5Ghz or bust!!! Please Sonos!

16 replies
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Living in a crowded area with 20 different 2.4GHz wireless networks around is really frustrating with Sonos. I've invested in many speakers and I'm constantly getting queues of podcasts either skipped 2 minutes into each 1hr podcast or the playback stops altogether because of interference... really annoying when you're listening from the shower or busy in the middle of something around the house. I've called Sonos tech support and while they are excellent, the best they could do is have me put my system in Bridge mode which didn't solve the problem.

Apparently the speakers I have all do support 5GHz (contrary to what most say) because when you have a Surround setup it uses 5GHz to communicate between the speakers. So PLEASE let me enable 5GHz on all of my other speakers to avoid this interference. If the hardware exists in the speaker, let me use it!!!

I understand it won't have the same range with 5GHz but I don't want range anyway. I want flawless playback.

I've invested a lot in Sonos and to not have this capability is ridiculous... unless there is truly a technical limitation preventing it, in which case it should be detailed by Sonos.

Please reply here if you're in a similar situation.

5GHz

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jgatieAnswer

1) Not all support 5 GHz. The Connect and Connect:Amp do not.

2) Sonos has found that 5 GHz is actually less reliable, because while it has the low latency needed for surround sound, 5 GHz has less range and penetration, so it is not suitable for whole-home audio which requires a longer range must pass through walls and floors. This is why it is only suitable for surround sound setups which are by nature close range and in the same room.

The fact you do not want the range of 2.4 GHz means nothing if you need to to go through walls or floors. In addition, you are not the only customer, and for every one of you that would not complain about the range, there are many, many more who would expect their systems to work. I imagine Sonos has done the math on that equation and have found 5 GHz through the whole home is not practical.

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passopp

Hi Seventh,

Just a thought, though you probably tried that already: have you ever considered switching to standard wifi mode instead of Boost mode for further testing? I read through all of your posts in this thread but couldn't find anything related to 'non-Boost mode'.

In my personal setup I've experienced my own network router's 2.4Ghz wifi to be way more stable compared to a wired connection through either of my zone players. After all, the additional mesh wifi network which Sonos creates once one (or several) zone player (or Boosts/Bridges) is/are wired to your local LAN is essentially one more wifi network in range to worry about.

Network congestion can be tricky to get around and though I still believe that Boost mode is the recommendable option for the majority of scenarios it might just not be the top-notch solution for everyone.

S

SeventhAuthor

Contributor I

Hi Seventh,

Just a thought, though you probably tried that already: have you ever considered switching to standard wifi mode instead of Boost mode for further testing? I read through all of your posts in this thread but couldn't find anything related to 'non-Boost mode'.

In my personal setup I've experienced my own network router's 2.4Ghz wifi to be way more stable compared to a wired connection through either of my zone players. After all, the additional mesh wifi network which Sonos creates once one (or several) zone player (or Boosts/Bridges) is/are wired to your local LAN is essentially one more wifi network in range to worry about.

Network congestion can be tricky to get around and though I still believe that Boost mode is the recommendable option for the majority of scenarios it might just not be the top-notch solution for everyone.

Thanks for the reply. I started out in non-Boost mode... it happens either way :(

Right now I'm thinking the only potential solutions are:

1) to try the actual Sonos Boost device which their tech support said would have a stronger signal than using a normal speaker as a Boost device, or

2) buying an even more powerful router and hoping all the existing interference of numerous 2.4GHz networks can be cut through... something I really hoped I wouldn't have to do. Everything else I have works flawlessly on 5GHz so it would just be so much better for me to use that, hence the thread.

G

grazza72

Trending Lyricist I

I couldn't agree more. Sonos sell these products on being the best and most advanced speakers and charge a premium and when you finally get it home and set it up realise the limitations are frustrating and baffling. I'm trying to move things off the 2.4 to 5 range and see no reason that the 5 shouldn't be a simple option. The 5 is faster and no interference.
It's just ridiculous that much cheaper speakers connect to 5ghz and YouTube and other music streaming apps like podomatic. Or a volume bar appear on a Samsung TV so I have some idea of what volune is set.
Music quality is one thing but not being able to listen to anything on YouTube app or numerous other apps etc makes them redundant and I find using a good UEBOOM Bluetooth speaker system more than the speakers I was told would be life changing and revolutionary.

jgatie

Wrong! 5GHz may be faster, but it has shorter range and less penetration, so it has more trouble going through walls and floors than 2.4 GHz. Hence the reason why Sonos only uses it for 5.1 surround, it is not reliable enough to send a continuous stream through all the walls of the home like 2.4 GHz. You may wish to do more research before posting.

Chris

Lead Maestro

I think one of the most revolutionary things about Sonos has been the Sonosnet 2.4 ghz network it creates.

You can set your router to 5ghz only but have a Sonos unit hooked to router so they communicate via their 2.4ghz mesh. Much better range and reliability (speed as well) since speakers talk to each other and don't have to route all their communication via the router.

As jgatie mentions. They do speak to each other via 5ghz in situations where they need the low latency of 5ghz.

Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)

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grazza72

Trending Lyricist I

Thanks Chris, I'll look into that appreciate the constructive and polite reply, as for jgatie another rude arrogant poster on here that takes peoples comments and frustrations personally as though they invented sonos. I did my "research" and I have (as does the other person who commented originally re their frustrations with sonos) an understanding of the 5ghz limitations. Of which there is no issue with 5ghz where I live, and could be easily fixed with a wifi booster if there was a low latency issue.
Not everyones home is the same, and what I'm saying and the original "poster" is that both options could be available for people to choose what works best for them.

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