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Contributor I
September 24, 2014
Answered

How do I setup my system to work with mobile hotspot

  • September 24, 2014
  • 17 replies
  • 75675 views
I have a Sonos bridge, two play1s and a play 5. My current internet connection is through my cellphone (tethering). I'm wondering how I could configure my system so that I can play the same thing out of all the speakers.

Is there a way to do this?

If not, is it possible to just have them create a mesh network with eachother (plug them into eachother through ethernet). And then use the line in of the Play 5 to repeat to all the other speakers?
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Best answer by ratty
Can someone confirm that it either works or does not work with a single mobile phone to act as a personal hotspot?
It does, up to a limited number of Players clearly.

However you will need a second device (phone, tablet, computer) to set up and control the Sonos, also attached to the hotspot. When the phone's WiFi is in hotspot mode -- with the phone's network connection over the mobile network -- it can't talk to the locally attached Sonos devices.

17 replies

jgatie
September 24, 2014
I have a Sonos bridge, two play1s and a play 5. My current internet connection is through my cellphone (tethering). I'm wondering how I could configure my system so that I can play the same thing out of all the speakers.

Is there a way to do this?

If not, is it possible to just have them create a mesh network with eachother (plug them into eachother through ethernet). And then use the line in of the Play 5 to repeat to all the other speakers?


With the latest release, you can connect Sonos directly to WiFi. If your phone creates a true hotspot (not an ad hoc), then see this link for instructions on connecting to WiFi:

https://support.sonos.com/s/article/2627
Avid Contributor I
September 25, 2014
Else its possible if you have a router, and have one of the units wired to it, the other Sonos units will create their own network, and you can stream to them all from any line-in available.

Best regards
Ole
Lyricist I
November 21, 2014
Whats the diff between a true hotspot and ad hoc? I have an iphone 5s with Verizon as my service provider. Is this possible for me?
Cantello
Avid Contributor I
July 6, 2015
Can someone confirm that it either works or does not work with a single mobile phone to act as a personal hotspot?

Tried with two separate phones on the weekend but never even got so far as to enter the advanced wireless configuration.
ratty
rattyAnswer
July 6, 2015
Can someone confirm that it either works or does not work with a single mobile phone to act as a personal hotspot?
It does, up to a limited number of Players clearly.

However you will need a second device (phone, tablet, computer) to set up and control the Sonos, also attached to the hotspot. When the phone's WiFi is in hotspot mode -- with the phone's network connection over the mobile network -- it can't talk to the locally attached Sonos devices.
Contributor I
July 7, 2015
Hi

I use the Zoom 4504 as I can only get 3 or 4g I use an unlocked dongle and Sonos streams fine with four zones

Have you done a speed test at your home on mobile?

What mobile phone do you use? and is there a cap on your mobile data usage?

Cheers

Nige
Cantello
Avid Contributor I
July 8, 2015
It does, up to a limited number of Players clearly.

However you will need a second device (phone, tablet, computer) to set up and control the Sonos, also attached to the hotspot


Thanks for the confirmation, that's what I thought, even though I did not manage to get it to work. Will try again...
ratty
July 8, 2015
Thanks for the confirmation, that's what I thought, even though I did not manage to get it to work. Will try again...
Well, YMMV, but as a fresh trial I set up a couple of PLAY:3s, tethered to my Moto phone's hotspot, using an iTouch as controller. They streamed radio fine as a bonded stereo pair.

I obviously had to go through the Sonos WiFi Setup rigmarole. And IIRC the iTouch had to be cajoled to reconnect to the phone after switching to the open WiFi point that the PLAY:3 temporarily created.

Also I would give your phone's hotspot a simple SSID name, without blanks.
Contributor I
August 12, 2016
How can I tether my play 3 to my Samsung note 5? I have it setup with my router with no Internet but I can't play any Pandora or anything bc only my cell has internet
ratty
August 12, 2016
How can I tether my play 3 to my Samsung note 5? I have it setup with my router with no Internet but I can't play any Pandora or anything bc only my cell has internet
You'll need to have another device -- other than the Samsung phone -- to control the PLAY:3.

Turn on the phone's hotspot, attach the second device to your router and go to Advanced Settings/Wireless Setup in its Sonos controller. See if you can persuade it to accept the hotspot's WiFi details.

If that doesn't work, you'll need to factory reset the PLAY:3, reset the second device's controller, attach that device to the Samsung hotspot, then set the PLAY:3 up as new.