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Tarpey
Contributor I
June 4, 2021

Radio 4 voice command stopped working

  • June 4, 2021
  • 64 replies
  • 4583 views

I used to be able to start radio 4 with the voice command "OK Google, play BBC Radio 4" now this just leads to Sonos playing Radio 4 Extra. Has any one else seen this to know how to fix it?

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    Beansbaked
    Lyricist II
    October 25, 2021

    Pretty unbelievable to have an issue with no responses for months, Sonos are in a legal battle with Google so this must be part of it. Can’t think why they just not engaging.

    Having purchased these speakers because of google assistant compatibility, perhaps they should start accepting returns?

     

    TarpeyAuthor
    Contributor I
    November 1, 2021

    I made the original post 4 months ago and with no sign of progress I've decided to sell my Sonos on. I waited ages for Google integration and boy what a waste of time. Coupled with frequent disconnection issues I've had enough. Anything I need to know / do to the speaker before selling it?

    John B
    November 1, 2021

    This is highly speculative, but would someone like to try the instruction "play radio 4 from the BBC".

    It's based on an issue that arose on Alexa, and I don't really expect it to carry over to GA. But you never know…

    (I only use Alexa, so cannot test it myself)

    Or maybe try "play radio 4 from BBC Sounds"

    Jim in Hackney
    Lyricist I
    November 4, 2021

    I used to be able to start radio 4 with the voice command "OK Google, play BBC Radio 4" now this just leads to Sonos playing Radio 4 Extra. Has any one else seen this to know how to fix it?

    I'm waiting on this too...

    Hass
    Trending Lyricist I
    November 10, 2021

    Same issue here. Has been happening for months as per this thread’s timeline. I was kind of just waiting for it to fix - my assumption is that it’s a TuneIn mapping issue.

    John B
    November 10, 2021

    Same issue here. Has been happening for months as per this thread’s timeline. I was kind of just waiting for it to fix - my assumption is that it’s a TuneIn mapping issue.

    It is due, I believe, to the BBC no longer allowing access to their stations via TuneIn. Exceptions were made for certain third party users like Sonos, but not voice assistants like Alexa and GA.

    https://cms.tunein.com/press-release/changes-to-bbc-stations-on-tunein-in-the-uk/

    (There may have been other changes subsequently, but this is the ultimate origin of any difficulties in playing BBC stations using TuneIn.)

      Beansbaked
      Lyricist II
      November 10, 2021

      Same issue here. Has been happening for months as per this thread’s timeline. I was kind of just waiting for it to fix - my assumption is that it’s a TuneIn mapping issue.

      It is due, I believe, to the BBC no longer allowing access to their stations via TuneIn. Exceptions were made for certain third party users like Sonos, but not voice assistants like Alexa and GA.

      https://cms.tunein.com/press-release/changes-to-bbc-stations-on-tunein-in-the-uk/

      (There may have been other changes subsequently, but this is the ultimate origin of any difficulties in playing BBC stations using TuneIn.)

      It’s definitely not this issue as you can use all the other BBC radio stations in this way.

      Voice commands for Radio 2 / 5 live work no problem.

      The issue (which is still being ignored is that it is playing the wrong BBC radio 4 station (4 extra, rather than 4)

       

      John B
      November 10, 2021

      OK.  Just out of curiosity, has anyone tried formulating the commands differently as I previously suggested?

      As stated, I don't really expect it to work but it would only take a few seconds to test.

      diggers10
      Trending Lyricist I
      November 11, 2021

      This is highly speculative, but would someone like to try the instruction "play radio 4 from the BBC".

      It's based on an issue that arose on Alexa, and I don't really expect it to carry over to GA. But you never know…

      (I only use Alexa, so cannot test it myself)

      Or maybe try "play radio 4 from BBC Sounds"

      No, plays radio4 extra:joy:

      Nodlesh
      Lyricist III
      December 4, 2021

      Me too.  I just bought Roam as a shower speaker and can’t get it to play Radio 4.  Shocked to see this has been running for over 6 months with no progress.

      Not to mention the fact that sleep doesn’t work (keeps waking up randomly even), and google assistant alarm volume can’t be controlled.

      All very disappointing.  I won’t be recommending Sonos.

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