Roam setup nightmares.

Yep, just got burned on this one as well. Just started a month-long business trip living in a suite hotel, ordered the Roam to be delivered here for music and it arrived today, my second day here. I was a bit hesitant to buy it for lack of a simple 1/8” input, but I figured I would just use it on Bluetooth until I got home where I had planned to use it with Airplay. The hotel wifi has no password but does have a “Connect” html page so the Roam of course, cannot connect. So I have a nice paperweight for a month.

I’m not sure why people are so passionate about defending the fact that a speaker heavily marketed as Bluetooth-capable isn’t actually usable without wifi, self-righteously pointing at FAQ’s and footnotes. As it happens I’m a pretty avid tech-geek, airline pilot by profession, and actually do tend to read specs and handbooks. But whatever, I missed this one. Probably because it would never dawn on anyone except perhaps previous Sonos owners that this would be an issue. 

To them this way of doing things probably seems normal, but what a terrible impression for new users. First Sonos product for me, was thinking of the Beam as well but forget it - the Roam is going back today. No point keeping something that can’t be used out of the box in what is the definition of a “roaming” location.

But it looks nice, so there’s that.

Further to my experiences with my first Sonos product, the Roam, and receiving it (while roaming) at a hotel with a typical wi-fi configuration.

I did figure out a way to get it set up, using my iPad with cellular data as a hotspot,  and then connecting to it with my phone with the Sonos app and the Roam. This allowed me to enable the magical functionality of using the Roam as a Bluetooth speaker with my various devices. 

A solution, incidentally, I thought of myself with zero credit to Sonos support whom I contacted and could only repeat the mantra of “it has to connect to wi-fi first before you can use Bluetooth”. Funny thing, if you Google “Use Sonos Roam with Bluetooth” it details the process of how to do so with zero mention of the setup steps for a new Sonos device.

Anyway, just in the process of getting an RMA to return it, even though it’s now working with BT.

Not because of the ridiculous user experience...but because it sounds pretty mediocre.

The travel router-option is mentioned a lot here on the forum for situations like yours. This is kind of the same thing.

Yes, it is. Shame the Sonos support person didn’t have a clue about it. 

I used to enjoy kludging stuff like this but I’m kinda past the point where I have either the time or interest in searching online for silly workarounds to enable basic functionality of things. Of course Sonos isn’t the only company making products like this. No biggie, it’s already on the way back. Fortunately the market for portable speakers is a crowded one with a lot of great options.

I agree Sonos could have mentioned this. I do not agree that a Roam should per sé work out of the box on Bluetooth, though. 

That’s fine. I think you’ll find though, that most people expect things to work out the box. Probably because most things do. Sonos has chosen a different approach, that’s fine too. 

It’s all a bit moot though, as the Roam just doesn’t sound that great compared to other BT speakers that do work out of the box. I’ll leave the discussion there. Cheers!

Just suffered the same fate! 

At work. Bought one to use and charged it during my drive. 

Try to connect to Bluetooth says it needs the app. 

Etc.. 

Then I learn all this.

So, so stupid. 

Here's a simple question.... 

Why doesn't Sonos enable it to just work on Bluetooth out of the box???? 

What is the drawback of bt out of the box? 

Would have enjoyed using this in general. 

But forcing this account and setup on me for simple bt audio streaming use has made me repack it and just grab my second choice, a ue boom.

I thought wifi would be a nice bonus feature for when I'm ready to set it up. 

Not a hindrance to use bt. 

So? Set it up while you’re at home and use is for Bluetooth at work. This is a possible hindrance only for one day….

The point is totally lost? 

Why force a wifi setup for Simple Bluetooth.? 

Because it’s a network speaker that also does Bluetooth, and not a Bluetooth speaker that also connects to WiFi? I’ll grant you it’s a fine distinction, but Sonos is in the business of network speakers, and not Bluetooth only speakers.

I’m sorry this is frustrating to you, but I wouldn’t expect a company like Sonos to jump that far away from their massive base.