As the title suggests - I strongly suspect my 3 year old Playbase’s WiFi card has given up (I know how common this issue is/was). It has gone from the app and no amount of un-plugging from the wall, or re-booting the router helps. It is used in my bedroom as a standalone TV speaker and to be honest, that is all I use it for.
It still works with the TV and luckily I had programmed the TV remote to control it and had the bass and treble levels all set up as I wanted it.
From my understanding of searching the web, Sonos no longer replaces these like they once did and only offer a money off coupon upon the return of said Playbase.
So my question is, I assume it will continue to work totally fine with the TV via the optical cable and therefore I should not worry about the lack of connection to the internet? If that is the case, it’s better for me to just keep it rather than spend money on another speaker that will only ever be used with the TV upstairs.
Oh and to add - it does not show as connected to my router when I check that out online. Just shows greyed out.
It’s possible, but I’d still call Sonos Support directly to discuss it.
It should continue to work as is, but you lose the ability to control it via the controller app. But as long as the optical port is working, and the IR port responding to the remote, you should be fine.
I’d also try, at least temporarily, connecting an Ethernet cable between the device and your router, to see if it’s just WiFi (the radio) , or the Ethernet card that has failed. Somewhere around here, I have a fifty foot Ethernet cable for things like that, which rarely need to be connected.
But I’d sure be considering using that discount for an upgrade to either a Beam or an Arc. The PLAYBASE is pretty old tech. I no longer run my Treos, original ‘486, or Apple iPhone 1s ;)
Plug it into your router by ethernet cable, which should then show it in the app as connected. Run a system update from the app settings (General Settings - System Update - Check for Updates) to get it updated.
Then take it back to the bedroom and connect it back to your TV. It might not help the wifi but you'll at least know the system software is up-to-date so you can just keep continuing to use it as you are. You never know, the wifi might return...
(The Playbase was discontinued in 2020, so yours will be older than three years.)
Edit: @Airgetlam got there first, but what I said still applies.
Plug it into your router by ethernet cable, which should then show it in the app as connected. Run a system update from the app settings (General Settings - System Update - Check for Updates) to get it updated.
Then take it back to the bedroom and connect it back to your TV. It might not help the wifi but you'll at least know the system software is up-to-date so you can just keep continuing to use it as you are. You never know, the wifi might return...
(The Playbase was discontinued in 2020, so yours will be older than three years.)
Edit: @Airgetlam got there first, but what I said still applies.
Thanks - will try connecting it to the router via a cable at the weekend. My router is in an awkward place downstairs so running a cable to it, would be very problematic!
Yeah I know it’s very old tech now and when I bought mine, it was heavily discounted as I knew it was old stock lying around the storeroom of the retailer I bought it off.
Like you say - plugging it in will at least determine if it needs an update and may point to what has failed.
To be honest, I’d be happy if it just continues to work with the TV upstairs until I fancy upgrading it (if I ever even want to do that). It’s not like it is used for a main TV as the lounge TV has my Beam Gen 2, a Sub Mini and 2 x One SL’s attached and that works just great. My main viewing is most definitely done on that telly!
@SarahN
Sounds like connecting it permanently by ethernet would be tricky. So just take the Playbase down to the router and connect it up there to check for updates. Then take it back to the bedroom. It’ll be peace of mind, if nothing else, and at least it still works for its intended job.
@SarahN
Sounds like connecting it permanently by ethernet would be tricky. So just take the Playbase down to the router and connect it up there to check for updates. Then take it back to the bedroom. It’ll be peace of mind, if nothing else, and at least it still works for its intended job.
Indeed.
To be honest, if I do submit a diagnostic while it is connected to the router (assuming it works that way), and the issue was found to be the WiFi card like so many past Playbase issues, I’d be happy to grab a coupon if Sonos did not insist on having the unit sent back 
. I think my main issue is the toss up between keeping the Playbase as it is - seeing as like you say, it works for its intended use case, or sending it back and having to purchase a new home theatre speaker that I will have to partly fund myself.
Any new speaker will only be connected to the TV upstairs without any surrounds or Sub, and probably won’t be used for music as I have enough Sonos speakers upstairs already that fulfil the music side of things 
@SarahN
You can get 15% off your your next purchase anyway (e.g. a Ray or Beam) without really doing anything, plus you can keep the Playbase (or sell it on eBay if you find the wifi does return once you update it):
https://www.sonos.com/en-gb/upgrade
@SarahN
You can get 15% off your your next purchase anyway (e.g. a Ray or Beam) without really doing anything, plus you can keep the Playbase (or sell it on eBay if you find the wifi does return once you update it):
https://www.sonos.com/en-gb/upgrade
Yeah I have loads of those 15% discounts on my account due to my many slightly older Sonos products :)
As far as your SONOS.system is concerned, PLAYBABSE no longer exists. I expect that you can continue in this mode of operation indefinitely. Don’t Factory Reset PLAYBASE because you’ll have no way to reconfigure PLAYBASE. If you replace the TV, keep the current TV remote. It is possible that a new TV from the same manufacturer might use the same IR codes, but it is also possible that the new TV will use Bluetooth rather than IR. Another option will be to train a cable box remote to control this TV.
Maybe PLAYBASE will respond if wired to.your network. Physically, I don’t know the practicality of this in your situation.
As far as your SONOS.system is concerned, PLAYBABSE no longer exists. I expect that you can continue in this mode of operation indefinitely. Don’t Factory Reset PLAYBASE because you’ll have no way to reconfigure PLAYBASE. If you replace the TV, keep the current TV remote. It is possible that a new TV from the same manufacturer might use the same IR codes, but it is also possible that the new TV will use Bluetooth rather than IR. Another option will be to train a cable box remote to control this TV.
Maybe PLAYBASE will respond if wired to.your network. Physically, I don’t know the practicality of this in your situation.
Yeah I know it is a very old product now :)
I won’t do a factory re-set as I don’t intend to change the telly anytime soon but will try to take it downstairs to see if it needs an update. There would be no way to wire it up permanently though due to where the router has to be.
