Can't Control Sonos App with a Roam on Bluetooth?

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
April 21, 2021
12 replies
709 views

I just received the Roam and am starting to use it. When I’m on wifi, it works great. The minute I go off wifi onto 5G, the app is completely useless. The music that I’m listening to still plays, but I can’t do anything else via the Sonos App. This seems like a pretty big limitation considering that most people will probably be using the speaker on the go (beach, boat, park, etc). So when you’re away, it’s really just another portable speaker. I’m assuming most people will start to discover this and wonder why, as Sonos didn't really mention that this would happen.

This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

Best answer by melvimbe

If you’re at home listening to the speaker using the sonos app, then go for a walk with it or go out, when you go off wifi, the app stops working. I guess I thought that process would be seamless.

The app is just a controller, the speaker is doing all the streaming by itself. It’s exactly like how you your TV is still works even though your remote control is out of range. That probably isn’t obvious if you don’t have experience with Sonos but that’s how it works, and for good reason to. If it didn’t work that way, you’re music would stop when the phone goes off the network, just like bluetooth speakers would, That also means you can control your speakers from any phone/tablet and other devices without issue.

Show previous replies

melvimbe

Customers would then be asking why you can’t play music on your phone, via bluetooth, in sync with Sonos speakers.

You can do this already. Play via Bluetooth to the Roam then group it with other players in the system.

That’s not exactly what I was getting at. People have asked previously why their phone or computer can’t be a Sonos room, so that then use bluetooth (or computer speaker) as an additional Sonos room, one that doesn’t use any Sonos products whatsoever.

I suppose you could this with the Roam as you suggest with an android, since android allow you to connect to two different bluetooth speakers. For example, connect via bluetooth to an Roam (grouped with other Sonos speakers) and a UA Boom….although I would not be surprised if the Boom is out of sync in this scenario.

Danny

ratty

Customers would then be asking why you can’t play music on your phone, via bluetooth, in sync with Sonos speakers.

You can do this already. Play via Bluetooth to the Roam then group it with other players in the system.

That’s not exactly what I was getting at. People have asked previously why their phone or computer can’t be a Sonos room, so that then use bluetooth (or computer speaker) as an additional Sonos room, one that doesn’t use any Sonos products whatsoever.

Ah, right. The “software ZonePlayer” that’s been requested since at least 2008 if not earlier. Also known as the “Sonos goes bust in double quick time” scenario.

Sign up

Login to the community