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Answered

Buffering issues

  • February 12, 2026
  • 9 replies
  • 69 views
F

We have had our Sono system for years and it's been great. We recently had a new router installed and I’ve been having troubles ever since.

After doing some research online it looked like the wifi bands being synchronised may have been the issue as Sonos primarily operates at 2.4GHz. I have spilt the bands on our router and connected the Sonos and my phone to the 2.4GHz but I’m still having issues.

Every time I try and play anything the error message “ Unable to play - network connection speed insufficient to maintain playback buffer” shows

I have the two play 3’s and play 5 with a bridge but nothing is connected directly to the router as they are all quite far away from it

 

Can anyone please help as it's driving me insane, especially as I thought I have cracked it! 

Best answer by Airgetlam

Yes, the system will work without the BRIDGE. See the wired and wireless modes FAQ, along with the Sonos Network Requirements FAQ. 

As I said, I’d recommend hanging them directly off your WiFi, rather than having two ‘signals’ potentially interfering with each other.

And having any electronic device directly beside the router isn’t good, most likely, as there would be interference between the two, due to the physics of electricity and radio waves. Read the interference FAQ I linked. 

No, as long as your phone and your Sonos are communicating through the same router, you should have no issues. Whether or not you wire a single, or many Sonos devices, or hang them all off your WiFi.  Things might get dicey when things get more complex, but it sounds like you, like me, have as simple a setup as possible. 

9 replies

Airgetlam
  • Airgetlam
  • February 12, 2026

If you’re still using a Sonos BRIDGE, that can be a source of often inexplicable issues, I suspect including wifi interference . I’d recommend hanging your S1 system directly off of your WiFi instead, and decommissioning the Sonos BRIDGE. If you wore another Sonos device (other than a Sub or surrounds) it will operate as a BRIDGE and supply the SonosNet signal you’re currently using.

My recommendation is to not actually wire any device, and hang all of your Sonos off of the current WiFi signal, less chance of WiFi interference between the SonosNet signal and your normal WiFi signal.  

Bruce
    F
    • fidlerbird
    • Author
    • Contributor I
    • February 12, 2026

    Thanks for this. So do you mean to just disconnect the bridge? Will the other speakers work ok with we don’t have the bridge? I’m not very good with technology! I just have the three speakers and the bridge, nothing else 

    If the Sonos and my phone are both connected to the 2.4GHz should that then correct the issue? It's not dedicated just to the Sonos though? 

    F
    • fidlerbird
    • Author
    • Contributor I
    • February 12, 2026

    And the bridge is directly beside the router

    Stanley_4
    • Stanley_4
    • Grand Maestro
    • February 12, 2026

    If you wire another Sonos, then yes.

    If you don't wire another Sonos then add your wifi connection details to the App before removing it.

    Airgetlam
    • Airgetlam
    • Answer
    • February 12, 2026

    Yes, the system will work without the BRIDGE. See the wired and wireless modes FAQ, along with the Sonos Network Requirements FAQ. 

    As I said, I’d recommend hanging them directly off your WiFi, rather than having two ‘signals’ potentially interfering with each other.

    And having any electronic device directly beside the router isn’t good, most likely, as there would be interference between the two, due to the physics of electricity and radio waves. Read the interference FAQ I linked. 

    No, as long as your phone and your Sonos are communicating through the same router, you should have no issues. Whether or not you wire a single, or many Sonos devices, or hang them all off your WiFi.  Things might get dicey when things get more complex, but it sounds like you, like me, have as simple a setup as possible. 

    Bruce
    buzz
    • buzz
    • February 12, 2026

    We don’t know how your network is configured. As a quick test simply power down BRIDGE. In any case BRIDGE is too close to the router. Minimum separation should be 2-3 feet.

    What model router are you using?

    F
    • fidlerbird
    • Author
    • Contributor I
    • February 12, 2026

    Thank you everyone. The WiFi connection is on the app (the 2.4GHz) already so I’ll just turn the bridge off and hope that works! 

    F
    • fidlerbird
    • Author
    • Contributor I
    • February 12, 2026

    We don’t know how your network is configured. As a quick test simply power down BRIDGE. In any case BRIDGE is too close to the router. Minimum separation should be 2-3 feet.

    What model router are you using?

    I have a sky router, not sure what time

    F
    • fidlerbird
    • Author
    • Contributor I
    • February 12, 2026

    Thank you SO MUCH everyone! Bridge unplugged and its all working now, dancing in my kitchen in my PJ’s 😁

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