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Adriel
Contributor III
September 30, 2020
Question

Sonos with 5Ghz; what does that brings?

  • 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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28 replies

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melvimbe
melvimbe
October 1, 2020

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:

 

I thought the Port already was 5Ghz capable, no?  For the Arc/Beam/Amp, in the spirit of guessing, perhaps the fact that they need to use 5 Ghz for bonded sub and rears uses up their capacity to connect to the router?  Or perhaps it’s coming later after more testing.  Who knows.  

Danny
Airgetlam
Airgetlam
October 1, 2020

sjw , thanks for the link to the release notes, I admit I tend to rely more on an Announcements thread for those kind of earth shattering (hyperbole?) changes.

I’m happy Sonos is providing more information, but I do thinks there is more opportunity to include that data in the both the packaged downloads given to the various stores (Apple and Google), as well as an Announcement thread.

I too, lament the loss of Ryan.

Bruce
ratty
ratty
October 1, 2020

Home theatre players (Arc, etc) presumably wouldn’t connect to a router’s 5GHz because the latter would then forcibly determine which -- potentially busy -- channel was used for the HT satellites. There’s only one 5GHz radio in the HT master. Sonos would thus be at the mercy of the router’s 5GHz channel selection and couldn’t auto-select the optimum channel to maintain the low-latency bond to the HT satellites.

    John B
    October 1, 2020

    Good thinking, @ratty .  That makes prefect sense.  The satellites don’t have to ‘face two ways’ as the controlling HT device does.  The HT device carries on as before, using its 2.4GHz radio to talk to other rooms and 5GHz for comms within the HT ‘bond’.

    ninjabob
    Chromatic Producer I
    October 1, 2020

    So I suppose Sonos will only offer a connection to 5ghz speakers by wifi if the units are compatible. Anyone tried it yet?

    busy trying to edit the queue
    Bumper
    Bumper
    October 1, 2020

    Home theatre players (Arc, etc) presumably wouldn’t connect to a router’s 5GHz because the latter would then forcibly determine which -- potentially busy -- channel was used for the HT satellites. There’s only one 5GHz radio in the HT master. Sonos would thus be at the mercy of the router’s 5GHz channel selection and couldn’t auto-select the optimum channel to maintain the low-latency bond to the HT satellites.

    This all makes sense. Seems like this should be user selected because not everyone uses their devices with satellites but oh well.

    Hey Sonos people what’s the deal with the Port? Is anyone from Sonos home?

    Airgetlam
    Airgetlam
    October 1, 2020

    I’d assume they just operate in the same manner as the Move when connected to a 5Ghz signal. Still groupable, no real difference from a controller perspective, they just happen to be on a difference channel. 

    Bruce
    ledzep1
    Headliner II
    October 4, 2020

    So how do you switch from 2.4ghz to 5ghz?

    I have separate bands in my network.

    Do I just run the wireless setup again via the app.

     

     

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