To play BBC radio stations using Alexa I think you need to have installed the BBC Sounds skill for Alexa in your Alexa app.
At any rate, that is how my system is set up, and it works.
One really good thing I have noticed is that the app on iPhone, iPad and on Mac shows the now playing song - worked on Radio 6 Music and Radio 2. I will certainly find this very useful and I know others will too.
The instructions for putting in BBC Sounds does not work for our old S1 Sonos.
First, adding the BBC Sounds is from a completely different part of the menu structure described.
Second, once found and installed, all we get is "Unable to browse music".
But then, if we "Search" under the stations tab, the stations appear.
Select one and we get "Unable to Play the Selected Item"
Have deleted the old BBC favourites, and have added Radio 4.
But it still says "Unable to Play the Selected Item"
Any ideas how to make progress ?
First, adding the BBC Sounds is from a completely different part of the menu structure described.
Please explain what you mean by this. Which part of what menu are you using?
Second, once found and installed, all we get is "Unable to browse music".
But then, if we "Search" under the stations tab, the stations appear.
You shouldn't be searching under the station tab Have you added BBC Sounds as a service? It's under Services & Voice.
Hi John B
For info, we are on S1 kit and v10.3 of the android app - as that is the only way we can run Sonos without replacing SEVEN Nexus7 mkII tablets that we use as controllers (I can ref an earlier thread on this)
>You shouldn't be searching under the station tab Have you added BBC Sounds as a service? It's under Services & Voice.
In our S1 there I is NO “Services & Voice”. But we have added it as a service by “three dots=more”/Add Music Services. It went through the full authorization process that is needed & works for the TV/Android BBC Sounds apps and then appeared where we would expect.
>Please explain what you mean by this. Which part of what menu are you using?
The ONLY place we can then find an appearance of BBC Sounds Radio Stations in our S1 is by doing a Search (bottom line) and under the Stations tab.
If we try “Browse/BBC Sounds” all we get is "Unable to browse music", as I said.
The instructions for putting in BBC Sounds does not work for our old S1 Sonos.
First, adding the BBC Sounds is from a completely different part of the menu structure described.
Second, once found and installed, all we get is "Unable to browse music".
But then, if we "Search" under the stations tab, the stations appear.
Select one and we get "Unable to Play the Selected Item"
Have deleted the old BBC favourites, and have added Radio 4.
But it still says "Unable to Play the Selected Item"
Any ideas how to make progress ?
John B has made a few comments but let’s take a step back. These are the things you need to do.
- Make sure you have a BBC account created via the BBC. If so confirm you can log in and then go to BBC Sounds - either on a browser or download the excellent app and log in. Obviously if you don’t have a BBC account you’ll need to create one.
- Then ensure you add the BBC Sounds service. Desktop app - Manage - Service Settings and click + under list of current services - You will be prompted to log in to Sonos. Then select and follow instructions. I can’t remember exactly how but you’ll be prompted to enter your BBC account details and so on.
- Then you should be able to see the BBC Sounds service under the sources (Desktop app) or Browse on mobile app.
- Once you select that on the desktop app select the Listen Live (Top option) and scroll to the station you want. On mobile you see Listen Live but you don’t need to click it as you can see the stations.
- John isn’t quite right re search. I think I did what you did. Once you’ve added BBC Sounds and search under stations you’ll get results - Just make sure you expand the results under BBC Sounds and not TuneIn or RadioPlayer like what I did!
@Stuart_W you are right that I was wrong about the search - thanks.
@windbag - two possibities:
1. You have followed the instructions correctly but your not having the latest S1 Firmware is preventing it working.
2. You have not set it up correctly.
I'm inclined to think 1 is more likely. If so, you could try manually adding streaming URLs for the BBC stations you use. I can provide info on this (I think) if that might be useful.
Hi,
BBC sounds isn’t in my list of services. This morning, I corrected my location to United Kingdom, though that hasn’t made it appear. I have uninstalled and reinstalled the app. I have accepted usage monitoring.
Nothing is helping - any suggestions?
Thanks.
Great news. Like BBC Sounds. All added and favourites replaced. 
On the S1 system, I cannot add any BBC stations on Sounds to my Sonos favourites:
From the Sounds app, the option to add to Sonos favourites is greyed out.
From the Now Playing menu the option is not greyed out, but is un-click able.
In a Sonos mobile app, play the station from the BBC Sounds source so that it appears in Recently Played. Long press in Recently played to add to My Sonos.
In a Sonos mobile app, play the station from the BBC Sounds source so that it appears in Recently Played. Long press in Recently played to add to My Sonos.
Long pressing the button does bring up the add menu, but both the add options are greyed out.
In a Sonos mobile app, play the station from the BBC Sounds source so that it appears in Recently Played. Long press in Recently played to add to My Sonos.
Long pressing the button does bring up the add menu, but both the add options are greyed out.
On my (S2) system the option 'Add station to My Sonos' is active and executes without a problem. I don't know if that would also hold in S1.
In a Sonos mobile app, play the station from the BBC Sounds source so that it appears in Recently Played. Long press in Recently played to add to My Sonos.
Long pressing the button does bring up the add menu, but both the add options are greyed out.
On my (S2) system the option 'Add station to My Sonos' is active and executes without a problem. I don't know if that would also hold in S1.
Thanks for responding John. Looks like a bug in S1. I will try to work out how to report it (to the BBC or Sonos).
Ugh, OK. I guess it’s better in some ways as all the bbc past shows and podcasts are all in one place but there’s a couple of things wrong or bugs.
Add station to favourites doesn’t work from within the bbc sounds service, it’s just greyed out. You can add stations but you need to use the universal search to find them from the bbc sounds service where add station to favourites does work..
The other problem is the stations are still listed and appearing in search results from Sonos Radio so need to be removed.
I use Stingray a lot. With Stingray Sonos only shows the favorites I make when logged into the Stingray app. You cannot ad any favorites from within the Sonos app. Does BBC Sounds maybe also works like this?
Replying to Stuart_W & John B posts trying to help:
PS is there any way to get email notifications of replies to this thread?
STOP PRESS-Suddenly working - see below
>1.Make sure you have a BBC account created via the BBC. If so confirm you can log in and then go to BBC Sounds
Yes I have & yes I can,both Windows & Android
>2&3.Then ensure you add the BBC Sounds service.
Yes, it appears under "Browse" in S1
>4. Once you select that...On mobile you see Listen Live....
No! When tapped in the browse list, it just gives a new white screen saying "Unable to browse music".
The only way I can “see” stations is by going back to the search, inputting BBC - and they all appear if you tap more>
Then the three dots even allows me to “Add station to my Sonos”. Which I did for Radio 4. and it appears there. But does not play. so, as previously stated - I'm stuck at this stage
STOP PRESS-today, it does !!!!
What??? We were tearing our hair out yesterday as it did not do this yesterday. I even set up a DAB radio to get R4 overnight via a feed-in to the rear of a Sonos unit..
Today, just now, it does.
The Browse/BBC Sounds still doesn’t work, but today the via
search, inputting BBC then three dots, “Play Now” does.
Also, Three dots & “Add station to my Sonos” gives favourites that now do play.
*** Hallelujah! ***
One thought - is it because, overnight, it rebuilds the music database?
I thought that was just for music on hard drives - but could that be it?
Either that is it or something else has happened in the last 24 hours.
Two of us with PhDs attest that the S1 behavior has changed!
=== The rest of this post is here because I’d already typed it all out and might be helpful
>you could try manually adding streaming URLs for the BBC stations you use.
>here are instructions for adding a station.
>https://www.google.com/search?q=add+radio+station+to+sonos
That brings up articles re TuneIn & top bit says:
Using the Sonos App for iOS or Android:
From the Browse tab, select TuneIn.
I think not!
>Here are the BBC streaming URLs
>https://en.everybodywiki.com/List_of_BBC_radio_stream_URLs
That is a nightmare as for Radio 4 fm alone, it offer 7 options;
Worldwide HTTP stream (128 Kbps MP3)
Worldwide HLS stream (48 Kbps AAC+)
Worldwide HLS stream (96 Kbps AAC+)
Worldwide MPEG DASH stream (48-96 Kbps AAC+) (adaptive bitrate)
UK-only HLS stream (128 Kbps AAC)
UK-only HLS stream (320 Kbps AAC)
UK-only MPEG DASH stream (128-320 Kbps AAC) (adaptive bitrate)
-all are links - and none "open" in Chrome…
Even if I copy a “link” (eg the last one looks promising), what do I do with it ?
@windbag You follow the instructions in the first link, which you dismissed as "Select Tune In, I think not!". Well, you ****** well do select Tune In. It's just a means to an end.
Use the UK 320kbps stream.
It shouldn't be an insuperable challenge with two PhDs to rub together.
I went through the process to add BBC Radio 3 as a test before posting.
You follow the instructions in the first link, which you dismissed as "Select Tune In, I think not!". Well, you ****** well do select Tune In. It's just a means to an end.
Use the UK 320kbps stream.
It shouldn't be an insuperable challenge with two PhDs to rub together.
I went through the process to add BBC Radio 3 as a test before posting.
I tested it too. Added 128kbs Radio 1 and it appears under My Radio Stations under TuneIn.
PS You can only do on desktop controller. At least that used to be the case and assume it still is.
You suggest the overnight rebuild of the database has fixed issue. I’m sure that isn't the case. I suspect that the number of issues people have reported has led to a flurry of activity at Sonos’ end leading to improvements
@Stuart_W . It is now possible to add a manual station on the mobile app. At least, it is on S2, I cannot be sure on S1, but I thought it was possible.
@Stuart_W . It is now possible to add a manual station on the mobile app. At least, it is on S2, I cannot be sure on S1.
I thought it might since I haven’t been keeping such a close eye on things for the last few years and mobile is getting more ubiquitous.
Update - spoke too soon but found a cure for latest issue
Went to bed last night where the Sonos focus changes from day areas to night. Was aghast to find that the bedroom unit responded to the newly set up favourites/Radio 4 with “Unable to play the selection”.
Hair being torn out. Found I could get R4 to the bedroom if I grouped it with the one that had worked before. This morning, did more thorough tests to find that all the other 6 units do work with the new favourites, only the bedroom didn’t. Hmm. So, powered it down/restarted.
Lo, that unit now works like the rest. Yo!
Some limitation in the Mesh network internal communication ?
Stuart_W;
>You suggest the overnight rebuild of the database has fixed issue. I’m sure that isn't the case. I suspect that the number of issues people have reported has led to a flurry of activity at Sonos’ end leading to improvements.
Yes, I was clinging at straws there. If it is activity at the Sonos end then good on them - but how is that being folded into to my S1 system? Or might it be a change in BBC Sounds end of things?
PS still asking if there any way to get email notifications of replies to this thread?
If you click on your picture on right hand side, click settings the. Click settings again and select the relevant option re notifications
Hi Stuart_W
Thanks for that. I hadn’t twigged there was a second “settings” tab under the Settings/Profile.
Rgds
