unreliable Sonos!!

The challenge often is that you may have a stable internet connection between your router and the outside world, but it is still possible that your Sonos devices may not have a stable connection to your router. Unfortunately, there are several reasons, possibly, and your post doesn’t give enough detail to be sure, and there is no indication that you have called Sonos Support directly to discuss it.

There are a couple of possibilities that spring to mind. The first, and likely most prevalent, is wifi interference .

The other that springs to mind is relatively simple duplicate IP address issues, exposed when the router is not functioning properly when the Sonos reboots, as it does every time Sonos updates the firmware. There is a relatively simple, albeit potentially temporary fix for this, by unplugging your Sonos device from power, then rebooting your router. This forces the router back into an appropriate state, and after a two minute pause to allow it to reload everything, plugging back into your Sonos devices will request new IPs from the refreshed table in your router.

Of course, the more permanent version of that is to assign reserved IP addresses in your router’s DHCP table, using the instructions in the routers manual. 

But those are merely guesses, and apply to most cases reported, but not all, I suspect. You’d need to make that call if neither of those potentials work on your system.

​@Briggsey .. do yourself a favor .. look at SonoPhone in the App Store.. read at what it does. Read the reviews. Spend $3 and get it. Works flawlessly. 
 

+1 to SonoPhone and the Sonos Desktop app.

I allegedly have terrible network interference that the new app volume control doesn’t work, as well as speakers dropping off and long load time.
 

But somehow SonoPhone and the desktop app work perfect for the past year. The SonoPhone saved me money, it was suggested I upgrade my router and add access points for the new app but f that. 

You can add SonoPad for iPads to the list..works excellent for sonos systems.

I am sick and tired of Sonos blaming some weakness in connections in home set-ups. The common denominator is Sonos, sadly it is just not adequate.

I have to disagree with this statement, because, My Arc is the same as others; my Amp is the same as others; my Five is the same as others. But my system is very reliable and I use the app exclusively.

The thing that IS different are routers/networks.

I am staying with friends for the week who have a Sonos system that is all wireless. After a couple hours I do notice some audio dropouts. I did a signal scan of their WI-FI and found that their signal strength drops during the times when there are audio dropouts. At my home I do not see this behavior and can play music on grouped speakers all day long.

The differences between their network and mine is twofold: I have a Ubiquiti UniFi network with most of my Sonos devices hardwired and they have an Eero mesh network with everything wirelessly connected. I am not saying that Eero is a bad product, but the nodes are older and they have to constantly restart the system to regain functionality. They have ordered the Eero Pro 6e that should arrive today.

So if the speakers are the same and the new app is the same for everyone, why is it that some users have issues and some don’t?

Is it the app?

Is it the speakers?

Is it network issues?

You are majority hard-wired, that is the difference.

The fundamental idea of Sonos is no need for cables, but that's when issues arise, which you note at your friend's, providing evid nice for the point I am making. :)

Whereas I am in the other camp, majority not wired. And my experience is the same as ​@Pools-3015 , no issues with my connection. And I run a T-Mobile 5G router, not Ubiquity. 

On the Sonos support site if you read the section on when to use a wireless setup, you will see:

“Use a wired setup if your home WiFi network is slow, unreliable, does not meet our system requirements, or does not reach all the rooms where you want Sonos.”
If I was struggling with connection issues I would find a way to use the provided Ethernet ports so that I could enjoy my investment. Because it is marketed as wireless doesn’t mean you have to use it that way..  you do have another option.

Based on feedback here I’ve enrolled in an online college to get a degree in networking to troubleshoot  my Sonos system. I’ll find a way.