 8635 views
As many of us are being thrown off of our CR100's, and forced onto an external third party device, please use this thread to say what device you will use or have tried, and advise what settings and configurations make it work.

Please keep it on topic, use the "Save the CR100" thread to put the world to rights on the bricking of our functioning devices.

Life must go on, The CR100 will die, lets try to help each other find our best solution.

To start,

I have just purchased a Lenovo Tab 7 Essential, 7" screen so similar overall size to the controller, ordered through Tesco Direct, very fast service available in 3 hours from ordering.

Tesco added a discount so got it for £62, although They advertised it as the Tab 4 7" which is actually a different unit with slightly higher res and should retail at £99 rather than £69 anyway its fine at the right price. both run Android 7.0

So set it up with no security as I don't want a pin entry each time I pick it up.

Installed Sonos from Google play and allowed Sonos net connections and connected straight to my system.

Then set the sonos options to "Show lock screen controls" and "Show Volume on Home screen"

Set the Android screen saver to Clock (its a bit too small compared to the Controller) but can be shown when docked (charging), so leave the unit on and it blacks out to a clock, can be digital or analogue.

One downside of this particular device is the micro usb charging port is not central, so Belkin docks wont work, so the cradle/dock could be an issue!? Any ideas?

Leave the Sonos app running and it comes out of the lock screen into Sonos.

Without a proper cradle its not so easy to directly compare, sometime touching the display unlocks, othertimes I need to press the side power button.

If you touch the button it goes to the home screen, which needs a swipe to unlock, a nice touch, if sonos is playing and running, then the home screen wallpaper is the artwork.

On the home screen are quick access play,stop and skip but no volume, there is a tiny expander arrow that opens up a menu that has a button to change volume, but thats way too complex, easier to double tap the quick access area and it opens the sonos app to show you the zone with volume control, art, queue etc.
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112 replies

Enthusiast II
February 14, 2018
One relevant factor for some users will be the ability of Android controllers to connect to SonosNet, not just to wifi. I have managed in the past to connect the Amazon Fire 5th gen to SonosNet, but for the most part it doesn't seem to see SonosNet (which doesn't matter to me as wifi is strong throughout my home).

I think it would be helpful if those testing the various devices reported on this. To enable it you go to Settings, Advanced Settings, Connect to SonosNet, from where it's obvious. (At this point you are just enabling the device's ability to connect, not actually connecting.)

In the device's available networks you should now see a network starting with 'Sonos_', to which you should be able to connect without entering a password (but this does not mean it is unsecured).

I am sure feedback on this aspect would be useful to some, particularly as the CR100 connects over SonosNet.


5th Gen Amazon Fire Tablet, the setting is in Sonos, and selected. The only WiFi network I see other than expected was HHID_andthengobbleydegook5. Have connected to this, can't find IP address on fire but it is controlling Sonos (so I presume that must be it - it won't be anyone else's round here unless they fitted cows with WiFi. If I remember I'll have a look on router and network switch and see if I can determine if its routing via Sonos.
Owner since 2006: Legacy System(8.4):3*CR100:1*ZP80:4*ZP100:1*Play 5. - S1 System:1*ZP100:1*Z120. - S2 System:5*Amp:1*Port:2*Five:1*Arc,1*Move:1*Play Bar:1*Subwoofer:5*Play1 : Long live the CR100!
Enthusiast II
February 14, 2018
Grr second duplicate post!
Owner since 2006: Legacy System(8.4):3*CR100:1*ZP80:4*ZP100:1*Play 5. - S1 System:1*ZP100:1*Z120. - S2 System:5*Amp:1*Port:2*Five:1*Arc,1*Move:1*Play Bar:1*Subwoofer:5*Play1 : Long live the CR100!
February 14, 2018
That will be it - I think it would depend on the age of your wired device. Older SonosNet identifiers began with HHID. Useful to know you can see yours - don't know why mine isn't showing up!
ratty
February 14, 2018
In the device's available networks you should now see a network starting with 'Sonos_', to which you should be able to connect without entering a password (but this does not mean it is unsecured).
For systems set up in the CR100's heyday the SonosNet SSID is likely to be HHID_*.
ratty
February 14, 2018
(Duplicate - InSided is up to its old tricks again, throwing an error when the post has actually been received.)
February 14, 2018
duplicate post, also Grrrrr
February 14, 2018
This will probably be duplicate or triplicate post too...******* forum software (by Insided, why do Sonos not dump them?)

That will be it - I think it would depend on the age of your wired device. Older SonosNet identifiers began with HHID. Useful to know you can see yours - don't know why mine isn't showing up!
PhilSkill
PhilSkillAuthor
Enthusiast II
February 14, 2018
Like the Magnetic cables and the Sliding stand thanks guys!

Yes you can set security (Standard Android options) on the Lenovo Tab, So I assume that means PIN, But I haven't tried as I wanted it open and quick to access.
PhilSkill
PhilSkillAuthor
Enthusiast II
February 14, 2018
Lenovo Tab 7 Essential, connects to the SonosNet no problem (HHID_xxxxxx)
PhilSkill
PhilSkillAuthor
Enthusiast II
February 14, 2018
It is also Pretty slick, speed wise