Contributor III

Question

Sonos with 5Ghz; what does that brings?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
September 30, 2020
28 replies
12375 views

In the most recent S2 12.1 update, we see Sonos supporting 5ghz on various products. What does that mean for existing users? And how will it affect users who incorporate mesh networks at their homes?

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J

John B

Appreciate that, but thought it was worth adding as you didn't mention any of these newer additions above.

Bruce mentioned he didn't know what the OP was referring to and that the devices with 5GHz only used it ‘internally' (bonding etc.) when that is no longer the case - BUT it is not true for all S2 compatible devices.

I didn't see any 12.1 Announcent though like usual.

Fair enough - and last point is a good one. Maybe that is on its way?

J

John B

As I have always operated my system in SonosNet mode, I am not 100% on top of the Sonos WiFi settings. Can you have two sets of WiFi credentials active at the same time? I am wondering what would be possible for users with different SSIDs for the two bands?

I suppose that would be one way to force all Sonos onto 2.4GHz if you wished to - have separate SSIDs and only put the 2.4GHz one into Sonos.

S

sjw

Local Superstar

I operate in Sonosnet too but my understanding is if you don't broadcast separate SSID's then your device will connect to either if it can and the router manages everything.

If you broadcast separate SSID's then there are also two passwords obviously (even if they're the same) and you connect to one or the other. If you have both sets of credentials then the device can move - BUT I didn't think Sonos can store more than one set of details (the Move apart as it can store 15(?) sets.

Certainly, only scanning for, and inputting details for one of the SSID's, that will force it to one or the other.

As you say the perceived speed benefits of 5GHz soon disappear after a wall or two….

N

ninjabob

Chromatic Producer I

Would be great is SonosNet could operate on 5ghz or better still both bands. I am no longer able to reliably play FLACs across 10 units due to 2.4ghz band being maxed out in our urban environment. I have to resort to playing MP3s with their lower bitrate.

busy trying to edit the queue

Bumper

I am no longer able to reliably play FLACs across 10 units due to 2.4ghz band being maxed out in our urban environment. I

I have similar experience with only 4 units 3 are wired. My port on sonosnet kicks off periodically and 2.4 was worse. I'm not sure 5ghz is the magic solution but if it's supported I would try it out if I can find the time.

I'm reading elsewhere that the play 1 also has 5ghz on board but it is not unlocked in the software.

Would be good if someone from @sonos came by and answered the questions from the original post and others that have come up!

melvimbe

I'm reading elsewhere that the play 1 also has 5ghz on board but it is not unlocked in the software.

Would be good if someone from @sonos came by and answered the questions from the original post and others that have come up!

Sonos Home Theatre rooms use 5Ghz to bond the rear speakers and sub to the speaker connected to the TV (Arc, Beam, Playbar) etc. Therefore, any sub and anything that can be setup as rear speakers must be 5Ghz capable. That definitely would include play:1, play:3, play:5, and the ikea speakers. However, I don’t know enough to say with 100% certainly that hardware capable of connecting to a Sonos Arc via 5Ghz is definitely capable of connecting to a 5Ghz router and performing all the necessary tasks. I would think so, but don’t know.

Danny

Bumper

Yes the question is has sonos unlocked the 5ghz in software on Play 1 to allow it to connect to a router? I don’t own one. Same with the arc and the amp it has 5 ghz, but both are not listed as having the it unlocked in software in the release notes as far as I have read.

@ Sonos what about these other devices (amp, arc, beam, port) ? Why Gen 3 Sub but not Gen 2?

One, One SL, Five, and Sub (Gen 3) can now connect to 5GHz and 802.11a/n WiFi networks.

J

John B

Yes the question is has sonos unlocked the 5ghz in software on Play 1 to allow it to connect to a router? I don’t own one. Same with the arc and the amp it has 5 ghz, but both are not listed as having the it unlocked in software in the release notes as far as I have read.

@ Sonos what about these other devices (amp, arc, beam, port) ? Why Gen 3 Sub but not Gen 2?

One, One SL, Five, and Sub (Gen 3) can now connect to 5GHz and 802.11a/n WiFi networks.

Although it is guesswork, I suspect the older speakers do not have sufficiently powerful 5GHz radios to give a reliable connection in many cases.

Bumper

Yes the question is has sonos unlocked the 5ghz in software on Play 1 to allow it to connect to a router? I don’t own one. Same with the arc and the amp it has 5 ghz, but both are not listed as having the it unlocked in software in the release notes as far as I have read.

@ Sonos what about these other devices (amp, arc, beam, port) ? Why Gen 3 Sub but not Gen 2?

One, One SL, Five, and Sub (Gen 3) can now connect to 5GHz and 802.11a/n WiFi networks.

Although it is guesswork, I suspect the older speakers do not have sufficiently powerful 5GHz radios to give a reliable connection in many cases.

Totally possible, but given Arc, Beam, Port and Amp also aren’t included I’m not so sure.

But also just guesswork on my part.

Personally I’m only concerned about Port right now as that is my only wireless speaker. Seems arbitrary that only some speakers can do this but other components can’t.

A little more information from Sonos would be helpful- hello sonos people :wink: