Contributor I

Large home with Multiple access points

Forum|Forum|11 years ago
July 28, 2015
21 replies
15029 views

Sonos was recently modified to allow broadcasting via WIFI without a Bridge or Boost. This is a great option. I would suggest a further, related enhancement. In large homes it is common to have 2 or more access points to provide strong WIFI throughout the house. The current deployment of Sonos over WIFI works with multiple access points on the same subnet only if you use the same SSID for all access points.

While there are some advantages to using the same SSID for "roaming" it is often found that many phones and laptops do not automatically switch to the stronger signal of the closest access point if they can still get a signal (albeit weak) from the further access point they originally connected to. To address this many of us use different SSIDs (still on same subnet) so users can manually connect to the stronger signal if desired when moving around the house.

Unfortunately the current Sonos iphone software will not find you system if you change to a different access point with a different SSID even if still on same subnet (although computer software with a wired connection to the same subnet will).

Ideally Sonos software would be modified to allow both control from a different SSID on the same subnet, and the Sonos system itself to span multiple access point on the same subnet whether using the same or different SSIDs. Currently the work around requires mulitple Bridges or Boosts. Pretty much all other devices on the same subnet can see each other regardless of which access point (SSID) they are attached to, why not enable this for the Sonos system?

Multiple APs

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jgatie

Nobody says you cannot use multiple Access Points. However, they must be configured as access points, without DHCP running, and on the same subnet and SSID. In other words, they can't be configured as routers.

And by the way, nobody from Sonos has commented in this thread. So "Sonos" is not telling anyone anything. They are all knowledgeable users who enjoy helping others, but they are not official Sonos spokespeople.

S

sebdb66

Contributor I

I wasnt commenting on anything that was said on this thread but what Sonos told our customer on the phone i quote "It works on home wifi but not using APs"

jgatie

Oh. Well maybe they don't officially support that configuration, but it certainly works. They do the same with Powerline adapters, but those are much more notorious for causing problems, and even the experienced users here will state they are not supported.

S

sebdb66

Contributor I

I suspect they are doing a blanket "no APs" rather than having to explain about SSIDS, Subnets etc
Agree about Powerline.

In our case it was annoying though as the customer didnt tell us they had installed a Boost and we couldnt work out initially why we were getting interference and drop outs. Ruined our nicely planned channel separation on the APs.

We've decided to leave the Boost in place and just rejigged the channels on the APs as the customer wants to go with what he was told by Sonos.

Airgetlam

Heh. It's always difficult to troubleshoot when you don't have the full picture of what you're trying to fix. 🙂

Bruce

O

Onpoint Systems

Contributor I

Correct me if i am wrong but once a sonos device is installed and so are the access points they do are not moved so how would they have roaming issues. The only device that technically roams is the device running the sonos app. I know there are some sonos speakers but the connect amp would be stationary after installation. Now what does need work is when a device running the app roams it cuts out the music streaming. Now that should not happen.

2

2bob

Contributor I

Resurrecting an old tread but couldn't see anything more useful.

I have two Ubiquiti APs and want to add a third, problem is that sonosnet is using one of the 2.4 channels and i want to use it for the third AP.

Tried moving my SONOS speakers to the APs from their original boost mode.

That went ok but curiously it seems that the speakers gravitate to the same AP rather than than the closest.
I wonder if the speakers are checking the BSSID in addition to the SSID? - perhaps to avoid multiple hops if repeaters are used?

accguy

Lyricist III

Nobody says you cannot use multiple Access Points. However, they must be configured as access points, without DHCP running, and on the same subnet and SSID. In other words, they can't be configured as routers.

And by the way, nobody from Sonos has commented in this thread. So "Sonos" is not telling anyone anything. They are all knowledgeable users who enjoy helping others, but they are not official Sonos spokespeople.

I just got off the phone with Sonos Support. They told me that multiple APs are Not Supported. The tech told me it was because that Sonos devices do not support changing channels, and my two APs are on different channels.

So, instead of updating their software to change channels (and maybe have the music skip, pause, or experience some other brief issue) they have decided to let the device drop from the controller so you cannot use it.

Just when I was starting to like and recommend Sonos again...

J

jf1

Lyricist I

Resurrecting an old tread but couldn't see anything more useful.

I have two Ubiquiti APs and want to add a third, problem is that sonosnet is using one of the 2.4 channels and i want to use it for the third AP.

Tried moving my SONOS speakers to the APs from their original boost mode.

That went ok but curiously it seems that the speakers gravitate to the same AP rather than than the closest.
I wonder if the speakers are checking the BSSID in addition to the SSID? - perhaps to avoid multiple hops if repeaters are used?

I found that the zoneplayers do not switch to the strongest AP (same SSID etc) on the WiFi automatically, they connect to the one they find initially then stick with that, unless the signal is lost. You have to make sure that your AP’s are all switched on first, then go around and reboot the zone players to get them to reconnect to the best signal.
You could actually place a new AP right next to the zone player but it won’t swap unless you reboot.

J

jf1

Lyricist I

Nobody says you cannot use multiple Access Points. However, they must be configured as access points, without DHCP running, and on the same subnet and SSID. In other words, they can't be configured as routers.

And by the way, nobody from Sonos has commented in this thread. So "Sonos" is not telling anyone anything. They are all knowledgeable users who enjoy helping others, but they are not official Sonos spokespeople.

I just got off the phone with Sonos Support. They told me that multiple APs are Not Supported. The tech told me it was because that Sonos devices do not support changing channels, and my two APs are on different channels.

So, instead of updating their software to change channels (and maybe have the music skip, pause, or experience some other brief issue) they have decided to let the device drop from the controller so you cannot use it.

Just when I was starting to like and recommend Sonos again...

Might not be supported but it works if using the proper kit. I installed 8 access points with 10 zoneplayers across 3 different channels in a 3 storey Georgian 10 bed house (not my house!!) and can roam between AP’s from one end of the house to the other with an iPhone and control everything..
I did have issues when trying to use standard residential router/ap that you could only ‘see’ the devices that were attached to the particular AP that you also were connected to, but swapped to a Ubiquiti Unfi system of managed AP and haven’t looked back in terms of coverage and performance.

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